Program Overview

Cross-Sector Leadership Certificate

The certificate program in cross-sector leadership provides a comprehensive overview of leading solutions to complex social challenges by integrating the public, private, nonprofit, and military sectors.

Program Description

Students engage in a systems-thinking approach to challenges faced by local and global communities, explore the diverse characteristics and motives of each sector in engaging in cross-sector collaborations, and master processes to formalize such partnerships. Students study values-based leadership and how individual, organizational, and sector values can drive a leader's ability to act. Students gain leadership skills, such as leading change within and between organizations across multiple sectors; and they learn to use human-centered design, social entrepreneurship, and other approaches when tackling community challenges.

At a Glance

• College/school: Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions
• Location: Downtown Phoenix

Curriculum

The certificate in cross-sector leadership is a requirement for, and is limited to, participants in the Public Service Academy's Next Generation Service Corps, a four-year leadership development track that engages future civilian leaders in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to engage in collaboration and change in the context of social challenges in which they hold interest. Students are required to demonstrate forward academic progress to maintain enrollment in the certificate as well as the Next Generation Service Corps. ROTC students also may pursue the certificate.

• PAF 215 NGSC Community Impact Lab (3 Credit Hours, Minimum Grade: C)
• PAF 311 Leadership and Change (SOBE) (3 Credit Hours, Minimum Grade: C)
• PAF 315 Cross-Sector Collaboration (CIVI) (3 Credit Hours, Minimum Grade: C)
• PAF 415 Social Entrepreneurship (3 Credit Hours, Minimum Grade: C)
• PAF 394 Topic: NGSC Leadership Instruction or PAF 421 Leadership Capstone (3 Credit Hours, Minimum Grade: C)

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment in the certificate program in cross-sector leadership is offered only to students participating in ASU's Next Generation Service Corps or in the Reserve Officers Training Corps. Enrollment requirements for the certificate are the same as admission requirements for the NGSC or ROTC (by request). Public Service Academy staff and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions Dean's Office enroll the students.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:

• Compare innovative methods for finding solutions to address complex social issues, including social entrepreneurship and problem-solving processes of human-centered design.
• Identify and design cross-sector collaborations by understanding the nuances of the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Career Opportunities

Students can advance their career options with an undergraduate certificate. Graduates of the certificate in cross-sector leadership have acquired a beneficial knowledge of cross-sector collaboration, advanced leadership skills, and an understanding of how to use these. These transferable skills complement students' major program of study and may make them more marketable to employers.