The Certificate in Advanced Leadership Studies

Gonzaga offers this certificate option as an alternative to the full PhD: a flexible program specifically tailored to the needs of the individual student and separate from the Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies.

Overview

A general plan of study based on the objectives of the student is developed with the chair of the Doctoral Program before the student is admitted into the Certificate Program. Students are required to take Leadership Theory, (DPLS 700) and Organizational Theory, (DPLS 701), as well as additional courses relevant to their needs. General expectations include that a student will participate for two years, take classes during the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms, and enroll in a minimum of 18 credits. There is also a "summer's only" option that allows students to enroll in 18 credits over a four calendar year period.

Students can start any term. Participation in the Certificate Program is limited to six students a year. This limitation is necessary because Certificate students take regular classes and Doctoral classes are limited to 15 or fewer students. Students in the Certificate Program will be considered non-degree seeking and will not be eligible for student loans or graduate assistantships.

Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the following requirements for participation in this program:

• have completed a master's degree ( or its equivalent) with a minimum 3.5 GPA,
• submit an application form to the Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies,
• provide the official transcript for the highest degree they have completed,
• submit one letter of recommendation,
• submit a personal statement of not more than 500 words detailing the student's interest in obtaining the certificate, and
• undergo an interview with the Chair of the Doctoral Program. This interview can be in-person, over the phone, or over the Internet.

Additional Considerations

Students who start the Certificate Program are eligible to change their educational objective and move into the Doctoral Program upon completing the doctoral admission process. Once the certificate is granted it cannot be revoked, therefore students interested in pursuing the Ph.D. are encouraged to make that decision prior to completing more than 12 credits in the Certificate Program. Students that complete the Certificate Program and then choose to move forward into the Doctoral Program are allowed to transfer a maximum of 12 credits into the Doctoral Program, and will take 48 additional doctoral credits to meet the 60-credit degree requirement.

Students formally admitted to the Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies who decide not to complete the Doctoral program can petition the faculty for the Certificate in Advanced Leadership Studies and will be subject to the pertinent academic process.

Courses taken more than 5 years previous will not be accepted into the Doctoral Program. Students enroll in regular doctoral classes, complete the same assignments, pay regular doctoral tuition, and receive a Gonzaga University transcript. Students must maintain good academic standing for the entire 18 credits of the Certificate Program. After completing 18 credits and based on the recommendation of the faculty of the Doctoral Program, Gonzaga University will grant students a Certificate in Advanced Leadership Studies.

We welcome the opportunity of discussing the relevance of this program to each student's needs. Prospective students are encouraged to discuss their plans with the Chair of the Doctoral Program.

Contact Us

Marnie Broughton

Gonzaga University

502 E. Boone Ave. AD Box 25

Spokane, WA 99258-0025

Phone: 509-313-3485

Fax: 509-313-5964

E-mail: Broughton@gonzaga.edu

The chair can be reached through Marnie Broughton by email or by phone at (509) 313-3485 or (800) 986-9585 and request to be connected to extension 3485.