Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Admission Requirements

Academic Programs

The Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program provides the skills you need to tackle challenges at all levels within an educational system, whether you are an aspiring principal, district leader, or policy maker. Apply today to make a tangible difference in the lives of people in your community.

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Application Information

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All applicants must have a completed bachelor’s degree earned from an accredited institution prior to beginning the program. The University of Denver requires that applicants have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. If your GPA does not meet this requirement, please contact the Morgridge Office of Admissions to discuss your eligibility options.

Applications will not be reviewed until all items listed below are received.

  • Application Requirements
    • Online Application for Graduate Admission
    • Statement of Professional Goals
    • Current Vita/Resume
    • One (1) transcript from each college/university where at least 1 credit has been earned, sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions. This can be an unofficial copy; however, if admitted you must submit an official copy from each college/university by the first day of classes.
      • This may include transcripts from community colleges, study abroad experiences, transfer institutions, non-degree coursework and military transcripts.
    • 2 Letters of Recommendation (uploaded by recommenders)
    • $65 Application Fee

     

    Additional Requirements for Certificate and MA Applicants

    • One letter of recommendation must be provided by your current supervisor or principal

     

    Additional Requirements for EdD Applicants

    • Applicants must have completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees from an accredited institution prior to beginning the program.
    • Statement of Equity, Ethics, and Social Justice

     

    Additional Requirements for PhD Applicants

    • Applicants must have completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees from an accredited institution prior to beginning the program.
    • Statement of Equity, Ethics, and Social Justice

     

    Application Checklist

    Priority deadline: Applications will be considered after the Priority deadline provided space is available. 

     
    Cohorts

    The Ritchie Program for School Leaders: Executive Leadership for Successful Schools (Ritchie ELSS), in partnership with local school districts, provides educators the opportunity to earn a license to become a principal in the state of Colorado. This cohort-based program is taught in a blended learning format: interactive online study, weekend workshops, monthly evening seminars, and varied field experiences.

  • Next Steps

    To view outstanding documents (i.e. letters of recommendation, transcripts, etc.) and admission decisions, please check your Application Status Page by logging in with your email address and password. After reviewing your application and all supplemental documents, the Morgridge College of Education will invite qualified applicants to participate in an interview with program faculty. In-person and virtual options for the interview will be available.

    Please ensure that the email address you provided within your application is one that you check frequently.

  • Requirements for International Applicants

    Cert. & MA

    International students are not eligible to apply for these programs due to licensure only guaranteed for the state of Colorado.

    EdD & PhD

    International applicants, or applicants who do not hold a degree from an institution where English was the primary language of instruction, may be required to provide additional application requirements, which are outlined below:

    Provide Proof of English Proficiency by submitting passing TOEFL, IELTS, or CAE scores

    • Minimum TOEFL Score: 80 (iBT) or 550 (paper-based)
    • Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5
    • Minimum CAE Score: 169

     

    It is strongly encouraged that you submit all application materials at least 14 business days in advance of a deadline to allow enough time for your application to be evaluated by the Office of International Admission. If admitted, you will be required to submit additional documents to complete the internationalization process to receive your visa. Please refer to the Office of International Student & Scholar Services for information and questions about this process at du.edu/isss.

    More Info for International Students 

Get in Touch with Admissions

If you have any questions, our admissions counselors are here to help. Please e-mail MCE.Admission@du.edu, give us a call at 1-800-835-1607, or submit a Request Info form.