Educational Leadership and Special Education Administration EdS
- Educational Specialist Degree
- Graduate Educator Licensure or Endorsement
- Online
- Online
- Principal Licensure
- Administrator Licensure
- Principal and Administrator Licensure
2 to 2 1/2 Years
Fall Term (Aug.)
Spring Term (Jan.)
Summer Term (May)
$722/Credit
Online Specialist Degree with Licensures
Do you have a master’s degree and want to broaden your role in educational leadership? Our online Educational Specialist (EdS) degree is for you. This program prepares you for advanced leadership roles in schools and school districts.
With our Educational Leadership and Special Education Administration EdS degree, you’ll be ready for licensure and career success as:
- A special education director / administrator
- A principal, a district administrator or both
What You’ll Learn
- Building and supervising special education programs
- Understanding school systems in context
- Planning and evaluating educational programs
- Leading instruction and supervising staff
- Addressing legal issues in education
- Managing budgets and resources
- Engaging parents and the community
- Improving your school or district
Multiple Licensures for Career Flexibility
Principal Licensure Concentration
Prepares you for both a Principal (K-12) License and for an Initial Administrator License with endorsement as a Special Education Director (ages 0-21).
Administrator Licensure Concentration
Prepares you for an Initial Administrator License with endorsement as a Special Education Director (ages 0-21) and an Administrator (K-12).
Dual Principal and Administrator Licensure Concentration
Prepares you for three credentials: a Principal (K-12) License, and an Initial Administrator License with endorsement as a Special Education Director (ages 0-21) and an Administrator (K-12).
Course of Study
Specialist Degree Delivered Fully Online
You can complete this program in two years. The Principal and Administrator Licensure Concentration takes two and a half years.
Online Courses: All coursework is completed online.
Externships: You will also complete field-based learning experiences in your home school. You will expand your leadership and be able to apply what you learned in your academic courses.
To see specific course offerings, visit an example current students page for this program.
Synchronous Online Sessions
Each online course will include synchronous learning sessions where the professor and students meet online at the same time. These sessions will be held one weeknight per week during the academic terms.
Courses and Requirements
This is a 39-48 credit specialist degree program. Please note: the concentration names below refer to the licensure choice that is in addition to preparation for the Director of Special Education K-12 administrator license / endorsement.
Principal Licensure Concentration – Courses and Requirement Details
Administrator Licensure Concentration – Courses and Requirement Details
Dual Principal and Administrator Licensure Concentration – Courses and Requirement Details
Transfer Credit
If you have taken graduate courses that align with program courses, you can request transfer credit. Approved transfer credit can reduce the cost of completing this program. Program faculty will review your transfer credit to confirm that it matches course content and objectives. See the full graduate transfer credit policy for details.
Available as a Master's Degree
Educational Leadership and Special Education Administration MA
This EdS program requires a master’s degree for admission. If you do not have a master’s degree, this program is also available as a Master of Arts degree.
Have Questions? Get in Touch!
Anna Taylor
Enrollment Counselor
Michael Cohen
Program Coordinator
Tuition Rate
Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate
You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.
Per Credit
Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*
No Student / Technology Fees
Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.
*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): UNC provides a health insurance plan to all degree-seeking graduate students who are enrolled in 6 or more credits for a term. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you can opt out of this plan. Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information.
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.
Federal Financial Aid
Degree-seeking students are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Educational Specialist degree students need to 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.
You will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC Applying for Aid page provides important dates, including the release date and deadline for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).
- Late FAFSA submissions are still accepted throughout the academic 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.
You can also find helpful information in the Federal Student Aid Resources.
Program Eligibility
General Admission Requirements
- Possess a master’s degree from an institutionally accredited college or university.
- Have a grade point average (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 in the process of completing a previous degree or have special GPA considerations, please read the specific requirements for this program type.
- The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for graduate school admission.
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
- Have a valid special education teaching license (or other special services provider license).
- Have at least one year of experience as a licensed teacher or special service provider, three or more years preferred. One year required for Principal/Special Education Director License.
- If you have not taken SRM 600 Introduction to Graduate Research (3) or an equivalent course, you will need to take it before taking your first SRM course in the program.
Eligibility for Out-of-State Students
Eligibility by State
UNC can offer distance learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the major U.S. territories. We check for changes in state rules as needed. Some states may have extra rules for internships, clinical placements, and student teaching. Visit the State Authorization page to learn more.
Licensure Eligibility by State
UNC’s professional licensure programs are designed to lead to Colorado licensure. Each state sets their own requirements, so a UNC program might not lead to licensure in other states. Visit the UNC Licensure page to learn more about which states UNC programs meet educational requirements for licensure.
It’s important to understand requirements in the state where you plan to work. Visit the State Licensure Boards page to find each state’s licensing agency and contact information. Questions? Contact Licensure@unco.edu.
International Student Eligibility
You are eligible to apply: We accept international students to online UNC programs. We can’t guarantee that our programs meet distance education requirements for every country. Before you apply, check your country’s policies and regulations. You should not apply if you live in a country that is subject to U.S. sanctions.
No student visa: Students in online UNC programs do not need to come to the United States. You will not get a student visa or receive any immigration documentation. You do not need to provide financial documentation when applying.
You will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:
- Minimum English language requirements
- Applying as an international student
Meet with an Enrollment Counselor
Meet the Program Faculty
Visit the Academic Departments
Are You Ready to Apply?
Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.
Program Eligibility
See the Program Eligibility section above.
Licensure Eligibility by State
This program is related to a state licensure, endorsement or other credential. If you intend to pursue a credential outside of Colorado, please check the Licensure Eligibility by State section above.
International Applicants
Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.
Recommended Application Deadlines
For the best possible admission, enrollment and orientation experience, we recommend that you complete your application by these dates, which are approximately 60 days before the start of each term:
- Summer term: March 15
- Fall term: June 15
- Spring term: Nov. 15
You can still apply after these dates, but if the date has passed please contact an Enrollment Counselor for support to apply and begin classes in the upcoming term. View the UNC Academic Calendar for the start dates for upcoming terms.
Application Process Details
On the application, you will choose:
- Educational Leadership and Special Education Administration: [your concentration option] (Ed.S.) – there are three concentration options
- Start term: Fall Term (Aug.), Spring Term (Jan.) or Summer Term (May)
View the full program-specific application details for each concentration in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
View Principal Licensure Concentration Application Details
View Administrator Licensure Concentration Application Details
View Dual Principal and Administrator Licensure Concentration Application Details
Apply to This Program
Register & Start Your Application
Submit a Started Application
Application Checklist & Status