Leadership

Graduate Certificate

Why Choose CMU’s Graduate Certificate in Leadership?

True leadership isn’t defined by a title; it’s defined by action, vision and the ability to inspire others. This certificate in leadership equips you with essential skills to handle challenges, manage diverse teams and create solutions based on data-driven decision-making. The best part? You can complete the program on your schedule in just one year, either online or on campus. 

Leadership is more than just being in charge. It’s about navigating challenges, building relationships and inspiring action across all levels of an organization. This certificate program prepares you to excel in all those areas and more. 

You’ll take courses that cover essential topics. You’ll customize your certificate to match your organization and your goals. Choices include such courses as:

• Conflict Management: Turn disagreements into opportunities for growth. 
• Interpersonal Communication Skills: Build meaningful connections with colleagues and stakeholders. 
• Group Dynamics: Learn how to lead and motivate teams to deliver their best performance. 
• Succession Planning: Strategize for long-term organizational success. 
• Collective Bargaining: Handle negotiations with confidence and integrity.
• Professional Ethics: Make values-driven decisions to lead with authenticity. 
• Gender and Generational Supervision: Adapt your approach to diverse and multi-generational teams. 
• Emotional Intelligence: Understand emotions to better connect, manage stress and lead effectively. 

 Whether you’re in the corporate world, education, military or nonprofit sector, this program ensures you’re equipped with the leadership skills you need to make an impact. 

A path to your Master of Science in Administration in Leadership

A graduate certificate is the perfect next step if you’ve earned a bachelor’s degree but need specialized training to advance or pivot in your career. Typically consisting of 5 to 6 graduate-level courses focused on a specific subject, this program is designed to sharpen your expertise – in this case, preparing you to take on your organization’s leadership needs.

Each course takes eight weeks, allowing you to complete this graduate certificate in about a year. Even better, these courses seamlessly transfer into our M.S. in Administration degree with a concentration in leadership. By completing the graduate certificate first, you’ll already have almost half of the coursework for your master’s degree completed.

Highlights of the leadership graduate certificate program

Go beyond traditional leadership training with unique benefits tailored to meet the needs of today’s professionals:

Flexible Options: Choose to study online or on-campus

Fast Completion: Eight-week courses allow you to complete this program in just one year while taking only one class at a time so you can balance your current work and life responsibilities. 

Creative Problem-Solving: Develop innovative solutions and make informed decisions based on analytics and evidence. 

Customizable courses: Extensive electives, chosen with the help of your advisor,  allow you to design a program around your career goals, focusing on the aspects of leadership most needed by you and your organization.

Credits transfer to master’s degree: The 15 credits earned in your Graduate Certificate in Leadership will transfer into our 36-credit MSA in Logistics and Acquisitions. You’re almost halfway there!

Expert-led curriculum: Your instructors are active professionals and leaders in their fields, providing you with real-world insights and strategies. 

Broad applications: This program benefits leaders across industries, from manufacturing and retail to public administration, the military and the nonprofit sector.