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The Leadership Certificate options enable students to develop leadership skills that can be applied to a wide range of settings including: business; government; nonprofit; and education. All three certificates can be folded into the M.A. in Organizational Leadership program.

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certificate options

Program Details

Overview

Designed for:

The Leadership Certificate options enable students to develop leadership skills that can be applied to a wide range of settings including: business; government; nonprofit; and education. All three certificates can be folded into the M.A. in Organizational Leadership program.

Certificate Options:

  1. Adaptive Leadership Certificate
  2. Enabling Leadership Certificate
  3. Executive Leadership Certificate

To start, you need:

  • A bachelor’s degree
  • Desire to further your professional career

Finishing will take:

  • 12-15 credits

Begin your Certificate in Leadership:

  • Fall or Spring term

Where you will take classes:

  • Online/distance fall, winter, and spring
  • On-campus evening courses at the WOU Salem Campus

Technology you will need:

  • Computer with internet connection

Where this degree can take you:

  • Management roles
  • Further career advancement

What you will learn:

These certificates includes instruction in organizational planning, dynamics of leadership, communication, creativity and innovation, team building, conflict resolution and mediation, and other leadership skills.

Learning outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge and application of principles, theories, and concepts of leadership for entry-level leadership positions within organizational settings.
  2. Develop critical skills including ethical reasoning and communicative fluency.
  3. Apply teamwork, leadership, and communication skills to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds or entry-level leadership positions within organizational settings.

Application Requirements

Deadlines and key dates:

  • You may apply to start the program in fall or spring terms.

Detailed application requirements:

Application materials required for WOU Graduate admission:

  • Application Fee $60
  • Transcripts
    • You can upload an unofficial copy of your transcript to complete your application for admission. Save as a PDF with your first and last name in time from all previous colleges. We will require an official transcript from the Colleges or Universities you have attended for formal admission.
    • Transcripts are used as Evidence of completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree (or international equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution as defined by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars, with a cumulative B average (equivalent 3.00 on a U.S. 4.00 grading scale) on the most recent baccalaureate degree. Applicants who hold a master’s degree will have the 3.0 GPA requirement waived. Students with less than 3.0 can also provide passing MAT/GRE scores to be fully admitted.
  • Current Resume
    • Save as a PDF with your first and last name in the title.

Process: Applications will be reviewed once all application materials have been submitted. Please refer to the Application Checklist in your Graduate Application Portal to confirm the status of your submitted materials. The Graduate Application Portal will also provide additional details about the checklist items for further clarification. You will be notified via email regarding changes in the status of your application or if you are missing any application components.

      Curriculum

      Leadership Certificate curriculum overview:

      Provide opportunities for students to develop leadership skills that can be applied to business, government, nonprofit, or educational setting. Includes instruction in organizational planning, dynamics of leadership, communication, creativity and innovation, team building, conflict resolution and mediation, communication and other management skills. Students will not only grow as professionals through action-based learning, but they also make a positive impact on their communities and workplaces through a practical application of cumulative skills.

      Students completing both certificates and the additional courses for their exit requirement can complete a M.A. in Organizational Leadership.

      *Students completing an endorsement, certificate, or specialization only are not eligible for federal financial aid.

      Certificate Options:

      1. Adaptive Leadership Certificate
      2. Enabling Leadership Certificate
      3. Executive Leadership Certificate

      Your plan of study:

      Once admitted to a Leadership Certificate program, you will work with an advisor to plan the courses you will take and how you will complete the academic requirements of the program. By filing this Program Plan (PDF form), you have a road map for completing your certificate and clarity on what to expect.

      Faculty

      DAVID FOSTER

      Professor, Psychological Sciences Department
      503-838-8805 | fosterd@wou.edu | TODD 327

      LARS SODERLUND

      Department Chair, Associate Professor, Writing, English Studies Department
      503-838-8325 | soderlundl@wou.edu | BELL 309

      STEVEN WINEGAR

      NTT Assistant Professor, Organizational Leadership
      winegars@wou.edu

      PAUL DISNEY

      Adjunct Professor, Business/Economics Division
      503-838-8546 | disneyp@wou.edu | WEST 208

      JESSICA MURFIN

      Partnership Specialist/Adjunct Instructor, VP Academic Affairs/Provost
      503-838-8374 | murfinj@wou.edu | VICK 114

      SARAH SHELDRICK

      Instructor, Communication Studies
      503-838-8152 | sheldricks@wou.edu | BELL 123

      Designed for:

      The Leadership Certificate options enable students to develop leadership skills that can be applied to a wide range of settings including: business; government; nonprofit; and education. All three certificates can be folded into the M.A. in Organizational Leadership program.

      Certificate Options:

      1. Adaptive Leadership Certificate
      2. Enabling Leadership Certificate
      3. Executive Leadership Certificate

      To start, you need:

      • A bachelor’s degree
      • Desire to further your professional career

      Finishing will take:

      • 12-15 credits

      Begin your Certificate in Leadership:

      • Fall or Spring term

      Where you will take classes:

      • Online/distance fall, winter, and spring
      • On-campus evening courses at the WOU Salem Campus

      Technology you will need:

      • Computer with internet connection

      Where this degree can take you:

      • Management roles
      • Further career advancement

      What you will learn:

      These certificates includes instruction in organizational planning, dynamics of leadership, communication, creativity and innovation, team building, conflict resolution and mediation, and other leadership skills.

      Learning outcomes:

      1. Demonstrate knowledge and application of principles, theories, and concepts of leadership for entry-level leadership positions within organizational settings.
      2. Develop critical skills including ethical reasoning and communicative fluency.
      3. Apply teamwork, leadership, and communication skills to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds or entry-level leadership positions within organizational settings.

      Deadlines and key dates:

      • You may apply to start the program in fall or spring terms.

      Detailed application requirements:

      Application materials required for WOU Graduate admission:

      • Application Fee $60
      • Transcripts
        • You can upload an unofficial copy of your transcript to complete your application for admission. Save as a PDF with your first and last name in time from all previous colleges. We will require an official transcript from the Colleges or Universities you have attended for formal admission.
        • Transcripts are used as Evidence of completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree (or international equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution as defined by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars, with a cumulative B average (equivalent 3.00 on a U.S. 4.00 grading scale) on the most recent baccalaureate degree. Applicants who hold a master’s degree will have the 3.0 GPA requirement waived. Students with less than 3.0 can also provide passing MAT/GRE scores to be fully admitted.
      • Current Resume
        • Save as a PDF with your first and last name in the title.

      Process: Applications will be reviewed once all application materials have been submitted. Please refer to the Application Checklist in your Graduate Application Portal to confirm the status of your submitted materials. The Graduate Application Portal will also provide additional details about the checklist items for further clarification. You will be notified via email regarding changes in the status of your application or if you are missing any application components.

          Leadership Certificate curriculum overview:

          Provide opportunities for students to develop leadership skills that can be applied to business, government, nonprofit, or educational setting. Includes instruction in organizational planning, dynamics of leadership, communication, creativity and innovation, team building, conflict resolution and mediation, communication and other management skills. Students will not only grow as professionals through action-based learning, but they also make a positive impact on their communities and workplaces through a practical application of cumulative skills.

          Students completing both certificates and the additional courses for their exit requirement can complete a M.A. in Organizational Leadership.

          *Students completing an endorsement, certificate, or specialization only are not eligible for federal financial aid.

          Your plan of study:

          Once admitted to a Leadership Certificate program , you will work with an advisor to plan the courses you will take and how you will complete the academic requirements of the program. By filing this Program Plan (PDF form), you have a road map for completing your certificate and clarity on what to expect.

          DAVID FOSTER

          Professor, Psychological Sciences Department
          503-838-8805 | fosterd@wou.edu | TODD 327

          LARS SODERLUND

          Department Chair, Associate Professor, Writing, English Studies Department
          503-838-8325 | soderlundl@wou.edu | BELL 309

          STEVEN WINEGAR

          NTT Assistant Professor, Organizational Leadership
          winegars@wou.edu

          PAUL DISNEY

          Adjunct Professor, Business/Economics Division
          503-838-8546 | disneyp@wou.edu | WEST 208

          JESSICA MURFIN

          Partnership Specialist/Adjunct Instructor, VP Academic Affairs/Provost
          503-838-8374 | murfinj@wou.edu | VICK 114

          SARAH SHELDRICK

          Instructor, Communication Studies
          503-838-8152 | sheldricks@wou.edu | BELL 123

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          Courses for the Adaptive Leadership Certificate

          Core Courses


          • OL 612 Conflict Management Credits: 3
          • OL 614 Leading for Creativity and Innovation Credits: 3
          • OL 631 Fundamentals of Leadership Credits: 3
          • OL 632 Building Effective Teams Credits: 3
          • OL 633 Organizational Communication Credits: 3

          Total Credits: 15

          Courses for the Enabling Leadership Certificate

          Core Courses


          • OL 613 Human Behavior in Organizations Credits: 3
          • OL 619 Strategic Change and Organizational Development Credits: 3

          Elective Credits: 9


          To be chosen with advisor.

          • OL 507 Seminar Credits: 3
          • OL 606 Special Individual Studies Credits: 1-3
          • OL 607 Seminar Credits: 3
          • OL 618 Advanced Leadership Credits: 3
          • OL 624 Talent Management Credits: 3
          • OL 625 Executive Coaching Credits: 3
          • OL 626 Leading Sustainability Credits: 3
          • OL 627 Leadership: Keys to Mental and Physical Health Credits: 3
          • OL 628 Leadership and Work-Family Balance Credits: 3
          • OL 634 Leading Across Cultures Credits: 3

          Total Credits: 15

          Courses for the Executive Leadership Certificate

          Core Courses


          Executive Leadership Core


          • OL 611 Ethics in Leadership Credits: 3
          • OL 615 Strategic Leadership Credits: 3
          • OL 622 Critical Thinking for Leaders Credits: 3

          Electives: Choose One Option


          Option 1

          • OL 690 Leadership Action Project Credits: 3
          • WR 630 Professional Writing and Research Credits: 3

          Option 2

          6 credits Organizational Leadership (OL) courses selected in consultation with advisor

          Total Credits: 15​

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