Ethical Leadership Credentials
The Hargis Leadership Institute offers a tiered set of leadership credentials that vary in depth, credit status and time commitment.
What is a certificate?
Students can complete and academic program in a preferred interest area in as litte as two semesters. This requires less coursework than a full degree program while building industry-specific knowledge and skills.
What is a micro-credential?
This course allows students to learn credentials through courses, workshops, internships, apprenticeships or projects. It is a short-term, postsecondary credential compromised of a coherent set of measurable, non-credit bearing activities or projects and/or up to nine hours of credit-bearing courses. These provide specific career skills, competencies and knowledge that can be readily transferred to the workplace.
What is short-term development?
These are web-based artifacts that contain approved institutional branding and embedded metadata that documents students' completion of a credential, which can be shared and verified electronically. They are designed to showcase skills, build resumes, increase skill in the workforce or validate knowledge.
Why do these matter?
- They prepare students for leadership roles in careers and campus involvement through intentional, skill-based leadership development.
- Students gain a competitive edge in internships, graduate school and job applicant pools by earning recognized credentials that signal ethical, relational and applied leadership skills.
- They connect classroom learning to real-world leadership experiences, including service, facilitation, teamwork and community engagement.
- They clearly articulate leadership compentencies such as ethical decision-making, communication, empathy and project management in interviews, applications and professional settings.
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Certificate in Ethical Leadership
The certificate in Ethical Leadership at Oklahoma State University is a undergraduate certificate designed to complement nearly any major, equipping students with critical leadership skills grounded in ethical decision-making, social awareness and inclusive practices. The curriculum combines a foundational leadership course with global perspectives in leadership coursework (or optional study abroad), electives that explore ethics, civic responsibility and management, plus a service-learning component and a capstone course centered on ethical leadership for the common good.
- Type: Academic Certificate
- Completion time: 16 credit hours
- Associated courses/activities: 16 credit hours from the Ethical Leadership course list
- Contact: Hargis Leadership Institute (leadership@okstate.edu)
*Apply via academic adviser
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Ethical Leadership Micro-Credential
The Ethical Leadership Micro-Credential provides a focused, entry-level recognition of ethical leadership skills by combining high-impact, non-credit practices (e.g., service-learning, global engagement, student leadership, or research) with at least one credit-bearing leadership course and a non-credit an online asynchronous leadership development course. This micro-credential is offered in collaboration with OSU Career Services.
- Type: Credit-Bearing Micro-Credential
- Completion time: One semester
- Associated courses/activities: One course from the Certificate of Ethical Leadership, High Impact Practice or Non-Credit Canvas course (IDEAL Edge)
- Contact: Hargis Leadership Institute (leadership@okstate.edu)
*Apply HERE
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Applied Ethical Leadership Micro-Credential
The Applied Ethical Leadership Micro-Credential provides a focused, entry-level recognition of ethical leadership skills by combining high-impact, non-credit practices (e.g., service-learning, global engagement, student leadership or research) with a non-credit online asynchronous leadership development course. This micro-credential is offered in collaboration with OSU Career Services.
- Type: Non-Credit Bearing Micro-Credential
- Completion time: One semester
- Associated courses/activities: High impact practice, IDEAL Edge Canvas course
- Contact: Hargis Leadership Institute (leadership@okstate.edu)
*Apply HERE
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Leadership Facilitation Micro-Credential
The Leadership Facilitation Micro-Credential recognizes undergraduate facilitators of PLC, McKnight Scholars and Lead4Success who complete a minimum of 16 hours of leadership training plus a minimum of two semesters of applied facilitation. Earners demonstrate project management, instructional coordination, and ethical leadership skills through active practice and reflective assessment.
- Type: Non-Credit Bearing Micro-Credential
- Completion time: Two semesters
- Associated courses/activities: PLC Facilitators, McKnight Scholars and/or Lead4Success; 16 hours of leadership training; two semesters of applied leadership facilitation; noncredit Canvas course
- Contact: Hargis Leadership Institute (leadership@okstate.edu)
*Apply HERE
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Relational Leadership Micro-Credential
The Relational Leadership Micro-Credential develops leaders who lead with empathy, authenticity and emotional intelligence. Grounded in the RISE model (Relationships, Identity, Skills, Efficacy), students engage in applied learning focused on communication, motivation, conflict resolution and team development. Completion of the Relational Leadership online asynchronous course is required to earn the credential.
- Type: Non-Credit Bearing Micro-Credential
- Completion time: One semester
- Associated courses/activities: High impact practice, Relational Leadership Canvas course (noncredit)
- Contact: Hargis Leadership Institute (leadership@okstate.edu)
*Apply HERE
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Lead4Success Leadership Influence and Communication
Students complete 16 hours of training through the Lead4Success certification program, developed by the Center for Creative Leadership. The training focuses on building core leadership competencies, including self-awareness, learning agility, influence, and effective communication.
- Type: Non-Credit Bearing Micro-Credential
- Completion time: One semester
- Associated courses/activities: Lead4Success Training
- Contact: Hargis Leadership Institute (leadership@okstate.edu)
*Apply before or during Lead Week HERE
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Lead Week Program in Personal and Interpersonal Development
Lead Week program in Personal and Interpersonal Development is designed to help students strengthen the skills that support effective leadership (self-awareness, resilience, communication and relational growth).
- Type: Short-Term Professional Development
- Completion time: One semester
- Associated courses/activities: Through six structured reflections combined with attendance at Lead Week events, students will engage before, during and after Lead Week to connect what they learn in sessions to their own lives.
- Contact: Hargis Leadership Institute (leadership@okstate.edu)
*Apply before or during Lead Week HERE
- Type: Short-Term Professional Development