Description of the Program

The doctoral program expands upon the foundation gained in study for the master's, specialist and/or licensure programs. It provides opportunities for candidates to develop breadth in understanding leadership, policy, and research methodologies, and also depth in one or several areas of specialization. The focus of this program is the refinement of students' understandings of leadership and policy development and analysis, ultimately culminating in the dissertation. The dissertation is meant to contribute knowledge of a critical issue in educational leadership.

Program Approach to Doctoral Study

Entering doctoral students who already possess a master's degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies or a related field complete a minimum of 64 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the master's degree. Students with an educational specialist's degree enroll in a minimum of 42 semester hours beyond the specialist's degree. These semester hour requirements are minimum expectations for students' performance. Credit requirements are a function of the types of learning experiences needed by students to achieve their goals. Students may obtain the Ed.D. degree while also working concurrently on a principal or administrator license.

The nature of doctoral studies implies a high degree of individualized program development to reflect the personal, professional, and academic goals of each student. Consequently, each doctoral student admitted to the program works with an advisor and a program planning committee to develop a learning plan.

Thank you for visiting the web site for the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Program at the University of Northern Colorado. The Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Program offers degrees at the master's, educational specialist, and doctoral levels and includes a principal licensure program for aspiring school leaders. Our program has been nationally ranked in recent years by U.S. News and World Report. We are fortunate to have a collaborative learning environment that emphasizes learning, teaching, and collegiality. The University of Northern Colorado is a member of the University Council for Educational Administration.

Please stop by and visit us on the UNC campus in Greeley. If you have questions about the program, please email me at Richard.King@unco.edu. We look forward to hearing from you.