The Graduate School
Welcome to the Graduate School at the University of Northern Colorado. As a doctoral research university, we can help you start or advance your professional or academic career with small class sizes, nationally recognized faculty, sophisticated facilities and affordable tuition with more than 100 programs of study on campus, off campus or online.
We are committed to your success as a graduate student, providing relevant academic and professional coursework and real-world experiences in an environment where faculty and staff value personal attention as a key to learning.
The university’s location in Greeley, in the heart of one of the fastest-growing counties in Colorado, provides you access to an abundance of housing choices, job opportunities and cultural, recreational and entertainment amenities.
Graduate Student Success Stories
Audiology Student Researches Security Vulnerabilities in Hearing Aids
University of Northern Colorado Doctor of Audiology student Katie Kim combined her fascination with technology and research in her scholarly project, "Hearing Aid Data Security: User Perceptions and Bluetooth Low Energy Security Assessment."
"I've been enamored with technology since my dad and I built my first PC together," Kim said.
Doctoral Student Develops Groundbreaking Theory About Chopin
Jessica Castleberry began playing piano at age seven, and by her 20s, she was on course for a performance and teaching career. But the long hours of solo practice made for a lonely life. She found a new passion in music history at the University of Northern Colorado, where she earned a master's degree. In UNC's Music D.A. – Music History and Literature program, she's made discoveries about classical musician Frédéric Chopin.
Student Research Suggests Achievement Emotions May Hold Key to Academic Success
Alex Graves is researching chemistry students' achievement emotions for his University of Northern Colorado's Chemical Education Ph.D. program dissertation. Achievement emotions are those tied to reaching a goal, and they affect how well a student performs a task. That performance then impacts achievement emotions. For example, a student with high levels of anxiety will likely perform worse; then, performing worse will increase their anxiety.
Biological Sciences Master's Student Research Could Lead to Improvements in Liver Disease Outcomes
The University of Northern Colorado’s top-notch research facilities attracted Raznin Joly to the Biological Sciences M.S. – Thesis Concentration program. Joly was eager to learn laboratory techniques and research methodologies. She was especially keen on Associate Professor Yuyan Han's liver inflammation and disease research.
Student’s Research Aims to Shed Light on Invisible Barriers
As a student in the University of Northern Colorado's Rehabilitation Counseling M.A. program, Allie Tate has conducted extensive research on the stigma surrounding mental health disabilities.
“It's important to start out by saying stigma is a huge concept. It's an abstract idea that's sometimes hard to grasp. Societal barriers, prejudices and discrimination exist when it comes to individuals with disabilities. We're shining a light on those invisible barriers so we can move toward creating equitable access for everybody,” Tate said.
Language Teacher Turns Card Games into Problem-Solving Lesson
With more than a decade of language teaching experience under her belt, WeiHsuan Lo is eager to expand her knowledge base to best support her students. As a Ph.D. student in the University of Northern Colorado’s Technology, Innovation and Pedagogy program, (now the Educational Technology program), she’s researching ways teachers can use technology in their curriculum designs.
Doctoral Student’s Love for Music Inspires Research
Mike Cleary left a pre-med program of study for one that lights his soul on fire. In his first year of study in the University of Northern Colorado’s Doctor of Arts in Music Conducting, three research areas have piqued his interest: a WWII-era musical composition, the double bass and loss.
Doctoral Student Aims to Improve Preschool Inclusion in Rural Kansas
Lena Kisner’s passion for early childhood special education spurred her investigation of preschool inclusion rates in rural Kansas schools. She’s a special education director, overseeing children from birth to age 21 for five interlocal school districts. In fall 2023, when Kisner graduates from the University of Northern Colorado’s doctoral program in Special Education, she will have completed her research and taught the UNC graduate course Applied Assessment in Early Childhood Special Education four times.
Doctoral Student Studies Pandemic-era Anxiety, Depression and Resiliency
Kimberly Crystal Monroe is earning her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology in a University of Northern Colorado building a stone’s throw from her former preschool on a campus where several of her family members studied. From this academic home base, she’s been able to explore her curiosity and passion for learning through several research efforts, including a mental health-focused comprehensive project (akin to a mini-dissertation).
Social Emotional Learning Drives Doctoral Student’s Research
Angie Keedy believes the arts, and their exploration of inner lives, are natural convergence points for Social Emotional Learning (SEL). As she pursues her Doctor of Arts in Music with a concentration in Music Education, the University of Northern Colorado student is also researching SEL.
Graduate Student Leverages the Power of Play to Support Kids’ Health
Danielle Belcher spent her teenage years in Arvada, Colorado. When the former gymnast searched for an in-state college, she found the University of Northern Colorado, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. Now she’s a first-year student in the Sport and Exercise Science M.S. program.
Doctoral Candidate Probes COVID’s Impact on Special Education
When K-12 public schools shifted to online learning models during COVID-19, special education directors scrambled to meet students’ needs while adhering to strict legal requirements. University of Northern Colorado Ed.D. candidate Vanessa Giddings dug deep into special education directors’ lived experiences in her dissertation, “Meeting Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) Requirements for Students with Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Special Education Directors.”
English Master’s Student Explores Clowns and Community in ‘Godspell’
A tornado damaged the community theater where Karsen Gromm planned to act in “Godspell Junior” when he was 12. Although the show was canceled, Gromm was “hooked on it.”
“Godspell” was a 1971 off-Broadway musical featuring parables from the Gospel of Matthew. In the half-century since its opening, “Godspell” and “Godspell Junior,” a youth adaption, has been performed in theaters all around the world by amateurs and professionals alike.
Student's Research Reveals Risk of Noise Exposure at Hockey Games
Sean Hoverson has attended hundreds of hockey games. Like most fans, the University of Northern Colorado Doctor of Audiology candidate didn’t wear hearing protection, nor did he recognize the need. Conducted over a season of Colorado Eagles games, his doctoral scholarly project, “Spectator Noise Exposures During a Season of Minor League Hockey,” revealed the risk.
Student's Award-Winning Research Could Influence Future of Sports Marketing
Alicia Romano combined her passions for sports, research and teaching in the University of Northern Colorado’s Sport and Exercise Science Ph.D. program. She chose a sport administration concentration and conducted novel research that could have major implications for sports marketing. One of the highlights of her UNC education was her research “Consumers’ Visual Attention and Explicit Memory of Sponsorships: An Eye-Tracking Investigation at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Swim Trials.”
Dissertation Examines Maya Education in Postcolonial Belize
Jenny Pettit went to Belize three times to conduct research for her dissertation “Educational Experiences that Influence the Upward Mobility of Maya Women in Belize,” which was awarded UNC’s Graduate Dean’s Citation for Outstanding Dissertation last year. Pettit identified three Maya women who were leaders in their communities and examined how their educational and other life experiences had influenced their success.
Graduate’s Psychological Safety Study Could Change Nursing Education
A University of Northern Colorado graduate’s dissertation has the potential to change education for nursing students everywhere.
“My two loves are nursing and education. I’m interested in trying to figure out how we can teach the next generation better and make them more prepared,” said Melissa Anozie.
Applied Statistics and Research Methods Graduate Uses Data Science to Improve Victim Outcomes
When Broomfield, Colorado-based data executive Idilio Moncivais searched for a university where he could study applied statistics combined with research methods, he found the University of Northern Colorado — the only university in the state and one of few nationwide to offer the program he wanted.
Dissertation Fellowship Supports Student’s Cancer Research
Lea Haverbeck Simon wants to make a difference in the lives of breast cancer patients. Haverbeck Simon, a student in the Sport and Exercise Science Ph.D. – Exercise Physiology Concentration program, was awarded a Dissertation Fellowship this year for her research, “Effects of Exercise Training on Circulating Cancer-Associated Immune Cells in Breast Cancer Patients.”
Criminal Justice Master’s Student Honored with Dean’s Citation for Excellence
When Naya Russell-Coprich started her studies at the University of Northern Colorado, she wanted to be a police officer like her grandfather — one of the first black police officers in Denver. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice from UNC, Russell-Coprich has a new focus.
An engaging, quality education
Our smaller class sizes and engaged faculty provide personalized interactions, customized learning opportunities and meaningful collaborations, inspiring students to achieve beyond their expectations.
An investment you can manage
Our competitive tuition and multiple forms of student support affords you the opportunity to pursue an exceptional education with nationally recognized faculty and scholars.
Programs that fit your schedule
With the combination of offerings on campus, off campus and online, UNC graduate programs are designed to fit around your busy schedule. No matter where you study we take pride in the fact you study with core UNC faculty.
