Applying to the Graduate Certificate in Strategic Leadership

Students currently in the MBA program may not apply for the certificate until they complete the MBA or leave the program.

Certificate programs are part time, and international students may not apply for them as a stand-alone program. International students interested in graduate-level business education may want to consider Lerner's MBA.

Application Deadlines

Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year. You may start in the Fall or Spring semester only.

Course Waiver/Substitutions

Course waivers/substitutions are available to students who have previously completed an MBA from an AACSB-accredited program or who meet the course waiver requirement based on prior coursework. You may choose to waive a course and replace it with another course in their graduate certificate program. For example, if you have taken BUAD 620 or its equivalent, then you may select another business analytics elective. You can use up to a total of 12 credits from the certificate to waive 12 credits toward the MBA at UD but will need to apply for admission and be accepted to the MBA program. Certificate courses cannot be used to earn an MBA concentration or major. If you want to earn an MBA concentration or major, you will need to take 9 or 15 additional credits in that area.

1. Online Application

Begin assembling your required application materials as electronic documents before completing the online graduate application. Do not mail any documents.

2. Application Fee

A $75 application fee is due when you submit your online application.

3. Bachelor’s Degree

A four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree in any academic field from an accredited college or university is required. Current undergraduate students must show intent to complete the undergraduate degree prior to enrolling in graduate level coursework, and all undergraduate coursework must be completed before starting the first graduate course.

4. Transcripts

An unofficial transcript is required with your application. You should visit the Registrar’s page of your home institution (post-high school institutions only) to print an unofficial copy to create your scan. If your home institution does not provide this service, ask for a student copy to create your scan. Do not mail official transcripts during the applicant stage. Please visit http://grad.udel.edu/apply/transcripts/  for more detailed information.

5. Personal Statement / Essay

We are looking for insightful, specific and brief essays. The following prompt is mandatory:

• Mandatory Question: Outline your educational plans and career goals, and discuss how your proposed plan of graduate study aligns with them. Some areas of discussion might include specific attributes of the program at UD that led you to believe this degree is appropriate for achieving your professional objectives. Are there areas of special interest within your selected field of study?

You can supplement your application by answering one or both of the following optional prompts:

• Optional Question 1: Communicating effectively with prospective customers is crucial in a business plan. Please critique our marketing efforts for the University of Delaware Lerner Graduate programs, using specific examples of where and how you learned about our program (e.g., specific radio stations, internet sites, publications, TV stations, etc.). How effective were these channels in motivating you to apply? What are some strengths of our marketing efforts, and what improvements could be made? What do you believe is the best way to reach prospective students like yourself? We value insightful, specific, and concise responses.
• Optional Question 2: Is there any additional information not covered elsewhere in your application that you would like to share with the Graduate Admissions Committee? This could include special circumstances related to your academic record, such as a low GPA or low GRE/GMAT scores, or any challenging social, economic, educational, cultural, or other life circumstances that you have overcome to succeed in higher education.

6. Resume

A resume or CV documenting your work experience, publications, honors and awards received, and educational credentials.

7. Two Letters of Recommendation

You provide names and email addresses for your recommenders, and recommendation forms are emailed directly to them from the online application. Instructions are included as to how to return the completed forms electronically.

8. GMAT/GRE Optional

If you are not submitting a GMAT/GRE score, please select that you request a waiver on the Test Score Waivers page of the application.

9. Work Experience

The typical applicant has two or more years of experience (work experience, volunteer work, community service, internships, significant academic projects, etc.) but all applicants are considered even if they have limited professional experience. Outstanding undergraduate GPAs and GMAT/GRE scores will strengthen your application if you have less than two years of experience.

10. Math Requirement

To be successful in the MBA program, you must demonstrate strong analytical and quantitative skills through prior academic work and/or recent professional experience. Applicants who are otherwise qualified for admission but lacking successful coursework in non-introductory statistics, calculus, linear math classes or work experience, may be asked to complete at their expense an MBA Math course in order to be admitted to the program. This will be communicated upon the completion of the Admissions Committee’s review of the full application.

Tuition

The tuition rate for 2024-2025 is $1,069/credit.

Fees

All graduate students are responsible for mandatory fees in the fall and spring semesters. These fees vary based on whether a student is taking the program on a full-time or part-time basis. There are no registration fees for online programs. To verify whether your program is available online, see University of Delaware's online programs page.

Please visit the graduate fees and financial aid page in the Graduate Catalog for full details.