CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP

Students enter our program seeking to be more effective leaders…and happen to pick up a certificate along the way.

Here are a few things participants say they want to learn:

• "Work on my weaknesses"
• "Grow as a leader and as a person"
• "Know how to lead"
• "Know the right answer"

Sure, you'll talk about all of these topics, but many more. You'll also learn about the major theories and frameworks that effective leaders use every day.

And in the end, what you get out of the program will be meaningful to you as an individual, to your role as a leader, and to the effectiveness of your team. You will be changed for good.

Evanston campus undergraduate students are eligible to enroll. LDRSHP courses are offered through the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Certificate Steps and Requirements

To complete the Undergraduate Leadership Certificate, students are required to successfully complete the following three courses while enrolled at Northwestern University. 

• Paradigms & Strategies of Leadership (LDRSHP 204) (Prerequisite for LDRSHP 304)
  
  • Course is offered each Fall and Spring.
• Leading from Design (LDRSHP 304) (Prerequisite for LDRSHP 396)
  • Course is offered each Fall and Winter.
• Field Study in Leadership (LDRSHP 396)
  • Course is offered every quarter. 

If you have any further questions, please contact  Prof. Jacqueline Ashley.

To join our contact list, sign-up here.

What alumni are saying...

“As an athlete, the Leadership Certificate Pathway has not only helped me in the classroom, but has been extremely applicable on the court as well. It has been rewarding to see lessons that are talked about in class show up in my day-to-day life. It provides students with a platform to engage with others and bounce ideas off of each other to improve not only themselves, but the others within their class.” – ULP student (Class of ‘22)

“I found the leadership program to be unbelievably important. The classes really allowed me to reflect on myself and understand motivations of leaders that I have since used in different clubs and teams I've been on. I am so glad I decided to do the program and I got a lot out of it. My coaching experience truly saved the project I was working on. My coach was able to help me work through all the issues that arose and then she later wrote me a very important letter of recommendation!” – ULP student (Class of ‘22)

“The leadership program helped me think more deeply and thoughtful about the value of my present and future leadership roles and my efficacy in those positions. It helped me to understand more clearly the type of person I am. It also helped me understand how to be a leader even when I'm not in a leadership position. In my first job out of college, my supervisors called me a "role model" (as in someone who they felt was a leader amongst my colleagues), and I think this was due in large part to my work with the Center for Leadership. In addition, as a relatively introverted individual and someone who is non-confrontational, I think that it helped me understand what is going through the mind of a leader (even when they are ineffective) and what drives particular types of leaders to act in certain way. This has helped me understand how to make the best of difficult work situations.” – ULP student (Class of ‘20)

“The Leadership program at NU was a tremendous experience. Not only did it offer great insight from a wide variety of established leaders and reflection from peers, it also provided substantive concepts that I use today while training leaders within my organization. Also, one obstacle to making an impact post-graduation is being viewed as experienced enough to have your insights be reputable. The field study and accompanying Leadership Certificate is, at an absolute minimum, a valuable piece of cultural capital.” – ULP student (Class of ‘20)