Graduate Certificate in Leadership
Pursue Your Graduate Certificate in Leadership Online at Post UniversityProgram Overview
As a student in our leadership graduate certificate program, you will have the opportunity to build and develop skills for leading people, teams, departments, and entire organizations as well as how to best manage complexity and change within an organization. Your program also covers how to apply ethical values, beliefs, and behaviors to decision-making for socially responsible organizations. Coursework for this Graduate Certificate in Leadership online program includes studies in change management, virtuous leadership, leading innovation, and more.
Benefits of Earning a Graduate Certificate in Leadership Online
From the admissions process to the day you graduate, we are with you every step of the way.
- Receive support from a personal Post team of advisors focused on your academic success
- Learn from industry-experienced professionals in interactive courses
- No class times or set login times for your online leadership program
- Online courses emphasize practical application of leadership principles
Curriculum
Graduate Certificate in Leadership: 12 Required Credits
Industry-Focused Curriculum for Professional Skills
Coursework for your online Graduate Certificate in Leadership is designed to help you better prepare for leadership roles with insights and strategies for:
- Leading people more effectively and managing complexity in organizations
- Applying ethics to decision-making in socially responsible organizations
- Enhancing leadership skills through the study of academic models and assessments
- Helping your organization respond to external pressures to be more competitive
Sample Courses
Leadership and Change Management
This course will focus on individual, team, and organizational leadership, providing frameworks from various perspectives on organizational performance improvement. The emphasis of this course is on the changing nature of organizations as they respond to external pressures to compete and transform themselves in response to rapidly developing technological and human resource advances of the global economy. The course focuses on the leader’s responsibilities as a change agent, sometimes as initiator, other times as responder; sometimes as an individual, other times as a member of a team functioning collectively as leaders of a change effort. Organizational culture also plays a part in this course, as it has an enormous impact on the success or failure of change initiatives.
Innovating Leadership and Management
The focus of this course is on innovation in leading and managing. As our socioeconomic environment changes and the workplace faces increased competition, technology, and globalization, we must ask, “How can we innovate management and leadership to keep up with and stay ahead of these changing dynamics?” Innovative organizations require different organizational structures, leadership, and management. The more traditional structures and leadership characteristics, traits, and strategies must be transformed to meet new demands. Topics include barriers to the innovative process, disruptive innovation, quality of innovative leaders, and leadership theories that promote the innovative process.
Complexity of the Innovative Process
This course examines the process of innovation within a multidimensional framework, including emerging technologies, changing markets, organizational culture, world economy, competitive pressures, and leadership. The issue of uncertainty as a by-product of innovation and how organizations recognize uncertainty and respond by modifying their organizational structures, including the structure of executive leadership, is examined. On another front, the role of cross-functionality, of technical communications, of external relationships, and of intra-organizational and inter-organizational networks in promoting innovations is critically assessed and explored. A variety of learning tools will be used, including lectures, video clips, case studies, and class discussions.
Developing Leadership Effectiveness
This course focuses on developing skills essential for today’s leaders. It explores leadership models and theories through various perspectives. Students will analyze and evaluate multiple leadership styles. The emphasis will be on how these models can be applied to improve leadership effectiveness within the organization and the student’s’ own leadership styles.
The sample courses listed are intended to illustrate the types of coursework included in this program. Course offerings and requirements may change. Please consult the official University Catalog for current and complete program information.
Visit the University Catalog >> for Curriculum, Course Descriptions, and Program Outcomes.
“We know that every student has different aspirations, different backgrounds, different challenges, and different learning styles, and it requires individual solutions for each and every student. Every associate, staff, and faculty member is uniquely focused on that personal interaction.”
Ready to Apply?
The admissions team is available to walk you through each step of the application process and clarify any remaining questions.
Accreditation
Institutional Accreditation
College (University) is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.). Inquiries regarding the accreditation status by the Commission should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:
New England Commission of Higher Education
301 Edgewater Place, Suite 210, Wakefield, MA 01880
(781) 425 7785
E-Mail: [email protected]
For more information on Post University's state licensure or accreditation, please visit the Accreditation page.
Graduate Admissions Requirements
Post University maintains consistent graduate admissions standards for students enrolling online or on campus. While individual programs may include additional criteria, all applicants are evaluated using foundational requirements that support academic readiness and program alignment.
Common graduate admissions requirements include:
- Completion of a graduate admissions application
- Submission of official transcripts from all previously attended postsecondary institutions
- Documentation of a conferred bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or an approved equivalent
- Participation in an admissions interview or advisory session, if recommended
- Submission of a personal statement, when requested, which may be required for applicants below a specified cumulative grade point average threshold
- Verification of all admissions materials
Graduate admissions requirements may vary by program and learning format. For complete and program-specific requirements, please review:
Why Students Choose Post University
“A few times, I was on multi-week overseas trips, and it was sometimes difficult for me to get online. They were very understanding and very flexible in allowing me to be able to do some work in advance or, in some cases, do some work afterwards to stay on track.”
Tuition & Ways to Save
An education at Post University is designed to provide long-term value. Tuition is competitively structured, and financial aid opportunities are available for those who qualify. Admissions and financial aid teams work with you to review available options and explain each step of the process clearly.
With multiple funding opportunities available, you may qualify for more than you expect.
Tuition Reductions →
Tuition reductions are available for eligible active-duty military service members, veterans, public safety professionals, education partners, alumni, and others who qualify.
Scholarships →
Post University offers a variety of institutional scholarships. Dedicated scholarship advisors assist students in identifying both institutional and relevant external scholarship opportunities.
Financial Aid →
Federal financial aid programs are available for many degree programs for students who qualify.
Transfer Credits →
Post University will evaluate course credit completed at eligible institutions, as well as credit earned through approved examinations or prior learning experiences, for potential transfer.
Military Benefits →
Military education benefits extend to active-duty service members, reservists, veterans, their families, and eligible Department of Defense civilian employees.
Student Loans →
Federal and private loan programs may be available to students who qualify.
Tuition Reductions →
Tuition reductions are available for eligible active-duty military service members, veterans, public safety professionals, education partners, alumni, and others who qualify.
Scholarships →
Post University offers a variety of institutional scholarships. Dedicated scholarship advisors assist students in identifying both institutional and relevant external scholarship opportunities.
Financial Aid →
Federal financial aid programs are available for many degree programs for students who qualify.
Transfer Credits →
Post University will evaluate course credit completed at eligible institutions, as well as credit earned through approved examinations or prior learning experiences, for potential transfer.
Military Benefits →
Military education benefits extend to active-duty service members, reservists, veterans, their families, and eligible Department of Defense civilian employees.
Student Loans →
Federal and private loan programs may be available to students who qualify.
Ready to take the next steps?
Admissions advisors are available to answer your questions, explain the application process, and help you explore which program aligns with your interests and experience.
If you are considering Post University, we invite you to begin the conversation.
Why Post University?
At Post University, you are not an anonymous face in a crowded lecture hall. You are known and supported from your first conversation through program completion. That is the meaning behind Post Makes It Personal®.
Our approach is grounded in three commitments: career focus, value, and personalization. Whether you are beginning your undergraduate journey, returning to continue your education, or pursuing a graduate degree, Post University offers programs developed with professional practice in mind, led by industry-experienced faculty, and delivered in formats designed to fit into your life.
Post people come from many different backgrounds and life stages. Some are stepping onto campus for the first time, while others are learning online while balancing work, family, military service, or community commitments. Across every format, students are part of a community built on connection, structure, and shared purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Could I Do with a Graduate Certificate in Leadership?
Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate in Leadership program from Post University, you will have had the opportunity to develop a better understanding of how to take on leadership roles in multiple settings. Required courses cover essentials such as change management, innovation leadership, and leadership effectiveness. The program also provides self-assessment opportunities to help you better understand your own leadership style while exploring the leadership theory, strategy, and applications you could use to develop your professional and personal management abilities. From ethical decision-making to the complexities of managing change, the skills you are encouraged to build in your the Graduate Certificate in Leadership program could help you gain valuable leadership skills.
What is a Graduate Certificate in Leadership?
A graduate certificate in leadership is a postgraduate program designed to give individuals the opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge needed to lead effectively in various organizational settings. It focuses on developing leadership abilities, managing change, and applying ethical principles to decision-making.
What Topics are Covered in the Coursework for a Graduate Certificate in Leadership?
The coursework for a graduate certificate in leadership typically covers a range of topics essential for effective leadership, including change management, virtuous leadership, leading innovation, and ethical decision-making. It also explores academic models and assessments to enhance leadership skills and strategies for navigating organizational complexity.
How Long Does a Graduate Certificate in Leadership Take?
The Graduate Certificate in Leadership from Post University typically takes 8 months to complete. The flexible online format allows students to study at their own pace while balancing other commitments.
Can I Get a Graduate Certificate in Leadership Online?
Yes, you can earn the Graduate Certificate in Leadership online from Post University. The program is designed to be flexible and accessible for working professionals, allowing students to complete coursework remotely. This online format allows students the opportunity you to develop leadership skills and knowledge at your their own pace.
Students who wish to enroll in this graduate certificate program are required to have a bachelor’s degree.
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