• UNM 2012-2013 Catalog
• »Colleges
• »College of Education
• »Educational Leadership
• »Graduate Program

Graduate Program

Graduate Study

Student Information Contact
Linda Wood, Hokona Hall 376, (505) 277-0441, e-mail: woodl@unm.edu

Note: Administrative Internships follow a fall-spring sequence.

Together with the assigned advisor, all graduate students seeking the M.A. in Educational Leadership will design and follow a program of studies that includes the 5 core courses described in the next section.  Courses taken without prior approval may not be accepted toward the completion of the degree.  Students in any of the programs in Educational Leadership must maintain a 3.3 cumulative GPA in all Program of Study course work.

Policy on Employment/ Load
Faculty and graduates have found that students who give themselves time to concentrate and reflect on their academic studies during their brief time at the University not only achieve academic excellence, but excel later in their professional careers. Therefore, the faculty of the Educational Leadership Program strongly recommends that students who are employed full time enroll in nine or fewer hours of course work fall and spring semesters in order to optimize their educational experience. Students will not be allowed to enroll in more than nine hours during the fall and spring semesters without prior approval. 

Degrees Offered

The degree and certificate programs in Educational Leadership are designed to prepare individuals to assume leadership positions in educational organizations. All rely heavily on concepts drawn from the social sciences for insight into leadership behavior, including: Strategic and Political Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Leadership for Learning and Professional Development, Data-Informed Leadership and Leadership in a Diverse Society.

Note: The State Public Education Department, not UNM, awards administrative licensure. Students seeking licensure must meet all UNM requirements in order to be eligible to apply for state licensure through our programs.

M.A. in Educational Leadership

All applicants for admission into the M.A. degree program in Educational Leadership must meet the requirements set forth in the preceding College section of this catalog and in the sections on graduate studies at the University of New Mexico. The M.A. degree program in Educational Leadership requires 15 credit hours in the Required Core Courses as described below. In addition to University requirements for graduation, students seeking the M.A. in Educational Leadership must successfully complete a leadership inquiry project and present it in a public forum.

36 credits are required for the M.A. degree program in Educational Leadership:

Note: Ideally, students should complete LEAD 501, LEAD 503, and LEAD 509 within the first two semesters of course work.

Additional Courses – 15 credit hours
These 15 credit hours should be selected in consultation with the assigned advisor. With advisor approval, up to 6 of the 15 credit hours may be selected from other degree programs in the College of Education or degree programs outside the College of Education at the University of New Mexico.  All courses for the M.A. degree program must be at the 500 level or above.

Practicum or Internship – 6 credit hours
In consultation with the assigned advisor, students select either 6 credit hours of Practicum (LEAD 594) or 6 credit hours of Administrative Internship (LEAD 596). The 6 credit hours of Administrative Internship are required for students seeking Administrative Licensure. Students must have completed at least 12 credits of course work in the core courses in order to be eligible to register for either LEAD 594 or LEAD 596.

M.A. Students Seeking Administrative Licensure
If a student in the M.A. degree program in Educational Leadership wishes to complete course work for Administrative Licensure, in addition to the 5 core courses, the student must successfully complete LEAD 520, LEAD 521, LEAD 560, LEAD 561, one LEAD elective, and 6 credit hours of LEAD 596 for a total of 36 credit hours.

At the time of application to the New Mexico Public Education Department (NM PED) for the Level 3B Administrative License, the applicant must hold a Level IIIA teaching license and must have passed the New Mexico Education Administrator Assessment.

Post-Masters Education Specialist Certificate in Educational Leadership

The Educational Leadership Program offers a post-M.A. Education Specialist certificate of 24 credit hours that includes 6 credit hours of either practicum or administrative internship. Applicants must hold a M.A. in Educational Leadership or a complementary field and meet the requirements set forth in the preceding College section of this catalog and in the sections on graduate studies at the University of New Mexico.

All graduate students seeking a post-M.A. Education Specialist Certificate work with the assigned advisor to design and follow a program of studies from existing Educational Leadership courses.

Applicants for the education specialist certificate who seek Administrative Licensure must hold a valid Level IIIA New Mexico Teaching license at the time they intend to participate in the administrative internship.  Students seeking Administrative Licensure must take LEAD 503, LEAD 509, LEAD 521, LEAD 560, LEAD 561, LEAD 520, and 6 credits of LEAD 596.

Courses taken without prior approval may not be accepted toward the completion of the Post-M.A. Education Specialist Certificate in Educational Leadership. Students in any of the programs in Educational Leadership must maintain a 3.3 cumulative GPA in all Program of Study course work.

Ed.D. in Educational Leadership

All applicants for admission into the doctoral program in Educational Leadership must meet the requirements set forth in the preceding College section of this catalog and in the sections on graduate studies at the University of New Mexico. Generally, minimum requirements for admission include experience as an educational leader, evidence of strong academic potential, and demonstrated ability to work cooperatively in a community of learners. In addition, applicants must hold a M.A. degree. As part of the application process, among other things, applicants must complete a letter of agreement regarding their willingness to engage in summer and academic year course work and submit GRE General Test scores.

The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is designed for active, high-achieving educators seeking to develop a more profound understanding of leadership for learning and community and personal transformation.

The degree program employs a modified cohort model, with groups of students entering every summer and collaboratively engaging in core Educational Leadership course work. Members contribute to and benefit from an emergent community of learners. Cohorts commit to three summers of full-time study in July. For the fall and spring terms, cohorts meet five intensive Friday-Sunday weekends each term.

Students have the option to pursue elective course work outside the core of Educational Leadership courses required for the doctorate.

In addition to University requirements for graduation, students must successfully pass comprehensive exams and complete and defend a dissertation.

Minor in Educational Leadership

Minor in Educational Leadership Candidates for the M.A. or the Ph.D. in other programs who wish to qualify for a transcripted minor in Educational Leadership must successfully complete, with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or better and a minimum grade of B in each class, the 15 credit hours of the required core M.A. courses in Educational Leadership: LEAD 501, LEAD 503, LEAD 509, LEAD 529, and LEAD 530.

Note: If a student wishes to complete a transcripted minor in Educational Leadership AND meet the requirements for Administrative Licensure, the student must complete 21 credit hours consisting of LEAD 503, LEAD 509, LEAD 521, LEAD 560, LEAD 561, and two semesters of LEAD 596. In addition to meeting coursework and internship requirements for administrative licensure, an individual must hold a New Mexico Level IIIA license and pass the state examination for administrative licensure prior to applying for New Mexico Administrative Licensure.