Diversity and Women’s Leadership Certificate

The graduate certificate in Diversity and Women’s Leadership is intended for individuals with an undergraduate degree and mid-career professionals looking to advance their current career or start a new one in the field of business. It is a part-time, 12-credit program. Classes are offered in an entirely online format; some have optional onsite meetings.

This certificate can be applied toward either the MBA or MMS degrees or can be earned on its own.

The goal of the certificate program is to provide students with the ability to:

• Develop ethical and effective strategies for business and nonprofit leadership on the personal, workgroup and organizational levels.
• Appreciate and leverage diversity within organizations and develop positive organizational policies, practices and cultures directly supporting equity and inclusion.
• Understand and address the unique agency and advancement challenges gender roles present in the workplace, including challenges faced by women leaders, male allies and those with other gender identities.
• Develop strategies for working across cultural boundaries, language barriers, national borders and time zones to form effective intercultural business and organizational relationships.
• Assess and enhance a personal career trajectory culminating in the potential for serving in an organizational leadership role supporting gender, diversity and cultural equity.

Required Courses

Diversity and Inclusion Leadership – 3 Graduate Credits

This course explores personal identities based on categories of belonging, such as age, gender and ethnicity, for the purpose of creating understanding and ultimately, a more equitable and inclusive workplace. Specific strategies for developing a workplace culture of inclusivity and belonging are addressed, as are periodic assessment methodologies and training strategies for creating a continuing environment of comfort, equity and productivity. A review of hiring practices is also addressed.

Women in Leadership, Men as Allies – 2 Graduate Credits

Women in leadership and managerial roles face additional challenges compared to their male counterparts. This course looks at systematic challenges and pressures placed on aspiring female organizational and public leaders, including the glass ceiling, the double-bind, leadership styles, emotional intelligence, identifying and leveraging male allies and the relative lack of women in existing leadership roles. Topics include strategies for addressing these issues, with a focus on gender's impact on the style and techniques used to lead in corporate and nonprofit settings. Open to all graduate students. No prerequisites.

Women in Leadership, Men as Allies – 1 Graduate Credit

This self-paced online course allows students to leverage material learned in MBA 501 toward constructing portfolio content relevant to their career interests. As an extension of MBA 501, this course continues to explore unique challenges for women in organizational leadership and management roles. Students will develop an in-depth case study of a particular female leader with corporate and public impact. Open to all graduate students. No prerequisites.  

Intercultural Communication and Global Perspectives – 2 Graduate Credits

This course will explore the impact of globalization on organizations and the development of multinational corporate and business environments. Learners will also explore cultural norms and differences and will explore how to use methodologies to research, assess and adapt business content to meet the needs of customers, clients and employees from around the world. Further, learners will gain a richer understanding of the best practices used to create effective workplaces in various multicultural environments.

Intercultural Communication and Global Perspectives – 1 Graduate Credit

This self-paced online course allows students to leverage material learned in MBA 622 toward constructing portfolio content relevant to their career interests. As an extension of MBA 622, this course continues to explore cultural differences and the best practices used to create effective workplaces in diverse and multicultural environments. Students will develop an in-depth case study of multicultural environments.

Gender in Communication and Negotiation – 2 Graduate Credits

This course reviews the impact of gender on leadership communication and negotiation strategies, with an emphasis on the challenges faced by women in organizational leadership roles. Topics include gender's impact on speaker perceptions of authority, competence, and emotional intelligence, as filtered through audience expectations and stereotypes. By being aware of these challenges, students can work across gender categories to develop effective leadership communication and in particular, the ability to negotiate positive outcomes on behalf of an organization or for the public good in a nonprofit setting. Open to all graduate students. No prerequisites.

Career Mentoring Workshop – 1 credit

Serving as a career development workshop, this course gives the learner the chance to explore potential career opportunities within a particular area of interest. Students conduct field interviews, identify a personal career mentor, explore professional certifications and memberships, find other useful connections and partnerships, and research potential organizational and workplace opportunities for fit. Participants in the class address their short and long-term career planning goals and present an updated resume, social media presence and career plan. Students may repeat this class once for credit.