M.Ed. in Educational Leadership - 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. 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.

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 the 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.

Whether your career goals include engaging in non-profit, higher education, K-12, or government entities, the VCU School of Education academic programs take learning to a new level. As the 16th best public graduate education school and 10th best online master in education based on U.S. News and World Report (2023), we do things differently. We are UNcommon at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Transforming lives. Serving communities. Learning Elevated. It’s more than an aspirational slogan. It’s our purpose. Our values of innovation, inclusion, community-focused, and collaboration guide us daily with diversity, equity, inclusion, and access at the center of our work. At VCU School of Education, we walk the walk. Come walk with us. VCU has been recognized four straight years as a Diversity Champion by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, and we follow suit in the VCU School of education with 32% of SOE students identifying as racially minoritized. Our faculty and staff are known around the world as leaders in education research and instruction, and they bring years of real-world experience to the classroom. Research shows that diversity drives excellence, and with our over $37.4 million dollar external funding supporting research, we make a big impact in challenging the status quo. VCU is ranked among the 30 most innovative public universities by the U.S. News and World Report, and the School of Education is ranked #13 school engagement by the National Science Foundation. If you are ready to be UNstoppable, join our community today.

Vision

To be a leader in responsive, needs-driven, and research-based educational practices that transform the lives of those we serve in our communities, especially those who have been historically marginalized.

Mission

We advance learning and knowledge through impactful research, teaching, and engagement to provide our students, professionals, and communities with the tools to create progressive change. We prepare and support professionals to lead change and inform social, economic, health, and educational policy and practice.

Values

• Innovative – Cultivate discovery, creativity, originality, inventiveness, and talent.
• Inclusive – Ensure a climate of mutual trust and respect where individuals of different cultural backgrounds, identities, abilities, and life experiences are embraced, engaged, and empowered to drive excellence and success.
• Community-focused – Build deliberate/intentional relationships with the surrounding community and engage in actions that focus on the needs of its people.
• Collaborative – Foster collegiality and cooperation with internal and external partners to advance learning, research, and service.