Leadership Certificate FAQs

Yes, you can enroll in a certificate without a degree! Certificates are designed for people from a wide range of educational backgrounds. The only requirement is that you have at least five years of work experience of any kind.
 
In our 14-week certificate courses – Design Thinking, Servant Leadership, and Women’s Leadership, students say that they spend 3-5 hours a week on the classes and coursework.

In our 9-month Certificate in Foundational Leadership, students say that they spend an average of 5-10 hours per month on classes and coursework.

The estimated time commitment for the 5-month Certificate in Healthcare Leadership, which launches in January 2023, is 14 hours per month, including class time and coursework.
 

There are a number of ways to fund a certificate:

  • Employer Funding: Many employers sponsor their employees to participate in continuing education and professional development programs. Some employers pay fees directly, some submit tuition vouchers to the university, and some reimburse the employees after they have successfully completed the course.
    • To find out whether your employer will cover the cost of your programs, reach out to your supervisor or Benefits department.
  • Payment Plans: If you would like to pay in installments, no problem! Just email CLL@gonzaga.edu to set this up.
  • Discounts: We offer a limited number of 30%-off discounted spots to employees of 501(c)3 non-profits and government agencies. The discount also extends to public K-12 employees, first responders, military personnel, military spouses, and veterans. Email CLL@gonzaga.edu to inquire whether you can receive such a discount.
  • Scholarships are considered on a case-by-case basis. To be considered for a scholarship, submit an enrollment form first and then complete a scholarship application. Priority will be given to scholarship applications submitted by June 1 for fall programs and by November 1 for winter/spring programs.
 
No, certificates are not eligible for federal aid. 
 

No, we do not issue letter grades for our professional certificates. Each certificate is graded on a pass/fail basis.

 

No, professional certificates do not provide academic credit. They provide continuing education credits/units (also referred to as CEs/CEUs/CECs).

 

An online program can be completed without attending any in-person classes. These courses may include online discussion boards, Zoom sessions, and other components that can be completed virtually.

A hybrid program has both online and in-person components. In such a course, you may be asked to complete online activities such as posting on a discussion board or engaging in a Zoom session, while also being expected to attend in-person classes.

 

We offer several programs that include in-person components: Authentic Leadership Program, Certificate in Foundational Leadership, Certificate in Women’s Leadership (Winter/Spring cohort), and Certificate in Healthcare Leadership.

 
The average cohort size is 12 students.
 
There is no deadline to enroll in a certificate. However, enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis. 
 
Yes, as a student in a certificate course, you will have many opportunities to engage with your instructor during and between classes. Our instructors are committed to supporting you as an individual student and enjoy getting to know the cohort. 
 

A certificate is a professional, non-academic credential earned by completing a post-secondary program that focuses on a specific skill or knowledge area. When you complete a certificate at Gonzaga University, it will appear on an official transcript as a continuing education course. 

A certification is a credential that an individual earns when they pass an exam (usually a national- or state-recognized assessment), often in conjunction with completing a certain number of hours of work in the field.  Certifications are typically awarded by a third-party, standard-setting organization recognized at the state or national level.  A certification often results in credentials to be listed after one's name (e.g., SPHR, PE, PMP, etc.). Certifications have on-going requirements and usually require a minimum number of CE credits per year. It is important to note that a university course can prepare an individual to pursue a certification or license; however, the course itself does not culminate in a certification.

 

Those who successfully complete the following certificates - Foundational Leadership, Design Thinking, Servant Leadership, and Women’s Leadership - have the option of applying a maximum of three (3) credits towards completion of a Master’s in Organizational Leadership or Master’s in Communication and Leadership at Gonzaga, contingent upon admission and within 5 years of certificate completion.

If you hope to transfer credit from a certificate into a graduate or doctoral program either at Gonzaga or another university, we recommend that you confirm whether this will be possible before starting the certificate.

 

Applications are not required to participate in the following programs: Authentic Leadership Program, Design Thinking, Servant Leadership, Women’s Leadership and Healthcare Leadership. To register for one of these courses, submit an enrollment form found here.

An application is required for the 9-month Certificate in Foundational Leadership program. To apply for this program, submit your application here by June 15th.

 

As of May 15, 2023, Gonzaga University no longer requires students to provide proof of COVID vaccination. To learn more about Gonzaga’s COVID guidelines, click here.

If you have any questions or concerns about this, please email CLL@gonzaga.edu.

 

As of May 15, 2023, Gonzaga University no longer requires students to provide proof of COVID vaccination. To learn more about Gonzaga’s COVID guidelines, click here.

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to CLL@gonzaga.edu.