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The Leadership Certificate focuses on social change and business communication and includes further exploration into organizational theory, team building, design thinking, and grant writing. Students will be developing professional skills that employers are looking for such as team building and ethics.
The Leadership Certificate is available as a free-standing certificate or as part of a major in Integrative Studies, including Grand Valley's LEADS (Lifelong Educational Attainment for Diverse Students) Program. The certificate is housed in the Integrative, Religious, and Intercultural Studies Department (IRIS).
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Program Description
The Leadership Certificate prepares graduates with core training in six primary competencies:
- Leadership Integrity (identity and values)
- Structural Awareness
- Interpersonal and Conflict Management Skills
- Diversity and Cultural Competency
- Creative/Critical Decision-Making
- Written/Oral Communication Skills.
These competencies align with the essential skills necessary for 21st century, cross-sector leadership.
Earn the certificate as a free-standing certificate or as part of a major in Integrative Studies (B.A. or B.S.). Courses within this program are offered in fully online, 6-week accelerated formats for degree completion students. Any GVSU student can earn a Leadership Certificate by completing the required courses. These courses are offered in traditional, hybrid, and fully online formats. Many students are able to complete the certificate in one year or less.
Requirements for the Certificate (12 Hours)
Core Courses (6 Credits)
- INT 341: Leadership for Social Change
- INT 312: Collaborative Communication (formerly called "Dialogue")
Electives (6 Credits)
Students are required to select 2 courses from the list below.
Cost
$500 per credit hour. Most classes are 3 credits, so you can generally count on $1,500 per class.
Some options to help finance your degree include:
- Grants and loans: Fill out the FAFSA.
- Scholarships: Several scholarships are specifically targeted to adult students and our advisors are happy to help you find these.
- Company deferment: This plan allows you to defer the amount your employer will pay in tuition benefits until the end of the semester.
Next Steps
Contact the Integrative, Religious, and Intercultural Studies Department (IRIS) to speak with the Leadership Certificate Program Coordinator, Dr. Krista Benson who can help you pan the best and most direct course to complete the certificate requirements: (616) 331-8020 or bensokri@gvsu.edu.
Dr. Krista Benson, Leadership Certificate Program Coordinator
Program Coordinator, Leadership Certificate
Krista Benson is an assistant professor in the Integrative, Religious, and Intercultural Studies Department at Grand Valley State University, the Program Coordinator position for the Leadership Certificate and Integrative Studies Leadership Emphasis, and one of the managing editors of Feral Feminisms. Their research and teaching focuses on anti-racist and decolonial approaches to prison abolition and the relationship between reproductive justice and systems of care for children, including adoption, foster care, and the juvenile justice system.