Graduate Degrees in Educational Foundations, Policy & Practice

Educational Foundations, Policy & Practice

CU Boulder’s graduate degrees in educational foundations, policy and practice are flexible programs with small class sizes that prepare students for diverse roles as educators, advocates and policy analysts.

Develop expertise in policy analysis, research methods, program evaluation and school reform through the School of Education’s master’s and doctoral programs. In addition to gaining hands-on experience in the educational field through projects and practicums, you’ll build strong and enduring relationships with leading faculty, researchers and community members.

Degree Types

MA ᐧ PhD

Experience Colorado’s top-ranked graduate programs in education. CU Boulder has the best graduate school for education in the state, according to .

Join an esteemed alumni network. The School of Education has more than 13,000 alumni across the U.S., with 67% living in Colorado.

Research alongside the field’s leading scholars. The School of Education’s faculty includes 14 American Educational Research Association fellows.

Degree Options & Application Requirements

Educational Foundations, Policy and Practice Higher Education

Educational Foundations, Policy and Practice

Master of Arts in Educational Foundations, Policy and Practice

Concentration in community-based change or evaluation and program evaluation
Must complete 30 credit hours of approved coursework
Must be completed within 4 years

Application Deadlines & Requirements

To learn about the upcoming term application deadlines, please visit the Graduate School website.

For program details, review the course catalog for the .

Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies and Accelerated Master of Arts in Educational Foundations, Policy and Practice

Open to CU Boulder students who have declared ethnic studies as a major
Can be completed in 5 years
May take up to 12 credit hours while in the undergraduate program that can later count toward the master’s degree

Application Deadlines & Requirements

To learn about the upcoming term application deadlines, please visit the Graduate School website.

For program details, review the .

Doctor of Philosophy in Education with Emphasis in Educational Foundations, Policy and Practice

Expected to have appropriate master’s degree and professional background
Can be completed in 5 years
30 hours of dissertation credit required

Application Deadlines & Requirements

To learn about the upcoming term application deadlines, please visit the Graduate School website.

For program details, review the .

Higher Education

Master of Arts in Higher Education

Must be completed within 4 years
Will complete 2 professional practicum experiences in higher education, a research-based capstone project and a summative writing project
Must complete 36 credit hours of approved coursework

Application Deadlines & Requirements

To learn about the upcoming term application deadlines, please visit the Graduate School website.

For program details, review the .

Research Areas

Educational Planning/Policy
Higher Education
History/Philosophy of Education
Comparative Education
Educational Evaluation/Assessment

Funding Opportunities

We understand funding opportunities play a major role in helping you to decide whether a program is right for you. At CU Boulder, PhD students are supported through research and teaching assistantships. Students are also encouraged to apply for their own sources of funding.

Explore General Funding Explore Department-Specific Funding

Graduate Student Resources

Student success is best met with holistic support and resources. CU Boulder offers robust resources, programming and opportunities to help students establish meaningful connections, adjust to graduate student life and find assistance when they need it. Whether it’s academic, social, or health and wellness support, the university provides an array of resources to meet the diverse needs of our students.

Graduate Student Organizations