UC Davis Graduate School of Management

Leadership Program

Develop the ability to adjust your leadership approach to the needs of your team and organization.

Start date

14 May 2025

Price

$1,650 USD

Installment Plan

Request a call

Course duration

8 weeks

Excluding orientation

Language

English

Access resources from start date

Effort

7–10 hours per week

Self-paced learning online

ABOUT THIS COURSE

Program overview

The overall leadership effectiveness of an uninspiring leader.

Forbes (Nov, 2018).

80%

The amount of global organizations that have a shortage of leadership talent.

MMC (2019).

Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)

In any organization, leadership is essential when navigating different scenarios and challenges. Whether you're leading a new team, undergoing a period of change, or facing performance pressure, selecting the right leadership approach can significantly impact the team's success.

The UC Davis Graduate School of Management (GSM) 's Leadership Program provides you with the tools and frameworks to make informed decisions in such situations. The program is based on a situational theory of leadership, and you will engage in an experiential learning process by leading a fictional team through various scenarios and assessing your role within that environment. The curriculum concentrates on three main areas: self-leadership, leadership as a relationship with the team, and the impact of the environment on team performance. By exploring these areas, you acquire practical strategies to build trust, navigate change and crisis, and motivate your team to achieve their objectives.

The UC Davis Graduate School of Management Leadership Program was recently ranked as one of the top leadership certificate courses in the U.S. by CIO.

Is this program for you?

The leadership program is intended for professionals looking to take their careers to the next level, as well as those who aspire to assume a management or leadership position. It is also highly relevant to seasoned managers or team leaders wanting to take on additional responsibilities, expand their teams, or refine their leadership style. The situational decision-making skills that participants gain throughout the program can be applied to align their leadership approach with the needs of their team and organization, making it a valuable tool for anyone looking to lead successfully.

Program overview

Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)

The UC Davis Graduate School of Management Leadership Program was recently ranked as one of the top leadership certificate courses in the U.S. by CIO.

What will set you apart

On completion of this program, you’ll walk away with:

A leadership decision-aid that you can use to guide your leadership approach.

Practical leadership skills needed to motivate a team toward achieving business goals.

The ability to apply personality theory to different leadership scenarios.

Valuable insight from leadership experts, empowering you to overcome organizational challenges and drive team success.

A digital certificate of completion from a highly ranked business school as formal validation of your leadership abilities.

Program curriculum

Acquire the skills to shape your leadership approach as you work through the weekly modules of this online program.

Orientation module

Welcome to your Online Campus

Module 1

A situational theory of leadership: An organizing framework

Module 2

Leadership and personality

Module 3

Leadership and communication

Module 4

Understanding leadership as a relationship with followers

Module 5

Leading teams

Module 6

Leading in times of crisis

Module 7

Leading change

Module 8

Creating a situational theory of leadership decision-aid

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What past students
think

Billy Meza

Account Specialist, American Express

I was very impressed by how the content was structured — I like how there were different levels to it. Videos, guest speakers, reading and interactive content help you apply what you learned. I like the online experience as it helps with my busy work and family schedule. I found this very useful and a great tool for my success. I am taking away new knowledge, such as the Five Step Framework, which I think is a great resource that can be applied in everyday, real-world scenarios. It will undoubtedly help me look at things differently. It was nice to see other people from different parts of the country and world involved.

Program Convener

The design of this online program is guided by UC Davis GSM faculty, as well as industry experts, who will share their experience and in-depth knowledge with you throughout the program.

Kimberly Elsbach

Professor Emeritus

About the certificate

Enhance your leadership skills and earn an official certificate of completion from the UC Davis Graduate School of Management.

Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with your digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the program handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the program.

Your digital certificate will be issued in your legal name and sent to you upon successful completion of the program, as per the stipulated requirements.

YOUR INFORMATION

Get more information

Answer a few questions and get more information about the course.

FAQ

Want to know more?

GetSmarter operates as edX's partner for premium online short course products from the world's leading universities and institutions. With edX, we leverage our people, technology, and resources to power your education and your potential.

We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.

Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.

Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.

You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.

GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.

At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.

By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?

Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.

If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.

As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.

To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.

The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.

On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.

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