Certificate in Strategic Leadership

The Certificate programs within the School of Business and Management are not accepting new enrollments after February 1, 2024.

In the Certificate in Strategic Leadership (CBSL), learners will apply essential 21st Century strategic management and leadership skills to gain a competitive advantage through an analytic approach to leadership and the development of strong management principles.

They will examine leadership theory and application and how it meets the needs and requirements of key audiences from a strategic management perspective while exploring the latest workforce developments, global trends, and technologies that influence human relations for effective strategic leadership. They will analyze how strategic leaders promote corporate social responsibility through values-based and systems-based knowledge and skills and master the skills and knowledge that managers, leaders, and executives need to successfully predict and resolve conflicts in their organizations and the external environment.

Learners will develop high-performance teams from the organization’s perspective to deliver maximum benefits as well as real-world customer service leadership knowledge and skills through the investigation and evaluation of various issues associated with the 21st-century customer service industry.

Be advised, unlike the other Graduate Certificate Programs in the School of Business and Management, the Certificate in Strategic Leadership is a 21-credit program comprised of seven (7) required courses.

Program Learning Outcomes

The objectives of the Graduate Certificate Programs are to:

1. Promote the incorporation of practical business experience with formal academic learning so that shared experiences can create integrated learning.
2. Foster growth in intellectual accomplishment and an opportunity to develop an executive level perspective on business practices.
3. Encourage learners to develop the ability to use quantitative and qualitative tools to identify and address business problems and opportunities.
4. Encourage learners to gain an appreciation of ethical principles and its application to the business environment.
5. Provide working professionals the chance to experience graduate study without committing to a full graduate program.
6. Enable personal growth and the ability to gain academic experience and a credential in a specific discipline.
7. Provide the option of pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree upon successful completion of the certificate program.
8. Facilitate the acquisition of practical knowledge with an understanding of the integrated nature of business functions.
9. Provide the tools to evaluate the issues that characterize the contemporary business environment.

Required Courses (21 Total Credits Required)

SLDR 6600	Essential Concepts for Strategic Management and Leadership	3
SLDR 6601	Role of Leadership in Strategic Management Communications	3
SLDR 6602	Effective Human Relations Skills for Leaders	3
SLDR 6603	Leadership for Promoting Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility	3
SLDR 6604	Conflict Management Strategies and Resolution	3
SLDR 6605	Leadership Strategies for Developing High Performance Teams	3
SLDR 6606	Customer Service Leadership	3

This program is not designed to meet the educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification required for employment in an occupation. As such, CalSouthern has made no determination regarding prerequisites for licensure or certification in any state or jurisdiction.

While California Southern University, as a member of the AIU System, is part of a Title IV eligible institution offering Title IV eligible programs, CalSouthern has elected and designated this program as not participating in Title IV federal financial aid programs. This means students enrolling in this program may not use Federal Student Aid to help pay for this program. Instead, it offers a variety of zero interest payment options for students.