Description of the Program

Licensure programs in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies are designed to assist candidates in acquiring knowledge about leadership in P-12 educational settings. The program provides opportunities for students to develop in-depth understanding about leadership roles and responsibilities, working with external environments, policy development, organizational behavior, and contemporary educational issues.

Matrix of ELPS Courses and Standards

This matrix (in PDF version) provides a quick overview of which courses address each of the Colorado Principal Licensure Standards. The State Board of Education adopted these standards in 2003, and faculty have modified courses and internship experiences to be sure that each contributes to the standards.

Program Approach to Study

Entering students need not possess a master's degree. According to Colorado licensure requirements, the initial three-year provisional license does not require the completion of a master's degree; however, eligibility for a subsequent professional license demands a master's degree. Entering students who do not hold a master's degree must be concurrently enrolled in a master's degree program in educational leadership or a related field. Therefore, students may be eligible for a provisional license before completing the M.A. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. A provisional principal or administrator license is contingent on successfully completing the following program requirements and passing the PLACE exam. In addition, a professional license requires educators to complete an induction program and possess a master's degree.

The Principal License requires a minimum of 27 semester hours of graduate study in ELPS courses. The Administrator License requires a minimum of 33 hours of graduate coursework, or 15 hours in addition to the Principal Licensure. Students may obtain the Ed.D. degree, Ed.S. degree, or master's degree while also working concurrently on a Principal or Administrator license.

Thank you for visiting the web site for the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Program of Northern Colorado. The Educational Leadership 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.