Delivered Fully Online
These programs are delivered fully online, with field-based learning experiences completed
in your area, so that you can attend from anywhere.
Note: this program will prepare graduates for Principal Licensure in Colorado. Residents
of other states may be eligible for reciprocal recognition or your advisor will work
with you on state-specific licensure requirement needs.
Synchronous Online Sessions
Each online course will include synchronous learning sessions where the professor
and students meet online at the same time approximately one weeknight per week during
the academic terms.
Required Coursework
Choose the best option for your career goals and academic background. The master's
and educational specialist programs include the same coursework as the Principal Licensure
program, plus a research course.
To see a typical list of courses by term, visit an example Current Students page for this program.
Principal (K-12) Licensure – licensure-only program; 27 credit hours. Official licensure program listing in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
Educational Leadership Master of Arts (MA) – 30 credit hours, includes Principal Licensure. Official master's degree program listing in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
Educational Leadership Educational Specialist (EdS) – for those who already have a master’s degree and would like to obtain the principal
license with an advanced degree; 30 credit hours, includes Principal Licensure. Official educational specialist program listing in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
- Coursework earned in the EdS may be applied toward a terminal degree.
- Please note: EdS students can incorporate both Principal Licensure and Director of Gifted Education Endorsement preparation. Please contact the Program Coordinator for details and advising.
Admission Requirements
MA Degree or Licensure-Only Applicants
Possess (or be in the process of finishing) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally
accredited college or university, or a comparable degree from a foreign institution.
Have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better (on a 4.00 point scale) for the most recent
degree earned or current degree in progress.
If you are still completing your bachelor's degree at the time you apply, admission
will be based on your current cumulative GPA, and you will need to re-submit your
official transcript (showing your conferred degree and final GPA) during your first
semester. If your final GPA fell below 3.00, you will be given additional requirements
as defined by the academic program that must be met within one calendar year to remain
enrolled at UNC.
If you have completed a master's degree, or at least 18 credit hours towards a master's
degree, the GPA of your master's work will be used.
-
Two years of experience as a licensed teacher or special service provider.
Note: the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for this program.
EdS Degree Applicants
Possess (or be in the process of finishing) a master's degree from a regionally accredited
college or university, or a comparable degree from a foreign institution.
Have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better (on a 4.00 point scale) for the most recent
degree earned or current degree in progress. If you are still completing your master's
degree at the time you apply, admission will be based on your current cumulative GPA,
and you will need to re-submit your official transcript (showing your conferred degree
and final GPA) during your first semester. If your final GPA fell below 3.00, you
will be given additional requirements as defined by the academic program that must
be met within one calendar year to remain enrolled at UNC.
-
Adequate academic background and two years of experience related to educational leadership.
-
Prerequisite: completion of SRM 600 Introduction to Graduate Research (3) or equivalent.
Note: the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for this program.
Eligibility by State
At this time, UNC can serve online education to students from every state, the District
of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. We are not able to offer distance
education in American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,
the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the
Republic of Palau.
Certain programs may have additional state approval processes for some experiential
learning activities, such as practica, internships and clinicals. Please check the
State Authorization page for additional information on UNC’s ability to offer distance education across
state lines and a list of those programs and states where additional state approval
is required. For additional information or questions, please contact jake.henderson@unco.edu.
International Student Eligibility
International students residing outside of the United States are eligible to apply
to our online programs. Applicants for online programs must demonstrate English proficiency,
or enroll in the UNC Intensive English Program, in order to be considered.
Students in completely online UNC programs are not required to come to the United
States. You will not need a student visa or receive any immigration documentation,
and do not need to provide financial documentation.
Please visit the International Students Admission Requirements page for details about English proficiency requirements and applying as an international
student.
Transferring Credit
UNC graduate school accepts applicable graduate credit with a grade of C or higher
from accredited institutions. Please note that if your chosen program has a higher
grade minimum for any program coursework, that minimum would apply to transfer requests
for those courses. Graduate program faculty are responsible for reviewing any proposed
transfer credit to ensure that course content and objectives match program content.
- Students must complete at least 50% of their graduate program credits at UNC, not
including research, capstone, seminar, internship/externship/practicum, thesis, dissertation
proposal, dissertation and any credits graded with S/U (P/F).
- Courses requested for transfer must not be more than five years old for master's degree
credit or six years old for specialist degree credit, and cannot have been used to
fulfill requirements for a previously awarded degree. See the full Graduate Transfer Credit Policy.
Tuition
This is an Extended Campus program, which means:
- A flat per-credit tuition rate for all students (in-state or out-of-state)
- There are no student fees – they are incorporated into our flat tuition rate
- Certain courses may carry specific course fees for additional services and materials
Program tuition for the 2023-24 academic year (which runs Fall, Spring, and Summer
terms) is $662 per credit hour. Tuition for the 2024-25 academic year will be determined
mid-June 2024.
Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC
follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop
an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications.
For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition
information above. But UNC's official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while
completing your program.
Financial Aid
Master of Arts and Educational Specialist Students
Degree-seeking students who cannot pay for tuition alone are encouraged to apply for
federal financial aid. Students must first complete the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC FAFSA/financial aid page for graduate students has key dates and support, including the release date and deadline for each academic
year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).
Late submissions of the FAFSA are still accepted throughout the school year but you
may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid. If the priority deadline has
passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration
as soon as you enroll for your first courses. Depending on the time of year, you may
be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority
application for the following academic year.
Master's and Educational Specialist degree students must be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full time
enrollment is based on 9 credits per term.
To apply for federal financial aid assistance
Fill out the FAFSA form at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
Licensure-Only Students
Licensure-only (non-degree seeking) students aren't eligible for aid through the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Your program coordinator may be aware
of your eligibility for any discipline or campus-based aid if available.
All Students
For more specific help, contact the Office of Financial Aid: ofa@unco.edu, 970-351-4862 or via the UNC Financial Aid website.
Students can also find helpful information such as the Guide to Federal Student Aid
at https://studentaid.gov/resources. Most of the resources are available in English, Spanish and Braille.
Student Health Insurance for MA/EdS Students
The University of Northern Colorado offers a Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
to all degree-seeking students who enroll in courses on our main UNC Campus, an Extended
Campus Center, or Online.
Degree-seeking graduate students enrolled in 6 or more credit hours will automatically
receive this benefit each term. SHIP premiums will appear on your semester bill. If
you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage,
you must opt out of this plan each Fall via an online waiver process.
Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information about the insurance plan.