Organizational Change in Higher Education (CERT)
The UofL Graduate Certificate in Organizational Change in Higher Education (OCHE) prepares college and university administrators, mid-career faculty members, emerging department chairs, community college instructors and other members of the academic community for professional practice related to understanding and managing organizational change within their institutions and units. Comprised of four classes, each will also count toward the Master's in Higher Education Administration. The courses are offered each semester, and can be completed asynchronously online or in person, with face-to-face classes taking place in the evenings at the Belknap Campus.
Program Highlights
- Gain in-demand skills required to effectively navigate and enact change
- Learn to identify and resolve administrative challenges facing universities today
- Complete in one (1) year (full-time students).
- Learn from world-class faculty who have extensive experience in the field.
- Get a head start on your master’s program—all of the certificate courses count towards our online M.A. in Higher Education.
Application Deadline
Manage Change
The Graduate Certificate in Organizational Change in Higher Education (OCHE) equips administrators, faculty, department chairs, and community college instructors with skills to manage organizational change. This four-course program can be completed in one year (full-time) and counts toward the Master's in Higher Education Administration. Courses are offered online asynchronously or in-person with evening classes at Belknap Campus. Gain in-demand skills, address administrative challenges, and learn from experienced faculty, making it an ideal step toward the M.A. in Higher Education.
Course Catalog
This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2026-Spring 2027 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.
Certificate in Organizational change in Higher Education
Unit: College of Education & Human Development
Department: Educational Leadership, Evaluation, and Organizational Development
Program Website
Academic Plan Code(s): OCHECGR, OCHECGRO
Program Information
This program can be completed 100% online.
The training and development of academic leaders has historically been an informal process within the academy. As the profession and the postsecondary landscape have changed, there is a need to train and develop mid-career academics and those entering leadership roles.
The purpose of this certificate program is to prepare postsecondary instructors and faculty members for professional practice related to understanding and managing organizational change within their institutions and units. The program provides breadth in its consideration of the factors that influence organizational change in colleges and universities that is often challenging to obtain through professional practice alone, particularly for academic professionals focused on teaching and learning, as opposed to administrative or student support roles.
The certificate requires twelve (12) credit hours of coursework.
Application Requirements:
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Applicants must submit a completed application through the University of Louisville Graduate School portal: https://apply.graduate.louisville.edu/apply/
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A complete application includes the following materials:
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Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate coursework completed. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the UofL Graduate School. Transcripts issued to the student are considered unofficial.
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Current résumé or curriculum vitae outlining education, work experience, and relevant professional or volunteer activities.
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Professional goals statement (1–2 pages) describing:
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Your interest in organizational change and higher education;
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Your professional goals and how the certificate program aligns with them;
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Your prior experiences that have prepared you for graduate study and engagement with diversity and organizational change topics.
International Applicants:
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International applicants must submit additional application items, and meet additional admission requirements. Information on the international application and admission requirements can be found here: https://graduate.louisville.edu/admission/international
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Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency by submitting official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores that meet the Graduate School’s minimum requirements. Applicants holding a degree from an accredited institution in the United States may be exempt from this requirement.
Admission Requirements
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Conferred Bachelor’s degree required for unconditional admission. Applicants in their final year of their bachelors degree with final courses being completed before the graduate program start, can be reviewed for probationary admission pending a final transcript showing degree conferral by the end of the first semester.
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A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 for unconditional admission. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA between 2.50 and 2.74 may be considered for conditional admission upon recommendation of the program faculty.
Admission is competitive. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. The department admissions committee reviews all application materials and makes recommendations to the Graduate School.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
This certificate can be completed concurrently as part of the MA in Higher Education & Student Affairs.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LEAD 694 | Diversity in Higher Education | 3 |
| LEAD 697 | Organizational Improvement in Higher Education | 3 |
| Pick two courses from the list below: | 6 | |
LEAD 680 | Legal Issues in Postsecondary Education | |
LEAD 684 | Educational Resource Management in Postsecondary Education | |
LEAD 693 | College Students in the United States | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 12 | |
Related Degrees
Format: In-Person
Format: In-Person