University of California, Los Angeles

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Benchmark this program against our national recognition pages and use the key guides below to evaluate ROI, admissions difficulty, and outcomes.

Admission Snapshot

Typical admitted student: Admission requires a bachelor's degree (master's preferred), minimum 3.0 GPA, at least five years of full-time professional experience in PreK-16 education or related fields, current full-time employment, leadership potential, and strong analytical/writing/speaking skills.

About This Program

UCLA's Educational Leadership Program (ELP) brings together mid-career professionals from PK-16 settings in a unique cohort model. The 3-year program emphasizes social justice leadership and practical application of research. All courses are required and strategically designed to support growth as practitioner-scholars. Self-supporting program that allows UCLA to serve students beyond state-funded capacity. Strong faculty who develop theory while working in multicultural urban settings.

Career Outcomes

ELP graduates pursue leadership positions in K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, non-profits, and educational organizations with focus on systemic change.

• 1. School Superintendent
• 2. District Administrator
• 3. College President
• 4. Education Policy Director

What You'll Learn

• Apply social justice frameworks to address inequities in PreK-16 education systems.
• Conduct empirical research on problems of practice in educational organizations.
• Lead collaborative teams for organizational change and policy implementation.
• Integrate theory and data-driven strategies for equitable curriculum and instruction.

Curriculum Highlights

Year 1: Research Methods, Leadership Development, Educational Leadership Foundations; Year 2: Equity-Centered Leadership, Field Experiences, Research Seminars; Year 3: Dissertation, LEAD Field Visits, Leadership Capstone

Top Employers

Common employers include school districts, community colleges, universities, and nonprofit education organizations.

Admissions

Admission requires a bachelor's degree (master's preferred), minimum 3.0 GPA, at least five years of full-time professional experience in PreK-16 education or related fields, current full-time employment, leadership potential, and strong analytical/writing/speaking skills.

Application Materials

• Statement of Purpose: Required
• Letters of Recommendation: 3
• Resume: Required
• Transcripts: Official transcripts required

Academic Requirements

• Degree Required: Bachelor's (master's preferred)
• GRE/GMAT: Not Required
• TOEFL/IELTS: Required for international students (TOEFL 80+ / IELTS 6.5+)