Executive Corporate Leadership

The Post- Baccalaureate Certificate in Executive Corporate Leadership in Central Penn’s School of Business is an 18-credit, interdisciplinary certificate. Leaders spend the entirety of their days making decisions. Many decisions are routine; others are unique and critical. Solutions to

problems may require considering past experiences, deeper mental engagement with the present and future predictions. This class takes a dual approach to decision-making and risk aversion. This course will teach you to make sound decisions through evidence-based solutions, logic, and best practices. It will also examine the cognitive processes involved in decision-making, including intuition, association, and judgment. Other topics include information overload, biases, group decision making, ethical decision making, decision framing and System 1/System 2 thinking.

Program learning objectives.

• Understand the descriptive characteristics of decision-making.
• Think critically about the value of information and the value of flexibility.
• Explore cognitive biases that influence our decision making.
• Assess risk when making business decisions.
• Apply decision-making tools and techniques to both quantitative and non-quantitative decisions.
• Evaluate your decision-making style and the style of others.

To be considered for admission into a graduate degree program, students must hold at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited higher education institution. Students applying with an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher may be considered for regular admission. Students applying with a GPA below a 2.75 from another college or university, if accepted, will be admitted conditionally.

Online courses follow the College's year-round schedule of quarterly, 11-week terms. Students need reliable access to the internet and a computer capable of running current software; access to speakers, a microphone, webcam, printer, and scanner may be necessary for online courses.

The catalog does not list start terms for this certificate; contact Admissions for the next start.

Tuition. Graduate tuition is $693 per credit; a Student/Technology Fee of $360 applies each term. Graduating students pay a $150 fee.

Estimated costs. Variable expenses per term: textbooks (estimated) $50–$250; personal $150–$250; transportation $150–$300. The catalog estimates the first term (tuition + fees + books) at $4,642.

Financial aid. A graduate student may borrow up to $20,500 per academic year via the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program; students must be degree seeking and enrolled in a minimum of six credits. Complete the FAFSA using Central Penn’s school code 004890.

Payment options. Tuition and expenses are paid each term approximately three weeks before the term starts. Central Penn has a short-term three-month payment plan through CASHNet that divides the balance of the tuition owed by three payments; there is a $35 non-refundable application fee paid with the first payment. An Employer Reimbursement Tuition Agreement Plan lets students who receive tuition reimbursement from their employer defer payment until the specified dates.

Military benefits. Military benefits accepted include the Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapters 30 and 1606), Veterans Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31), the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) and Yellow Ribbon Program, Dependents’ Education Assistance (Chapter 35) and Tuition Assistance.

Net price calculator. Use Central Penn’s Net Price Calculator at https://npc.collegeboard.org/app/centralpenn for an early estimate of your total annual cost.

College-wide outcome. 89.2% of Central Penn graduates were employed in their chosen field or continuing their education within one year of graduation (graduates July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025; One-Year Graduate Follow-up Report published July 1, 2026).