Applied Leadership & Innovation Certificate

LEARN BUSINESS SKILLS YOUR CAREER NEEDS. ON YOUR SCHEDULE.

Applied Leadership & Innovation Certificate

Build practical skills that you can use immediately. Designed for working professionals, the University of Findlay’s Business and Professional Development Institute offers the Applied Leadership & Innovation Certificate to enhance leadership skills.

Overview

In just 12 credit hours, you’ll build the leadership and innovation skills that make you attractive to organizations when promoting and hiring. This learning experience is designed to build leadership readiness for professionals who want to grow with confidence and purpose.

Enhanced Professional Credibility
Add a recognized academic credential from the University of Findlay to your resume and LinkedIn profile. Employers notice professionals who invest in their own development.

Expanded Career Opportunities
Broader business skills open doors to roles in management, cross-functional leadership, and strategic decision-making that technical expertise alone can’t unlock.

Practical Skills, Starting Day One
Every course is designed so you can apply what you learn immediately. You’ll walk into Monday morning with new tools — not just a certificate to hang on the wall.

Why a certificate? To advance your career options.

Today’s working professionals are being asked to do more than complete tasks—they are expected to lead, adapt, solve problems, and bring new ideas forward. Professionals who invest in skill-building position themselves for greater career mobility, stronger workplace impact, and future leadership opportunities. Learning how to manage teams, communicate effectively, think strategically, and approach challenges with innovation is no longer limited to one career path; these skills are valuable across every industry.

The Applied Leadership & Innovation Certificate teaches you the skills that successful professionals use every single day — regardless of industry or title.

By strengthening leadership, team management, and innovative thinking skills, you can become more prepared to lead people, support organizational goals, and respond effectively to the demands of a changing workplace.

Program Details

Certificate Course Requirements

Organizational Leadership

BUAD 323: A review of the study and application of leadership is explored. The nature of leadership will be addressed providing the students with an in-depth understanding of personal leadership effectiveness within an organization and the interpersonal relationships it creates. Communication skills are also explored within the context of leadership along with application of best practices, and self-assessment and reflection on personal leadership style.

Principles of Management

BUAD 220: This course is designed to acquaint the student with the fundamentals of all phases of administrative, staff, and activity-chain management. It also includes a study of best practices management principles and techniques.

Organizational Behavior

BUAD 325: This course seeks to provide students with a basic understanding of relevant organizational behavior issues and practices. Specific topics include company culture, decision making, leadership, and motivation. Further efforts will be made by students to apply these concepts to their own personal behaviors and begin to understand how to behave and develop as a professional in an organizational setting.

Introduction to Entreprenuership

ENTP 150: What is an entrepreneur? Are all entrepreneurs successful? This course will explore the dynamics of entrepreneurship, the entrepreneurial spirit, and the relevance that entrepreneurism has on the economy. Students will learn how ventures are created as well as understand the real possibilities of risk and failure. Important topics will be introduced, including innovation, ideation, creativity, disruption, finance, marketing, and ethics.

Applied Leadership & Innovation Skill

Entrepreneurship

Change Management

Workplace Behavior & Organization Dynamics

Innovation & Creative Problem Solving

Cross-functional Communications

Team Leadership & Motivation

Our business depends on the performance of each individual. Learning new skills is essential to our team's success.

UF Business Partner

FAQ's

How long does the Applied Leadership & Innovation Certificate take to complete?

The program is 12 credit hours, designed to be completed by working professionals without disrupting your career. The flexible online and in-person format lets you move at a pace that works around your schedule.

Do I need a business background to enroll?

No prior business degree or background is required. This certificate is built for professionals from any industry who want to strengthen their business fundamentals — whether you're in healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofit, or any other field.

Will this certificate help me get a promotion or a new job?

Yes, and that's exactly what it's designed for. You'll build credentials that signal initiative to employers, gain practical skills in management, marketing, and people strategy that you can apply immediately, and add a recognized University of Findlay credential to your resume.

Can I apply these credits toward a degree later?

Absolutely. The Applied Leadership & Innovation Certificate is fully stackable — all credits apply toward the B.S. in Organizational Leadership at the University of Findlay. You can start with the certificate and build toward a full degree on your own timeline.

How much does the program cost and can my employer pay for it?

Tuition details are available through the University of Findlay admissions office. Many employers offer tuition reimbursement or professional development funding — this program's short commitment and clear workplace ROI make it a strong candidate for employer sponsorship. Contact lindsay.fees@findlay.edu for specifics.

Business and Professional Development Institute