Develop Your Inner Leader. Be The Difference In Business.
Students must be great at their profession, but that is not enough. Although organizations are focused on the future, dealing with uncertainty and managing increasing complexity, they must also create present-day stability and growth. Strategic leadership refers to the ability to maintain a dual focus on a vision for the future and the operational mission of the present.
Strategic leadership does not come easily and research indicates that a company’s level of leadership development has a greater impact on their long-term business performance than most other factors. It is not surprising that a recent employer survey by the Chronicle of Higher Education found that executives are less interested in considering candidates with specific majors and more interested in candidates who have learned these key strategic skills.
The strategic leadership certificate is for any student looking to differentiate themselves in the competitive job marketplace through key business training and the ability to articulate how their leadership potential contributes to the strategic direction of the organization.
Certificate Coursework
The Strategic Leadership Certificate program consists of 15 semester hours and incorporates practical, hands-on experiences and activities that are designed to help you internalize the skills and attitude that is required for success as a strategic leader in organizations.
Core Courses (6 credit hours)
All students complete the following two courses:
- MGT 2590 — Strategic Leadership Onboarding (Spring Only)
This course prepares students to become leaders and to embark on a path of personal leadership development to lead self through the framework of authentic leadership and within the context of strategic organizational objectives. - MGT 3400 — Organizational Behavior
This course examines the behavior of individuals and groups in organizations. Focus on high performance and satisfaction in the modern workplace, and in context of cultural diversity, globalization, ethical behavior, and social responsibility.
Elective Courses (9 credit hours)
Complete three of the following courses, one from each group:
Choose one from this group:
- COMS 2050 — Techniques of Group Discussion; Credit Hours: 3.0
- COMS 2060 — Communication in Interpersonal Relationships; Credit Hours: 3.0
- JOUR 2500 — Strategic Communication; Credit Hours: 3.0
Choose one from this group:
- MGT 4580 — Managing Transformations and Organizational Change; Credit Hours: 3.0
- MGT 4430 — Decision Making; Credit Hours: 3.0
- MGT 4640 — Cross-Cultural Leadership and Management; Credit Hours: 3.0
Choose one from this group:
- MGT 3435 — Strategic Leadership in Practice; Credit Hours: 3.0 (Fall Only)
- ET4950/5590 — Robe Leadership Seminar (ET Majors Only); Credit Hours: 3.0
Internships
An internship experience (for credit or not for credit) is strongly advised, but not required.
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Certificate Benefits
- Experiential learning focused on sustainability
- Interdisciplinary connections between multiple colleges on campus
- Personal and professional development
- Ongoing mentorship
- Access to Accelerated Graduate Pathway in Strategic Leadership
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Accelerated Graduate Pathways
The College of Business offers Accelerated Graduate Pathways (AGP), through which students can combine both undergraduate and graduate degree programs to earn their degree more quickly. The Strategic Leadership certificate has an AGP option you can explore.
Experiential Learning Focused On Sustainability
The Strategic Leadership Certificate at Ohio University integrates experiential learning to equip students with real-world skills. Along with the hands-on collaboration in each class, the Eco-Challenge and our partnership with Tenderfoot Learning Labs are central experiences in this program. The Eco-Challenge immerses students in environmental problem-solving scenarios, fostering strategic thinking and teamwork. Tenderfoot Learning Labs offer hands-on projects focused on sustainable practices, encouraging innovative solutions to contemporary environmental issues. Through these experiential learning opportunities, students gain practical experience and a deeper understanding of sustainability in strategic leadership contexts.
This leadership certificate is tied to the College of Business' Walter Center. The Ohio University College of Business established the Robert D. Walter Center for Strategic Leadership in response to the challenges facing current and future leaders in industry today. The College of Business recognized a need to cultivate leadership potential by developing the skills through experiences offered by the Walter Center for Strategic Leadership.