University Of Houston


UH Leadership Certificate Program Courses

The following modules make up the 10-week Leadership Certificate Program.  Each module six hours long (save for the capstone which is three hours) and occurs of two 3 hour class meetings.  Graded homework is assigned as well as a Birkman Method® assessment.

man drawing leadership chart

Being a Leader

Leadership is one of the world’s oldest preoccupations and yet one of the least-understood concepts of human influence. What is the difference between leading and managing? What makes a good leader? This course will challenge your current understanding of what leadership is and prepare you to discover what leadership will mean for you.

You will learn:

  • To define, compare and contrast leadership versus management
  • The importance of knowledge and skill integration into the workplace as a tool for empowering others
  • To effectively use management principles and leadership principles at work

Interpersonal Mastery

From Socrates to Peter Drucker, leadership experts agree the core of leadership development is self understanding. Recent studies show that the way to lead others, to transform your organization, and to manage your future is to first know yourself.
Who am I?
How do I make decisions?
What are my values?

Learn how your behaviors and interests inform your leadership style. Understand how “leadership to the power of you” is the source of empowering yourself.

You will learn to:

  • Identify your leadership style and corresponding motivators, blind spots, stress-related behaviors, and learning strategies
  • Understand your leadership type and preference in decision-making and problem-solving situations
  • Apply the leadership tools of reflection and inquiry to personality assessment and leadership style
  • Motivate yourself and others
  • Adapt your behaviors for mutual benefit

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Exemplary leaders learn to capitalize on negotiation and conflict to further their goals and vision. What skills and traits are required to be an effective negotiator, regardless of what is being negotiated? How can you use conflict to positively affect change for yourself and others?

You will learn:

  • What awareness has to do with conflict and negotiation
  • How your personality and the personalities of others affect resolution
  • How to tailor your arguments toward a collaborative agreement
  • How to reduce conflict in your life
  • How to coach others to effectively negotiate positions

Social Intelligence and Ethics

Leadership demands integrity. What is the importance of values and how do they contribute to ethical behavior within a leadership position? Our society has provided innumerable examples of unethical behavior resulting in severe legal issues for organizations and individuals. How does an individual’s emotional intelligence contribute to the ability to stand within his or her values, conduct business on an ethical level, and avoid legal issues? Further, how do leaders promote that same behavior in those around them?

You will learn:

  • The importance of individual values in contributing to ethics
  • The role of ethics in the workplace
  • How to handle the gray matter
  • Why ethics are critically important to you as manager and leader
  • The legal ramifications of unethical situations
  • Your competencies within the realm of emotional intelligence
  • How to use this information to enhance your supervisory role

The Power of YOU IN ACTION (3-hour Capstone)

The capstone prepares you for “what’s next” as you step back into your role with new knowledge of effective leadership and awareness of your own leadership styles. This course serves as a final stepping-stone to help you transition the training and skill sets you have acquired into your professional and personal life. There is also time for students to discuss these concepts and make individual observations that may benefit the group.

You will learn:  

  • Your Individual occupational focus,
  • Learn about the concept of a career portfolio
  • Develop a personal purpose statement.
  • The ten key transition challenges and create a 90-day action plan.