Admissions

Join the M.Ed. LEDE Concentration

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Application Deadlines

For admission to the winter 2026 cohort.

Application Opens: February 1
Priority Deadline: July 30
Final Deadline: October 15

Start your application

Admissions Questions?

Contact the Student Recruitment manager at edleader@uw.edu

Admission Requirements

Minimum UW Admission Requirements

  • Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. or its equivalent from a foreign institution
  • 3.00 GPA in the last 90 quarter credits or 60 semester credits of graded upper-division coursework
  • Be proficient in English: Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency. The ways in which proficiency can be demonstrated are outlined in Policy 3.2: Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements.
  • Applicants pursuing the Residency Principal certificate must have 3 years minimum school-based experience in an instructional role with students.

Application Checklist

How to Apply

1. Application & Fee

Complete the application to the UW Graduate School. Be sure to select “Education-Bothell-MED” as your program. 

The application fee is $90 payable by credit or debit card. All applications must be completed online.

2. Transcripts

Scanned copies of all college and university transcripts must be uploaded as part of the application. Unofficial transcripts are accepted for initial application. 

Official transcripts are required if admitted to the M.Ed. program and will be submitted directly to the UW Graduate School. Instructions will be included in your offer of admission.

3. Admission Essay

All applicants should compose an essay that includes the following: 

  1. Indicate your intended M.Ed. Concentration Area: Leadership Development for Educators
  2. Discuss your understanding of why/how social injustice exists and persists.  As part of your response, discuss a personal and/or professional experience with injustice that has led you to seek out the M.Ed. program at UW Bothell, and your chosen concentration. Be sure to note your own thoughts and/or actions in that moment. 
  3. How do you envision this program and its emphasis on instructional leadership and educational justice will prepare you to be an effective educational leader and advocate for communities furthest from educational justice?

Essay Format:

  • Indicate your intended M.Ed. concentration in the first paragraph of your essay. 
  • Essays should be approximately 3-4 pages, up to 1000 words, double spaced.
  • Upload into your application as a Word, PDF, or RTF document.

4. LEDE Supplemental Questions

  • Current School District
  • Number of years of teaching experience 
  • Indicate all levels and subjects taught 
  • Indicate any specialist training experience or endorsements 
  • Indicate years released from instruction for instructionally-focused teacher leadership, what percent of your FTE you were released, and primary responsibilities during released time 
  • Indicate major teacher leadership activities during last three years 
  • Indicate non-credit professional development directly related to teacher instructional leadership 
  • Indicate leadership experience outside of education, including titles and responsibilities 
  • Describe how your current position will support internship activities required by the LEDE concentration 
  • Provide contact information for a school district supervisor who can confirm the opportunity for completing an internship in your current position 

5. Resume

This can be uploaded as a Word, PDF, or RTF document. 

6. Two Recommendations

Applicants will need two letters of recommendation. All recommendations are submitted electronically as part of the application process. Once a recommender has been designated in the application, recommenders will automatically be sent an email from the UW Graduate School with instructions on how to submit their letter of recommendation. 

Residency Principal certification applicants: Both letters must come from current educators who can speak to applicant’s leadership experience.

Program Administrator certification applicants: At least one of the two letters must come from a current educator who can speak to applicant’s leadership experience.

The other letter may come from a colleague, administrator, or community member who can speak to the applicant’s ability to be successful in a graduate program.

Information for International Students

  • International applicants are those who currently hold or expect temporary U.S. Visas, including holders of F1, H1-B, H-4 or any other non-immigrant classifications. 
  • U.S. permanent residents (Green Card holders or immigrants) are NOT considered international applicants. 
  • International applicants may be required to submit additional documentation, including a statement of financial ability. View more details on additional requirements for International applicants. 

Graduate Non-Matriculated Student Enrollment

The Master of Education program accepts Graduate and Graduate Non-Matriculated (GNM) students. The application process and requirements will vary depending on your interest. If you are interested in applying as a Graduate Non-Matriculated student, please check requirements here.