Professional Coaching Certificate

Program Tracks Available

Online

Admission Deadline

Fall: (August start): August 1 (supplemental materials due by 8/10

Application Requirements

Admission Information Sessions

Degrees Offered

C.G.S.

School

Grenon School of Business

Grenon School of Business Graduate Programs

Department

Business Studies, Management, Marketing and Organizational Communication

Michael Lewis, Ph.D. Director

Welcome to the Professional Coaching program at Assumption University’s Grenon School of Business!

This graduate certificate is one of several graduate business programs that we offer designed to help you meet your professional and personal goals. It can be completed in only nine months and is entirely online. So, whether you aspire to become a professional coach or strengthen your leadership through coaching, you can get there in this program. Our graduate certificate in professional coaching offers you a rigorous graduate-level curriculum combined with coaching practice that will prepare you to become a professional coach or add coaching skills to your leadership skillset. In addition, the courses in this program can be transferred to our master's in Organizational Leadership program, making it easy for you to continue your development. Designed using the cohort model, students will move through this online program together, developing strong relationships that will last well beyond this program. More and more organizations recognize that the old-style command and control management no longer works, and that coaching is a key to organizational success. Become someone who can provide that coaching. We are ready to do what it takes to make your experience rewarding and enriching. Like you, we strive to be our very best. As you explore this and our other graduate business programs, please do not hesitate to reach out to learn more. I look forward to you becoming a part of the Assumption community.

Graduate Virtual Information Sessions

Klotilda Habilaj

Part-time MBA 2017
Supply Chain Senior Manager, Rubius Therapeutics

“I came to Assumption ready to be a manager, and I am walking away ready to be a leader. In the process of earning my MBA, I learned about my ability to drive a vision, understand when there are fundamental gaps in an organization, and develop unique and creative solutions to close those gaps. As a result, I have become a better and well-rounded Project Manager.”

Marco Raposo

Part-time MBA 2017
Attorney, Seabra, Cunha, Marta and Associates, Portugal

“It was not fortune that brought me to Assumption but the belief that it was the best place for me. I was not mistaken as it has provided me - and keeps on doing so - with the tools to become and remain successful. Assumption is gifted an incredible body of people that made me feel welcome from day one. This was one of the most enriching and exciting experiences of my life”

Sabriya Chaudhry

Accelerated MBA in Healthcare Management GR 2022
Director of the WooSox Foundation and People & Culture

“I love being able to enhance my business knowledge and apply what I’m learning each day. I handle the day-to-day operations of the WooSox Foundation. The MBA program is perfect for anyone looking to continue their education. I was nervous about starting a new program; however, the faculty and staff have helped make my transition back to school seamless.”

Jack Verducci

Part-time MBA GR 2021
Vice President, Corporate Partnerships, Worcester Red Sox

“The flexibility of Assumption’s MBA program has allowed me to expand my business acumen. The flexibility of Assumption’s MBA program has allowed me to expand my business acumen without having to put my career on hold. I would urge any business professional looking to earn their master’s degree to consider Assumption’s program offerings. ”

Professional Coaching Certificate Program Overview

Coaching helps organizations and their leaders thrive in today’s complex and rapidly changing business environment. As more companies recognize coaching’s potential as a tool for navigating cultural and organizational change, and improving organizational performance, the need for knowledgeable, skillful, and ethical coaching practitioners intensifies. This Graduate Certificate in Professional Coaching* will prepare students for roles as professional coaches—whether they are beginning coaching careers, elevating their existing coaching practices, or adding coaching to their current leadership skillset. Through this program, students will acquire the specialized knowledge and core competencies that define coaching at a professional level.

* This is a certificate in graduate studies which requires completion of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Professional Coaching Certificate Program Contact

Susan M. Cahill

Sr. Associate Director of Post-Bachelor and Graduate Admissions

Schedule a Conversation

508-767-7365 sm.cahill@assumption.edu Admissions House - Room 205

Michael S. Lewis, Ph.D.

Department Chair, Management and Accounting, MBA Director, Assistant Professor of Management

508-767-7372 milewis@assumption.edu Tsotsis Family Academic Center - Room 346

Shelley Walsh

Student Service Representative

508-767-7426 shwalsh@assumption.edu Tsotsis Family Academic Center - Room 338

An Ideal Place to Learn

Real-world Focus

Online

Small class sizes

Program Curriculum

At the completion of this program students will be able to:
- Confidently coach their peers, clients, and/or direct reports, using evidence-based methods and approaches, in a manner consistent with professional and ethical standards in the field.
- Understand and discuss how different forms of coaching, including leadership and executive coaching, managerial coaching, and group and team coaching are used in organizational settings.
- Apply coaching theory to specific challenges, problems, and personal experiences to determine how coaching may be of benefit and which coaching approaches are best suited to the situation.
- Anticipate and adapt to different phases of coaching conversations and engagements, as well as the types of goals, questions, tactics, and considerations that are appropriate to each coaching phase.
- Identify each of the core coaching competencies as defined by the International Coach Federation (ICF), analyze their application across a range of coaching case examples, and consistently apply them in practice.
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE REQUIRED COURSES
The Graduate Certificate in Professional Coaching program consists of 10 credits (4 courses). It is open to students who have completed a Bachelor’s degree from any field of academic study from an accredited institution.

Required Courses (cohort model)*

MOL 780 Foundations of Professional Coaching
MOL 781 Workplace Coaching
MOL 782 Coaching Practice and Supervision I
MOL 783 Coaching Practice and Supervision II

* The program will use a cohort model to help facilitate deep trust and cooperation between students. This type of collaborative learning environment closely parallels the kind of environment coaches seek to create with their clients.

The first two courses, MOL 780 and MOL 781 (three credits each) must be taken in sequence, beginning with MOL 780 (first semester) and ending with MOL 781 (second semester). MOL 782 (two credits) is an experiential course, taken concurrently with MOL 780, where students engage in live coaching practice and small group supervision in the classroom. MOL 783 (two credits) is a continuation of MOL 782, and it taken concurrently with MOL 781. This design will allow participants to complete the entire program within nine months.
What is the difference between the MA in Organizational Leadership and the Professional Coaching Certificate?
The MA in Organizational Leadership is a graduate degree program focused on broad and strategic leadership competencies. It is designed to advance students’ leadership ability and take on more significant leadership roles. The Professional Coaching certificate is a nine-month program that will teach you specialized coaching skills that you can use in your organization working with and managing others.

Students completing our Professional Coaching certificate can apply those courses and credits to continue with a MA in Organizational Leadership.

Is the certificate International Coaching Federation (ICF) approved? If not, why? When will it be approved?
This certificate program is not yet approved for ICF accreditation. While this program adheres to all the standards and competencies of the ICF, application for accreditation cannot happen until the first student cohort has completed the program.

All students that completed the certificate before accreditation will automatically be ICF accredited once the accreditation is complete.

ICF accreditation is essential for individuals seeking to become independent professional coaches.

What value does the certificate provide me? How will it benefit my job/role?
More and more organizations are focused on their employees’ growth, development, work satisfaction, and overall well-being. To this end, coaching has become a central approach and essential element of a manager’s or supervisor’s job. But coaching is a specialized skill. Therefore, people with this skill and credentials will become more valuable, particularly those who work in management, supervisory, human resources, and corporate training and development roles.

What types of professionals would benefit from this?
Managers and supervisors in any organization or industry. Human resource professionals, particularly those in training and development roles. Finally, professionals seeking to become independent professional coaches.

Can non-managers benefit from this certificate?
Yes, particularly those in human resources and training and development roles. Project managers will also find coaching skills valuable.

You indicate it’s a cohort model. Is there any flexibility with this due to reasons beyond a student’s control? How large is the cohort?
Unfortunately, there can be no flexibility away from the cohort model. This model is a critical part of the development process, particularly for the program’s coaching practicum and supervision component.

Cohorts will begin each fall.

What model of delivery can be expected (online, on campus, blended)?
This certificate program is entirely online using both asynchronous and synchronous formats. In addition, students will be required to log a certain number of coaching hours outside of class, which can be face-to-face or virtual.

Explain the live coaching practice I will experience.
You will experience two types of coaching practice. The first is simulated coaching that happens in a class session. Your instructor will facilitate this coaching between students, and you will receive immediate feedback. The second type of coaching practice is done outside the class session. For example, you will conduct coaching sessions with co-workers and employees on your own and debrief during class sessions.

How does supervision work?
Each student is required to log in a certain number of coaching hours outside of class. The instructor will approve those hours and provide feedback during debriefing in-class sessions.

What are the application requirements for this program?
•   Bachelor’s degree (providing graduate credits)
•   Completed application
•   Official transcripts
•   Personal statement

What are the start term options?
Cohorts begin each fall.

Faculty

Michael S. Lewis, Ph.D.

Program Director Department Chair, Management and Accounting MBA Director Assistant Professor of Management

Graduate Admission Events and Ways to Connect With Us

We invite you to learn more about our graduate programs - either through a visit to campus, attending an information session or by scheduling a phone or virtual conversation with an admissions team member or one of our program directors.

Learn More

Admissions Requirements

General Graduate Studies Admissions Requirements

Graduate Application
Official Transcript(s)
Personal Statement
TOEFL or IELTS for applicants whose native language is not English

Apply today

TOEFL Scores: The minimum accepted score for TOEFL is 540 paper, 200 computer and 79-80 internet and for IELTS is 6.0.

GMAT Scores: The GMAT is not required. Personal Statement The Admissions Committee will consider the match between your professional interests and Assumption’s program offerings. We recommend that you give considerable thought to the content of your essay as it is an important part of the evaluation process. We are seeking candidates who have thought deeply about their reasons to pursue this particular graduate certificate program. Your personal statement should answer each of the following questions:

Describe what you hope to accomplish academically during your graduate program and the career goals you have for yourself. Focusing on the actual job you would like to have five years after completing your graduate study will bring specificity to your essay.
Describe your strengths and other qualities that you see as essential to be successful in business.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Graduate Research Symposium

Assumption University Graduate School Annual Symposium showcases research, innovative projects, successful case study, and creative work of graduate students and recent alums from every graduate program. We offer all graduate students in every program an opportunity to present their excellent work on diverse topics.

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Veterans at Assumption

Assumption University recognizes that servicemen and women have demonstrated great courage and made tremendous sacrifices in service to our nation and its people. The University has introduced a number of programs and services to assist veterans during the application process and while veterans are attending Assumption. We also have a lounge designated only for our veteran students. Assumption University is committed to maintaining recognition as a Military Friendly institution. We strive to eliminate barriers to success for our Service Members, Veterans, and their qualified dependents.

Welcoming Veterans

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Preparing students for professional coaching through applied theory and experiential learning environments to incorporate coaching skills, mindsets, and cultures in the business world.