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Doctor of Philosophy in Education and Human Development, Leadership for Educational Organizations
School of Education & Human Development
Overview
Degree: PhD
Classroom Type: Online and on campus classes
Prepares candidates for research and teaching positions in higher education or research-based organizations. Candidates contribute to the growing evidence that school leadership makes a difference in how schools succeed in improving learning outcomes.
Program Details
Interest Categories: Education & Counseling
Campus: CU Denver
What Students Learn
This program prepares candidates to contribute to the understanding of education leadership in-depth. Research and scholarship on school leadership are 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.
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. Students delve into 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. These efforts should 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. Studies 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
Students trust CU Denver to provide an education that will prepare them for excellence in their career as faculty members or researchers. The program prepares leaders who value educational excellence and social justice. Additionally, the School of Education and Human Development is counted among U.S. News & World Report's “Best Graduate Schools,” making CU Denver one of the top education schools in the country.
Courses
The 75-credit program begins each fall.
The curriculum includes a combination of on-campus, hybrid, remote, and online courses each semester.
Every student must be available to attend on-campus courses each semester.
Program Courses
Course CatalogRecommended Completion Time:4 to 8 years
Required Credits for Completion:75
Admission Requirements
The Doctor of Philosophy in Education and Human Development, Leadership for Educational Organizations will not be admitting for Fall 2025 but will resume for Fall 2026.
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 2-4 pages (double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 point font or larger). This should be a brief biographical description of your educational experiences and preparedness for doctoral studies and your research goals or a problem of practical or theoretical importance that could lead to a research study. Be sure to address how your career goals would fit into the concentration area.
- Recommended: Master's thesis and/or published materials — Examples of published materials include articles, book chapters, newsletters and technical reports.
- $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)