Graduate Certificate in IT Leadership
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Download the certificate guide for details on admission requirements, tuition, and courses.
Learn to Lead IT. 100% online.
Do you have technical expertise and want to expand your business acumen? Organizations need leaders with deep technical understanding to apply technology solutions to business problems. The UW Graduate Certificate in IT Leadership helps you build the skills you need to step into roles such as Chief Technology Officer or Chief Information Officer. Learn the communication, finance and budgeting, and management skills you need to position yourself for success.
What You’ll Learn
The certificate curriculum was expertly designed to focus on the business skills needed to drive IT leadership. Topics of study include:
- Organizational communication skills such as crucial conversations, evidence-based decision making, and change management strategies
- Strategic planning processes
- IT governance and ethical considerations
- General and project accounting practices
- Integrating budgeting with project scheduling
Learn more about the UW Graduate Certificate in IT Leadership courses.
Did you know?
The IT Leadership Graduate Certificate is one of three UW Information Technology Management certificates that comprise the Master’s degree program. The innovative stackable certificate structure allows you to earn marketable credentials on your way to completing your Master’s degree. Learn more about the UW Graduate Certificate in Enterprise Infrastructure, Graduate Certificate in IT Operations, and the Master of Science in Information Technology Management program.
Who should apply?
IT Leadership Graduate Certificate students learn skills that help them advance in their industry, gain a competitive edge in the job market, or change careers entirely.
Busy adults will find the flexibility of the online format especially convenient. Learn more about online learning with UW.
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is required for admission.
Universities of Wisconsin Collaboration
The IT Leadership Graduate Certificate program is offered through the Master of Science in IT Management. This certificate program is a partnership of UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Parkside, UW-Stevens Point, and UW-Superior. Learn more about our campus partners and choosing a home campus.
Accreditation
Whether online or on campus, University of Wisconsin programs have a reputation for delivering world-class education and student support. Accreditation is your assurance that you will graduate with skills that are relevant to your field and valued by employers. The IT Leadership Graduate Certificate is approved by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA
- Completed coursework with a “C” or better—or demonstrated sufficient knowledge—in programming (object oriented, modern language), database, and computer networking. Program academic directors have the option to waive a prerequisite based, in part, on student work experience and background. Technical certifications such as Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, AWS, Cisco, or professional experience may be used in lieu of formal coursework to demonstrate proficiency at the discretion of the academic adviser at the student’s home campus. If you need to complete prerequisite coursework, this pre-approved list of options may assist you. Please contact an enrollment adviser for details.
Application Materials
- Your resume
- Up to 1,000 word statement of personal intent describing your decision to pursue the degree and what you believe you will bring to the information technology management field
- No aptitude test (GRE, GMAT) requirements
*Campuses may waive some of these requirements as part of the comprehensive application process.
Application Deadlines
Your online application and all required materials must be submitted to your preferred home campus generally 2-4 weeks prior to the date classes start (this varies by campus) to be considered for admission.
Starting your application early will help ensure you have plenty of time to gather required materials (such as transcripts), transfer credits, apply for financial aid, and complete the University of Wisconsin System Online Admission Application.
Find program start dates and registration dates on our important dates page. To see course offerings by semester, see the Course Schedule.
How to Apply
Step 1: Decide which home campus you’d like to apply to. Campus partners for the Information Technology Management master’s program include UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Parkside, UW-Stevens Point, and UW-Superior.
Step 2: Visit the University of Wisconsin System Online Admission Application. Login or create an account, apply to the home campus of your choice, and select “Information Technology Management-Collaborative” as the program. Note; this program may be listed as “Info Technology Management.”
*For a limited time, UW offers an application fee waiver to those who haven’t yet applied to the Fall 2025 semester. Use coupon code APPLY25 on the UW Online Application payment page to redeem.
Step 3: Send your resume and personal statement; and arrange to have your official college transcripts (from each institution you attended) sent to the graduate student admissions office of the home campus to which you applied.
International Guidelines
This program welcomes online students from around the world. Online students do not qualify for an F-1 Student Visa to travel to the U.S. but instead can participate in our online courses remotely. If your native language is not English and/or you attended school outside of the U.S., you will likely need to provide proof of English language proficiency and an official translation or evaluation of academic transcripts. Requirements will vary based on a student’s academic history and home campus policies. For guidance about these requirements and how they apply to your specific situation contact your preferred home campus admissions office.
If you would like to apply as an International Student for an on-campus program in the UW System please refer to these resources through Go Wisconsin.
Questions?
While you are free to apply on your own, many prospective students find it helpful to speak with an enrollment adviser first. Our staff is here to answer your questions, talk with you about your career goals, and help you decide if this program is a good choice for you.
The UW Information Technology Management Program Features Flexible, Stackable Certificates
Three individual graduate certificates comprise the UW IT Management Master’s program: IT Leadership, Enterprise Infrastructure, and IT Operations. You have the ultimate flexibility to choose which certificates you complete and when, tailoring the program to fit your work and life goals. After you’ve completed the three certficates, add a Capstone course and project to earn a Master’s of Science in IT Management.
The UW Master of Science in Information Technology Management program offers 100% online courses. All course content, from multimedia lectures and e-learning tools to homework assignments, are delivered through the program’s online learning management system. You can study and do homework whenever and wherever it’s convenient for you.
IT Leadership Graduate Certificate courses are available during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Three courses are required for completion of the certificate. There are no electives. Students must earn a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA in certificate coursework. All courses are 100 percent online and asynchronous. We’ve developed a superior virtual lab for students to remotely access dozens of tools such as SQL Server and Tableau. In addition, you’ll have access to instructors for questions and you’ll have your own personal Success Coach.
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
This course focuses on developing organizational communication skills for IT professionals. Topics include crucial conversations, evidence-based decision making, and change management strategies for organizational transformation. This course also emphasizes the development of organizational and interpersonal communication skills relating to cultural sensitivity, diversity, and ethical issues in the IT field. | 3 Credits |
Focusing on the application of management and leadership theories, students will explore their own personal assets and liabilities to become an effective leader and change agent in a complex adaptive system. Students will be introduced to strategic planning processes, as well as IT governance and ethical considerations. | 3 Credits |
Frame financial decisions within general and project accounting principles. Topics include: pro forma financial statements, time value of money, cash flows and equivalence, depreciation, net present value, rate of return, and ratio analysis. Prepare budgets that prioritize projects within constraints, address uncertainty and intangibles, and integrate with project scheduling. | 3 Credits |
Spring 2026
Request Permission NumberCourse Preview Week: January 20 - January 26, 2026
Semester Dates: January 27 - May 08, 2026
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
Focusing on the application of management and leadership theories, students will explore their own personal assets and liabilities to become an effective leader and change agent in a complex adaptive system. Students will be introduced to strategic planning processes, as well as IT governance and ethical considerations. | 3 Credits |
Summer 2026
Registration Opens: March 09, 2026
Course Preview Week: May 19 - May 25, 2026
Semester Dates: May 26 - August 07, 2026
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
Frame financial decisions within general and project accounting principles. Topics include: pro forma financial statements, time value of money, cash flows and equivalence, depreciation, net present value, rate of return, and ratio analysis. Prepare budgets that prioritize projects within constraints, address uncertainty and intangibles, and integrate with project scheduling. | 3 Credits |
The Graduate Certificate in IT Leadership was developed with advice from industry experts across various technology disciplines to equip graduates with practical skills that allow them to pursue jobs in a variety of settings. You’ll graduate with confidence that your skills and knowledge will match employer needs and expectations.
Program outcomes are based on current industry standards and best practices.
Students completing the IT Leadership Graduate Certificate will be able to:
- Demonstrate effective organizational leadership skills.
- Prepare, monitor and analyze technology budgets.
- Effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders.
- Demonstrate professional skills accounting for equity, diversity, and cultural sensitivity.
- Address ethical issues associated with information technology.
- Implement IT governance goals of leadership.
Tuition is a flat fee of $850 per credit whether you live in Wisconsin or out of state.
There are no additional course or program fees, however, textbooks are purchased separately and are not included in tuition. You will not pay segregated fees (fees in addition to tuition that cover the cost of student-organized activities, facility maintenance, and operations) and you will not be charged a technology fee. If software or special technology is required in one of your courses, it will be provided to you and is included in your tuition.
Financial Aid
Financial aid options are limited for certificates and are awarded by your home campus. To learn more, contact your home campus financial aid office to see if you qualify for aid as a full or part-time student or speak with an Enrollment Adviser for more information. You can also visit our financial aid page to learn more about FAFSA and other sources of financial aid.
Veteran Benefits
Benefits are available to qualifying veterans and those currently serving. Contact your home campus veteran services office for details.
Experience UW Information Technology Management
Learn about the IT management industry, program faculty, read student stories, and more. Explore the blog.
