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Student Affairs Administration: Higher Education Leadership Certificate

Advance your career in higher education

Grad certificate

Advance your higher education career and expand your leadership opportunities with the Student Affairs Administration Higher Education Leadership Certificate.

This fully-online graduate certificate program is designed for individuals with a master's degree working in higher education who want to deepen their leadership skills and knowledge. Through this nine-credit program, you’ll build a solid foundation in higher education administration, leadership, finance and budgeting, student success, organizational communication, and more.

A program within Student Affairs Administration

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About the certificate

This certificate provides the flexibility to tailor your coursework to your specific career goals and areas of interest within higher education. You will have the freedom to choose three courses (9 credits) from the doctoral program in Student Affairs Administration & Leadership. 

Individuals interested in competing a general certificate, can complete any three, 800-level content courses from our doctoral program in Student Affairs Administration & Leadership (SAAL) program. View the full list of course offerings. For those interested in specific topics, students might consider following one of four focus areas below:

  • Leadership and Administration
    Pick three from: Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Leadership in Education; Critical Analysis of Systemic Inequities; Higher Education Finance and Budgeting; Supervision and Human Resource Management; and Organizational Communication
  • Curriculum, Policy, and Planning
    Pick three from: Organization and Governance; Critical Analysis of Systemic Inequities: Challenges of Social Justice; Strategic Planning and Managing Change; and Policy and Regulatory Compliance.
  • Assessment and Research
    Pick three from: Qualitative Research Methods; Assessment and Program Evaluation; Quantitative Research Methods; Strategic Planning and Managing Change.
  • Student Success
    Pick three from: 21st Century Learners; Enrollment Management; Critical Analysis of Systemic Inequities: Challenges of Social Justice; College Teaching.  

Career outlook

What jobs are there?

UWL’s practitioner-focused program empowers students to immediately apply course concepts in their current professional roles. As they progress, students deepen their understanding of higher education administration, expand their leadership capabilities, and often advance into roles overseeing departments/ divisions or serving as deans or directors within colleges and universities.

 What salary can I expect to make?

Salaries for higher education professionals can vary significantly depending on the position, level of responsibility and type of institution. Explore professional salaries from the 2019-20 Professionals in Higher Education Survey conducted by The College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR). 

Why UWL's Higher Ed Leadership Certificate?

Flexible learning options

Designed with working professionals in mind, the program offers fully asynchronous online courses — allowing you to complete lectures, assignments, and other coursework on your own schedule. Many courses also include optional synchronous components, such as small-group discussions, providing opportunities to connect with peers while maintaining flexibility.

Experienced faculty

Our scholar-practitioner faculty members average more than 18 years of experience in the field, having worked at over 20 institutions nationwide.

Small classes, personalized attention

With small class sizes, our program provides personalized attention and fosters a collaborative learning environment.

Pathway to the doctoral program

The certificate program serves as a strong foundation for those considering the Student Affairs Administration and Leadership doctoral program. Upon acceptance, all three certificate courses can be transferred into the doctoral curriculum. Additionally, your performance in these courses provides valuable insight into your readiness for doctoral-level work.

Diverse student body

Our students represent a wide range of ages — from their 30s through their 60s— and come from more than 20 states and three countries. They bring diverse perspectives shaped by differences in geography, identities and professional experience. Participants come from a variety of institution types, including two-year colleges, and four-year public and private universities, enriching the learning environment for everyone.

Vibrant alumni network

Join a network of 1,000 alumni across the country, opening doors to invaluable professional connections in the higher education community. Learn more.

Featured courses

  • Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Leadership in Education
    SAA 810 | 3 credits
    This interdisciplinary course provides a foundation for the development of personal and professional leadership style grounded in the evolution of leadership theory and reflective of the influence of social locations and identities. Through exposure to recognized leaders in education and other fields, students will postulate what leadership principles resonate with their area of work and study. Students will engage in interdisciplinary analyses of leadership theories and philosophies, and will examine the complex ethical and professional responsibilities within professional and community relationships. Prerequisite: admission to Ed.D. Program in Student Affairs Administration and Leadership or the Higher Education Leadership Graduate Certificate. Offered Fall.
  • Critical Analysis of Systemic Inequities: Challenges of Social Justice
    SAA 820 | 3 credits
    From pre-kindergarten through college, institutions of education struggle with creating equitable outcomes for underrepresented and/or marginalized groups. This course will study the ways in which educational systems replicate inequitable outcomes, from degree completion gaps for groups of varying ethnic/racial or social class backgrounds, to patterns of gender discrimination in faculty advancement. The course will focus on multicultural organizational development, equity scorecards, multicultural change intervention matrices, and other theories and practices to prepare educators to cultivate more equitable educational systems in the U.S. The focus is less on individual forms of diversity and more on systemic or institutional efforts to achieve greater equity. Prerequisite: admission to Ed.D. Program in Student Affairs Administration and Leadership. Offered Spring.
  • College Teaching
    SAA 890 | 3 credits
    This course provides advanced graduate students with an introduction to college teaching by examining the role of learning theory, pedagogy, and course preparation in developing effective teaching practices. Course readings and activities also consider the role of student diversity, technology, course evaluations in developing effective teaching practices. Prerequisite: admission to Ed.D. Program in Student Affairs Administration and Leadership. Offered Summer.