Sports Leadership (Graduate Certificate)

Does learning about successful leadership skills and strategies through a sports lens appeal to you? Are you seeking enhanced leadership skills to advance in your career? Are you excited about the opportunity to study sports leadership at an institution known for developing athletes and coaches in a purposeful way? If yes, the Sports Leadership Certificate from Creighton University right for you. Designed for professionals who seek to strengthen their understanding of organizational leadership processes, to serve in sports leadership roles, or to advance their careers in any professional field (business, law, health care, social sciences, and more) while studying leadership through a sports lens, Creighton’s Sports Leadership certificate offers you the opportunity to strengthen your community partnerships, build a unique personal brand and better understand how success and failure play into your long-term career satisfaction.

No matter your career goals, this online program will provide the opportunity to strengthen your ability to make thoughtful decisions, handle adversity, understand and manage organizational challenges, and collaborate with others—all with the goal of helping develop student athletes, coaches, colleagues and employees.

“Sports is a larger part of our mission at Creighton where we seek to teach students to ‘exercise wisdom, judgment, and faith to work for a more just society.’ By teaching students and professionals to pursue leadership with a purposeful philosophy, we can help develop students, players, colleagues, employees, and fans to appreciate this mission within the study of sports leadership.”

—Gretchen Oltman, JD, PhD | Assistant Professor and Program Director, Graduate School

The sports leadership certificate aims to develop strong organizational leaders with a purposeful leadership philosophy. The program will enable professionals to identify theories of leadership and how those theories apply to sports leadership, demonstrate a strong understanding of current issues in sports leadership and integrate Jesuit charisms and Ignatian practices into sports leadership topics. Students will examine the fundamentals of sports leadership, study leadership styles, explore coaching and leading, and investigate the impact of mindset on a leader’s decision-making processes.

Once enrolled in the program, you will have the ability to make an immediate impact as a strong organizational leader in your field. Skills and techniques learned in the classroom environment can be implemented in your organization while you’re still learning. Your new skillset will also enable you to promote meaningful relationships within your teams.  

A Certificate That Fits Your Career Goals and Your Schedule

A hectic schedule doesn’t have to stop you from pursuing your graduate certificate. Creighton University’s sports leadership certificate can be completed entirely online in 15 credit hours.  In addition,  professionals seeking to further advance their careers can utilize the certificate as a building block to a full master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. 

BUILD YOUR PROFESSIONAL NETWORK AND EXPAND YOUR PERSPECTIVE

Creighton University’s Sports Leadership Certificate and Master of Science in Organizational Leadership lives within the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies. The curriculum is developed by faculty from varying backgrounds, including sports, business, health, education, law, and arts and sciences. You’ll be immersed in a network of classmates with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and vantage points. 

The program’s interdisciplinary approach allows classmates and faculty to exchange insights about their respective industries and professional experiences. These relationships last long after the program ends—you’ll expand your professional network and reap the benefits of a thriving alumni community for many years.