Expand Your Knowledge of Organizational and Change Leadership
Organizational leaders are the driving force of change across all industries. Learn to develop the skills necessary to implement innovative business strategies that can positively impact an organization and its employees. Designed for students who are looking to advance or launch their careers, this program can be taken alone or you can apply your credits to a master's degree.
Build Foundational In-Demand Leadership Skills
Start preparing for a successful high-level management career. The Organizational and Change Leadership (OCL) graduate certificate program at Saint Mary's is ideal for working professionals looking to develop their leadership skills and ascend to advanced leadership roles within their organizations. Courses are delivered in a convenient and flexible environment, and students can learn from a diverse array of peers and instructors.
In addition to the highly transferrable skills learned in the OCL Graduate Certificate program, students can stack the courses toward six other Saint Mary’s University master’s degree programs including
- Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership (MAOL)
- MBA
- M.A. in Health and Human Services Administration
- M.A. in Human Resource Management
- M.S. in Accounting
- M.S. in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics
- M.S. in Cybersecurity
- M.S. in Project Management
There's a growing need for leaders in a wide range of industries. This program will equip students with the foundational skills necessary to fill these roles and grow their career opportunities.
Organizational and Change Leadership Certificate Curriculum
The four courses that comprise the online Organizational and Change Leadership certificate program focus on teaching students how to develop ethical and innovative strategies that can solve complex business problems while positively impacting change for an entire organization and its workforce. All courses are imbued with the core Lasallian principles, mission, and values that Saint Mary’s was founded on.
Saint Mary's Organizational and Change Leadership Courses
Students will be awarded a course-level badge upon the successful completion of each of the graduate course offerings listed below and will also be awarded the graduate certificate badge upon the successful completion of all coursework required for the Organizational and Change Leadership graduate certificate.
Share Your Success
Now you can share your accomplishments with your professional network using our digital badging for each course completed throughout your course of study in the Organizational and Change Leadership Graduate certificate program. Learn More
OL614 Leadership and Ethics (3 credits)
This course focuses on theories and styles of leadership and the ways in which outcomes are influenced through increased awareness of personal style and skills. Personal and professional ethics are analyzed, and ethical issues in organizations are explored.
Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:
- Evaluate personal leadership strengths and opportunities for leadership success.
- Analyze the role of the leader in the context of organizational issues.
- Analyze one’s learning and communication style as it applies to leadership in a technological world.
- Distinguish emotional intelligence competencies that contribute to leadership success.
- Analyze ethical principles that affect decision making.
- Analyze ethical dilemmas within organizations. Synthesize the individual, organizational, and systemic issues in ethical situations.
- Construct a process for ethically responsible decision making and apply this model to ethical decision points.
OL646 Organizational Development (3 credits)
This course focuses on an overview of the fundamental components of organization development. It is designed to provide students with different perspectives on organization development at the individual, group, and organizational levels of analysis. Students learn theoretical models to evaluate organizational performance, as well as techniques that develop the organization's ability to manage change.
Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:
- Describe the theoretical components of organization development and theory.
- Analyze challenges and opportunities of an internal/external consultant.
- Articulate the dynamics of the change process and resistance to change in organizations.
- Assess opportunities for planned and emergent change within an organization.
- Evaluate various organization interventions at the individual, group, and organizational level.
OL650 Organizational Effectiveness (3 credits)
This course focuses on assessing the overall effectiveness of various organizations and their approaches to change. Students learn how to apply theoretical models to evaluate organizational performance, techniques to manage interventions, and methods of evaluating and institutionalizing change.
Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:
- Apply an organization development model to a design change strategy that may promote organizational effectiveness.
- Articulate organizational problems at the individual, group (including team or unit), and organization levels of analysis.
- Recommend solutions to address organizational problems.
- Identify institutionalized evaluation techniques for planned change.
OL654 Strategy and Innovation (3 credits)
This course focuses on strategic thinking and creativity in organizational leadership. Innovation is examined as a process to develop the strengths of a system or organization, and to deliver positive results. Evaluation, analysis, and integration based on previous course learning is expected.
Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:
- Evaluate the creative process.
- Apply the principles of strategic thinking, planning, and development.
- Evaluate the processes for developing a strategic initiative.
- Analyze the blocks and enhancements to developing creativity.
- Integrate creative thinking strategies in a system or an organization to build and/or foster its capacity to innovate, change, and develop.
- Analyze trends in technology which influence innovation and leadership.
- Assemble thoughtful, innovative strategies with creative practices for organizational/systems learning.
What You'll Learn
- Demonstrate an understanding of leadership concepts and ethical decision making.
- Analyze the elements of organization development and its impact on organizational performance.
- Develop organization development models to promote and maximize organizational effectiveness.
- Analyze the role of change leadership in the development of strategy and innovation in a high-performing organization.
Advance Your Career and Positively Impact Your Organization
Over the next decade, the need for top executives is expected to grow. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates an average of 247,100 executive job openings each year between now and 2030.1 The Organizational and Change Leadership Graduate Certificate is squarely focused on developing the skills necessary to fill these roles and positively impact organizations across all industries. Potential roles include:
- General and Operations Managers: $103,650 median salary1
- Marketing Managers: $142,170 median salary2
- Chief Executives: $185,950 median salary1
Certificate Admission Requirements
The online Organizational and Change Leadership Graduate Certificate is designed to be completed in an average of eight months. No prerequisite coursework is required, and you don't need GRE/GMAT scores to apply. For admission to the program, you'll need:
- An undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited university
- A minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
- A written statement: Your background and future goals all impact your success with Saint Mary's and inform your education. As you prepare your written statement, think about including previous experiences, education, and your strengths and interests. Share your motivations for earning the online graduate certificate in business analytics and how it will contribute to your career.
- The names of two people (including title, organization, email, phone number) who can serve as professional references, if needed, during the application review process. The best references are those who know you in a professional capacity, such as current or former supervisors.
- A current resume: Include both your educational and professional experience.