Doctor of Philosophy in Education and Human Development, Leadership for Educational Organizations

PhD

Prepares candidates to assume research and teaching positions in institutions of higher education or research-based organizations and contribute to the growing evidence that school leadership makes the difference in how schools succeed in improving learning outcomes for all students.

The Program at a Glance

School: School of Education & Human Development Campus: CU Denver Classroom: Online and on campus classes Recommended completion time: 4 to 8 years Credits required for completion: 75 Minimum education level: Master's degree or equivalent Application deadline: December 1

The Details

What you'll learn

Educators and policy-makers agree that school leadership makes the difference in how schools succeed in improving learning outcomes for all students. Research and scholarship on school leadership is beginning to understand when leadership is successful, what the relationship is between effective leadership and effective teaching, and how best to lead the collective impact of leadership on organizational and student-learning outcomes at all levels. CU Denver's Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education and Human Development concentration in Leadership for Educational Organizations prepares candidates to assume research and teaching positions in institutions of higher education or research-based organizations to contribute to the understanding of education leadership questions in-depth.

Students in this concentration will:

  • Learn how to navigate existing research and literature that supports effective leadership for educational organizations
  • Understand the theories that underpin this research and the rationale for the application of this work in understanding how organizations operate
  • Develop a working knowledge of the interrelatedness of people, systems, culture and organizational outcomes
  • Build on past research and design new research efforts that lead to more equitable outcomes and new understandings of complex organizational problems of practice
  • Engage with student colleagues, faculty, and organizational partners in collaborative research studies, which investigate promising strategies for resolving vexing organizational issues
  • Become data savvy in using research findings to produce equitable and productive results from these investigations
  • Culminate the program with a dissertation that contributes to the knowledge base in the field of leadership for educational organizations.

Choose CU Denver's School of Education & Human Development

You can trust CU Denver to provide an education that will prepare you for excellence in your career as a faculty member or researcher. The university and school are recognized for preparing leaders of distinction who value educational excellence and social justice. Additionally, CU Denver's School of Education and Human Development is counted among U.S. News & World Report's “Best Graduate Schools,” making us one of the top education schools in the country.

Courses

The 75-credit program begins each fall.

Program Curriculum

Admissions Requirements

Application Deadlines

The following deadlines are firm, early submissions are encouraged.

Fall Semester: December 1

The core course rotation begins every fall. We encourage students to review the concentration area choices on our website and contact one or more of the faculty associated with that concentration area for an appointment prior to submitting their application. This ensures the students have an opportunity to discuss their research area of interest, as well as introduce themselves to the faculty. Also, the financial support we provide our PhD students is often tied to federal and state funding decisions, so meeting with a faculty member will let you know if any funding opportunities will be available in the upcoming year.

As part of gaining admission to the PhD program, students are paired with a doctoral faculty advisor/mentor. The doctoral faculty may request a personal interview to complement the information provided in the application materials.

Application Requirements

  • Minimum requirements:
    • Master's degree or equivalent
    • 3.5 GPA in graduate-level course work recommended
  • 3 recommendation letters: two letters should come from faculty in a university program in which you were previously enrolled
  • Official Transcripts from all institutions attended
  • If applying for a license, a copy of your teaching license is required
  • Resume/CV: Applicants must have and show evidence of relevant professional and/or academic experience.
  • Written Statement: In 4-6 pages (double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 point font or larger), discuss research goals and a problem of practical or theoretical importance that could lead to a research study. Be sure to address how your research would fit within one of the concentration areas.
  • Recommended: Master's thesis and/or published materials — Examples of published materials include articles, book chapters, newsletters and technical reports.
  • Students applying to the Research, Assessment and Evaluation Concentration should submit a transcript that shows statistics proficiency. To demonstrate proficiency, please contact Sandra.snyder-mondragon@ucdenver.edu.
  • $50.00 application fee
  • Admissions Interview: An interview may be required as part of the admissions process. If so, applicants will be contacted with more details.
  • International Applicants only: Proof of English Language Proficiency (International applicants should review the following information regarding English language proficiency)
For more information, email education@ucdenver.edu or call 303.315.6300.

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