School and college administrators are challenged with directing broad educational programs that serve diverse communities. Schools, colleges, universities and community agencies need well-trained professionals who use current knowledge and possess strong leadership skills to design and administer their programs.

The mission of Central Michigan University's Educational Leadership Department is to prepare students to lead educational and community organizations. Individuals whose career goals include a leadership role in an educational or community organization will find that CMU offers a variety of programs that can be tailored to their specific needs, including the option of joining a group of students that attend classes off-campus called a "cohort".