Leading People and Organizations

Change is a given in today’s dynamic business environment, and organizations need professionals who can build, lead, and motivate teams through times of transformation.

By earning your Graduate Certificate in Leading People and Organizations, you’ll develop your skills for leading teams and creating a high-performance workplace culture—focusing on up-to-the-minute best practices for managing a diverse and distributed workforce. Your courses will advance your ability to bring out the best in your people and create a competitive edge for your organization—and allow you to take a deeper dive into relevant topics such as innovation, workforce analytics, and negotiation.

You’ll study full time or part time on our Boston campus, choosing from two evening class times Monday–Thursday. You may start the program in January, May, or September. Full-time study is F-1 visa compliant.

Learn more about the Graduate Certificate in Leading People and Organizations program at the D'Amore-McKim School of Business.

More Details

Our Graduate Certificate in Leading People and Organizations program builds your suite of workforce management skills for today’s fast-moving and global business world. You can complete your certificate in four or five courses, depending on the format you choose.

• Learn strategic skills for managing teams effectively and achieving organizational goals, deepening your relationships with clients, suppliers, and stakeholders.
• Tailor your learning by choosing electives that align with your career path, exploring topics such as innovation or negotiation in greater depth.
• Deepen your learning with experience—through applied projects and real-world case studies.
• Access career guidance from expert counselors at Northeastern’s office of Employer Engagement and Career Design.
• Connect with the vibrant Northeastern learning community and grow your professional network.
• Build toward a future master’s degree at Northeastern by earning credits you can apply toward an eligible program.

• Application form
• Application fee
• Personal statement
• Current resumé
• One to three letters of professional recommendation
• Academic transcript(s)
• Permanent residency card (if applicable)

GMAT/GRE required? Graduate certificate programs do not require a GMAT or GRE score.

English language proficiency: English proficiency, both written and verbal, is necessary for success in D’Amore-McKim classrooms. For more information, review our admissions policies.

Once your application is submitted, received, and processed, you will be able to access your Application Status Check. If you are required to provide further information regarding your proficiency in English, you will be able to complete the requirement in several ways, depending on your familiarity with English, and the frequency with which you use English each and every day:

• Non-native English-speaking applicants will be required to submit official and valid results from one of the following English Language Tests:
  • C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (Cambridge English)
  • Duolingo English Test (DET)
  • IELTS Academic
  • PTE Academic
  • TOEFL Internt-based Test (CEEB Code: 3667) Northeastern will accept either the in-person version completed in a test center, or the TOEFL iBT Home Edition
• However, based on your academic environment and the primary instructional language in either your high school or university, you may be eligible for a waiver. All waivers must be submitted through your Application Status Check. For additional information and to determine whether or not you are eligible for a waiver, please read the section below on waiving the English proficiency requirement.

Please note: Northeastern’s Admissions Committee reserves the right to request proof of English language proficiency from any applicant, regardless of citizenship or first language, at any time during the evaluation process.

The Graduate Certificate in Leading People and Organizations is designed for current professionals in any industry who want to advance their skills for leading workforces effectively and create a positive company culture.

Employers especially value the signature D’Amore-McKim emphasis on the role of data and technology in creating a competitive edge for organizations. Depending on your experience and available opportunities, you may be able to leverage your graduate certificate for a role with more influence on decision-making, a higher salary, or greater job security—or land a new position altogether. You may also consider applying credits earned toward an eligible master’s degree at Northeastern, such as the Part-Time MBA program.

• 1.Create your application

  Submit your application through The Common Application or the Coalition Application (both are accepted). Once you have created your application, please select Northeastern University to directly submit your application to us. Application fee of $75 or need-based fee waiver* *Northeastern accepts need-based fee waivers from the Common Application, the Coalition Application, as well as organizations such as the College Board and ACT, or in a written request from a school official.

• 2.Submit all required materials

  Double check to make sure that you have submitted all required materials. Even if your application has been submitted, we cannot begin reviewing your file until all of your required materials have been received. For applicants applying for the 2022-2023 academic year, Northeastern University is test-optional and does not require standardized testing to complete an application for admission.

• 3.Check your application status

  Within seven days of applying, you should receive a confirmation email containing your Northeastern University ID number and instructions for setting up your Application Status Check account. To ensure all of the necessary documents have been submitted, and for updates or information about your application, visit your application status check.