Program Overview

Program Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Strategic Leadership is a 12-credit, four-course online program that can help you gain expertise in the language and discipline of strategy while developing your strengths as an ethical and effective leader.

Program Details

• The program is designed for experienced managers who want to connect their organization with the outside world and wish to set a strategic path to ensure their organization can maintain competitive advantage and flourish in today’s dynamic marketplace.
• The ideal candidate for the certificate program should have at least five years of experience managing a team and aspire to move into an executive role that requires strategic thinking and decision-making.
• Exceptional candidates with less experience will be considered at the discretion of the program director.
• Students may come from a variety of backgrounds and industries.

Application and Admission

• Application deadlines:
  • Summer: April 15 to start May 18
  • Fall: July 20 to start August 24
  • Spring: November 15, 2026, to start January 11, 2027
• Admission requirements:
  • A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution.
  • At least five years of post-undergraduate work experience as a manager or team leader.
  • Less experienced candidates will be considered at the discretion of the program director.
• Required materials:
  • Official transcripts from each institution attended
  • Vita or Résumé
  • Statement of Intent

Curriculum

• The program consists of four courses:
  • MBADM 571: Global Strategic Management
  • MGMT 831: Strategy Implementation and Organizational Change
  • BA 865: Strategic Leadership
  • BA 888: Executive Leadership
• Courses are primarily asynchronous, with optional synchronous sessions.

Career Opportunities

• The program can help you pursue careers in a variety of fields, depending on your goals.
• Penn State World Campus Career Services provides resources and tools to support your career development.

Costs and Financial Aid

• Tuition rates:
  • 2025-26 academic year: $1,273 per credit (11 or fewer credits), $15,281 per semester (12 or more credits)
  • 2026-27 academic year: $1,286 per credit (11 or fewer credits), $15,434 per semester (12 or more credits)
• Financial aid options:
  • Private alternative loans
  • Employer reimbursement and tuition deferment plan
  • Military education benefits

Accreditation

• The Penn State Smeal College of Business is AACSB accredited, an honor reserved for the top 5% of business schools worldwide.

Faculty

• The program is taught by faculty with diverse backgrounds, intellectual perspectives, and industry expertise.
• Faculty members include:
  • Eli Andrews
  • Brendan Bagley
  • Shawn Clark
  • Jeffrey A. Krug

Head Start toward a Master’s Degree

• The program can give you a solid head start toward a full master’s degree.
• You can apply successfully earned credits from this certificate toward the completion of your master’s degree, should you apply and be accepted into one of the related degree programs.
• Related degree programs:
  • Strategic Management and Executive Leadership (Master’s Degree)
  • Business Administration - MBA (Master's Degree)
  • Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Master's Degree)
  • Enterprise Architecture and Business Transformation (Master of Enterprise Architecture)
  • Marketing Analytics and Insights (Master’s Degree)
  • Supply Chain Management (Master's Degree)