A fast, flexible, AACSB-accredited credential built for immediate professional advancement. The Southern Arkansas University Business Leadership Graduate Certificate is designed to equip professionals with essential leadership, strategic thinking, and organizational management skills required to guide high-performing teams and navigate complex business environments.
Program Format & Flexibility
- Total hours: 12
- Formats: Online, on-campus evenings, or hybrid
- Typical pace: Can be completed in 1 year
- The Stackable Advantage: Pathway to Further Success
- Maximize your investment. This Business Leadership certificate functions as a standalone micro-credential to upgrade your management portfolio or as an integrated building block for long-term educational goals.
- Because the Rankin College of Business utilizes a unified graduate structure, all 12 credit hours completed in this certificate stack seamlessly into the Southern Arkansas University Master of Business Administration (MBA) with Business Leadership Emphasis program (Business Leadership Emphasis). By starting with this certificate, you complete an essential portion of your MBA with Business Leadership Emphasis requirements before formally entering the master’s degree program.
Curriculum
Core Courses (9 hours)
MGMT 6013 – Human Behavior in Organizations
MGMT 6083 – Leadership Development
MGMT 6093 – Leadership Action Project
Elective Course (3 hours)
Select 3 hours from the following:
MGMT 6033 – Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship
SCM 6013 – Project Management
Admissions
The admission process for graduate certificates at SAU is streamlined to remove barriers for industry professionals.
- Degree Requirement: A Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- GPA Standard: Applicants must meet the baseline standards established by the School of Graduate Studies.
- Testing: GMAT and GRE scores are not required for admission to this certificate program.
- Prerequisites: Foundational business prerequisites may be recommended for non-business undergraduate majors prior to enrollment in specific upper-level courses.
Career Outcomes
Modern corporate data underscores the premium companies place on effective team dynamics and strategic project optimization. This credential establishes explicit, resume-ready expertise for roles including:
- Team Lead / Project Manager
- Organizational Supervisor / Operations Manager
- Business Consultant / Division Manager
- Strategic Initiatives Lead / Department Head
Related Programs
Frequently Asked Questions
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Accreditation
The Rankin College of Business is accredited by AACSB International, the premier accrediting body for colleges and schools of business. Just 6% of institutions offering business degrees worldwide are accredited by AACSB, which indicates the quality of our program.
