M.Ed. Culturally Responsive Leadership Concentration
The culturally-responsive and community-based leadership concentration of the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership program is a 30-credit-hour program designed to prepare school and community leaders with foundational theory, research and skills related to culturally responsive and community-based leadership. 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.
This program offers:
- The opportunity to gain leadership development for positions in multiple areas (youth development, program management, research and policy analysis; equity and community engagement officers; school and district-level leaders; nonprofit management and development related to education)
- The opportunity to leverage practices of critical inquiry in promotion of equitable educational environments
- The opportunity to apply leadership skills that engage internal and external communities in mutually beneficial ways
- The opportunity to demonstrate in-depth knowledge and skills in culturally responsive leadership
- Access to experienced faculty and instructor practitioners
- Online and face-to-face options
Designed for full-time students and working professionals, this program can be completed in as little as 16 months. Students will exit the program prepared to enact culturally-responsive and sustaining leadership approaches in K12 schools and school-supporting organizations.
The School of Education's Culturally Responsive Leadership concentration requires 30 credit hours, consisting of the following:
Core courses | Credits | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ADMS 618 | Leadership for Educational 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, & 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 |
M.Ed. in Educational Leadership - Culturally Responsive and Community-Centered Leadership Concentration | |||||||
Part-Time (30 Credit Hours) | |||||||
Fall - Year 1: | ADMS 633: Multiple Dimensions of Leadership (3) | ||||||
ADMS 655: Student-Centered Policy and Collaboration (3) | |||||||
Spring - Year 1: | ADMS 656: Human Dimensions of Leadership: Empathy, Trust, and Care in Organizations (3) | ||||||
ADMS 657: Educational Leadership and Civil Rights (3) | |||||||
Summer - Year 1: | ADMS 618: Leadership for Educational Change and Improvement (3) | ||||||
EDUS 660: Educational Research Methods (3) | |||||||
Fall - Year 2 | ADMS 622: Understanding Diversity and Leading for Social Justice (3) | ||||||
ADMS 658: Community-Based Action Research for School and Community Sustainability (3) | |||||||
Spring - Year 2 | ADMS 630: Understanding and Engaging Communities (3) | ||||||
ADMS 659: Leadership in the “New Demography”: Immigration Theory and Policy | |||||||
GRADUATE (May) | |||||||
Revised July 2021 |
Please keep in mind exact course requirements may vary so consult your adviser or the program coordinator with any questions.
CONCENTRATION/VCU BULLETIN INFO
PROGRAM BASICS
How to apply: Graduate application
Semester of entry: Fall
Application deadline: April 1EXTENDED APPLICATION DEADLINE Fall 2023: May 1
Late applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Resources and Checklists
Application checklist [PDF]
Please note, we suggest you identify the best concentration for your future career and connect with our Enrollment Management team and/or program coordinator if you have questions. Each application requires an individual application fee.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Clarify your motivations and goals for pursuing a graduate degree in Culturally Responsive Leadership.
- Provide examples from your professional and/or personal experiences that further illustrate your objectives.
- Three letters of recommendation
- Transcripts from previous academic work
FOR MORE IN-DEPTH INFO
Additional Concentrations
Ready To Get Started?

- Jenna Lenhardt, Ph.D.
- Director, Strat Recrt & Outrch
- (804) 827-2479
- SOEinfo@vcu.edu

- Lacey E. Seaton, Ed.D.
- Coordinator
- (804) 828-1940
- seatonle@vcu.edu