The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership with a concentration in culturally responsive leadership is a 30 credit-hour program. The purpose of the concentration is to prepare school and community leaders with foundational theory, research and skills related to culturally responsive and community-based leadership. The curriculum will focus on leadership and understanding and mitigating power imbalances related to race, ethnicity, culture and/or class, as well as establishing policies and practices that nurture an anti-racist organizational climate. Additional topics include dimensions of human diversity, community and youth-based activism and praxis; immigration and adaptation; gender and power; ableism; children and youth; social inclusion; health disparities; poverty; racism; colonization; and inequality. Students will exit the program prepared to enact culturally responsive and sustaining leadership approaches in K12 schools and school-supporting organizations. This program is available in an online format.
Student learning outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
Educational leadership core outcomes
- Leverage practices of critical inquiry in promotion of equitable environments
- Apply leadership skills that engage internal and external communities in mutually beneficial ways
Culturally responsive leadership concentration-specific outcome
- Develop specific knowledge of power imbalances related to race, ethnicity, class and other identities using culturally responsive leadership skills to facilitate inclusive environments where all stakeholders in their organizational contexts feel valued and have the resources and conditions they need to thrive
VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs
The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.
It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.
Degree candidacy requirements
A graduate student admitted to a program or concentration requiring a final research project, work of art, thesis or dissertation, must qualify for continuing master’s or doctoral status according to the degree candidacy requirements of the student’s graduate program. Admission to degree candidacy, if applicable, is a formal statement by the graduate student’s faculty regarding the student’s academic achievements and the student’s readiness to proceed to the final research phase of the degree program.
Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following degree candidacy policy as published in the VCU Graduate Bulletin for complete information and instructions.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on degree candidacy requirements.
Graduation requirements
As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.
Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.
Admission requirements
| Degree: | Semester(s) of entry: | Deadline dates: | Test requirements: |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.Ed. | Fall | Apr 1 |
In addition to the general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School, the following requirements represent the minimum acceptable standards for admission:
- Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate discipline
- Two letters of recommendation addressing the student’s potential for graduate study in education
- Statement of intent
- Transcripts of all previous college work
- Resume or curriculum vitae
Please visit the School of Education website for further information.
Degree requirements
In addition to general VCU Graduate School graduation requirements, students are required to complete course work in core and concentration courses.
- Credit hour requirements: Students are required to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours.
- Grade requirements: Receipt of a grade of C or below in two courses constitutes automatic dismissal from the program. Courses with a grade below C cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements.
Curriculum requirements
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core courses | ||
| ADMS 618 | Leadership for Change and Improvement | 3 |
| ADMS 622 | Understanding Diversity and Leading for Social Justice | 3 |
| ADMS 630 | Understanding and Engaging School Communities | 3 |
| ADMS 633 | Multiple Dimensions of Leadership | 3 |
| EDUS 660 | Research Methods in Education | 3 |
| Concentration courses | ||
| ADMS 655 | Student-Centered Policy and Collaboration | 3 |
| ADMS 656 | Human Dimensions of Leadership: Empathy, Trust and Care in Organizations | 3 |
| ADMS 657 | Educational Leadership and Civil Rights | 3 |
| ADMS 658 | Community-Based Action Research for Education Stakeholders | 3 |
| ADMS 659 | Leadership in the “New Demography”: Immigration Theory and Politics | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this degree is 30.
Contact
Office of Strategic Recruitment
soeinfo@vcu.edu
(804) 827-6847
Additional contact
Kristen M. Brown, Ed.D.
Associate professor and graduate program director
brownkm12@vcu.edu
(804) 828-1940
Program website: soe.vcu.edu/academics/masters-programs/med-educational-leadership