Master's Programs
Master of Arts in Leadership for Educational Organizations, Principal (License)
School of Education & Human Development
Overview
Degree: MA License
Classroom Type: Fully Online
Prepares district leaders for future-ready schools. Equipped with a focus on diversity and social justice and the skills and knowledge to develop a vision for a successful school, graduates pursue careers as elementary, middle, or high school principals and administrators to realize change at school and community levels.
Application​ deadlines
Spring: November 1
Summer: April 30
Fall: June 30
Program Details
Interest Categories: Education & Counseling
Campus: CU Denver Online
What you'll learn
You’re dedicated to making a difference and ensuring your students succeed. You step up when leadership roles arise and are ready to take your passion for learning and leading to the next step. The University of Colorado Denver’s MA in Leadership for Educational Organizations (LEO-MA) degree with principal licensure is the program for you. With CU Denver’s excellent reputation and our expert and supportive faculty, you’ll start a path to a fulfilling career as an elementary, middle or high school principal or administrator where you’ll realize change at school and community levels. You’ll learn how to encourage diversity and social justice, develop a vision for a successful school and attain the real-world knowledge necessary to help you apply it.
CU Denver will prepare you with the wide breadth of knowledge necessary to create a school learning environment that is cooperative, safe and welcoming. You will learn how to:
- Collaborate across communities and stakeholder groups
- Become well-versed in current educational issues and how to overcome them, and
- Gain awareness of the legal, financial and political dimensions of schools and school districts.
You’ll learn all of this with a focus on equity and social justice, ensuring that all students have equal opportunities for an excellent education.
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 school principal. We have a name that is recognized for preparing leaders of excellence who value equal opportunities in education. 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.
Cohorts
Learning with a cohort gives you the ability to customize your learning experience. Our cohorts are tailored to match your needs and future professional goals. We believe you will be best prepared for this demanding career with personalized instructional development with practitioners and leaders with a proven track record of success.
Typically, cohorts comprise 25 principal candidates who move through the four-semester principal licensure program together. We look for applicants to have a teaching or special services license plus a minimum of three years post-licensure experience. We welcome applicants from all districts into our principal licensure cohorts. However, we partner with metro-area districts to prepare leaders specifically for their schools.
Please review all options and specific semester starting dates below to find the best cohort option for your circumstances and career goals.
Spring of 2027 LEO Principal Licensure MA
This cohort will be delivered remotely w/ synchronous class meetings. This cohort is ONLINE.
Course plan
- 9 hours for Spring 27
- 9 hours for Summer 27
- 9 hours for Fall 27
- 5 hours for Spring 2028
The class schedule through Summer of 2027 is 1 Saturday a month (except for the summer term) from 9:00 to 3:30 on the following days:
Spring 2026
- Saturday, January 23, 2027
- Saturday, February 27, 2027
- Saturday, March 20, 2027
- Saturday, April 24, 2027
- NO CLASS IN MAY
Summer 2026
- Saturday, June 12, 2027
- Saturday, June 26, 2027
- Saturday, July 10, 2027
- Saturday, July 24, 2027
(information is subject to change)
Sample Courses
- EDUC 5751 - Principal/Administrator Licensing I 3-9 credits
- EDUC 5752 - Principal Administrator Licensing II 3-9 credits
- EDUC 5753 - Principal Administrator Licensing III 3-9 credits
- EDUC 5754 - Principal Administrator Licensing IV 3-9 credits
Recommended Completion Time:The program is completed in a cohort that runs 4 consecutive semesters, so it takes a little over 1 year to complete the program.
Required Credits for Completion:32
Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
We practice "rolling admission" and after your application is complete, we strive to notify you of your admission status in no more than two to three weeks.
The following deadlines are firm, early submissions are encouraged.
Spring: November 1
Summer: April 30
Fall: June 30
Application Requirements
- 2 recommendation letters
- Official Transcripts from all institutions attended
- If applying for an endorsement, proof of teaching license or special services license is required
- Resume/CV
- Written Statement: Describe your interest in the program, your special strengths, and the goals you hope to achieve through your work in the program
- $50.00 application fee
International Applicants only: Proof of English Language Proficiency (International applicants should review the following information regarding English language proficiency). This program does not meet the visa requirements for students planning to use either a F-1 or J-1 visa. For more questions regarding visa requirements please contact intladmissions@ucdenver.edu.
Admissions Interview: An interview may be required as part of the admissions process. If so, applicants will be contacted with more details.
For more information, email education@ucdenver.edu or call 303-315-6300.