Graduate Servant Leadership Certificate
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Overview

Develop Skills To Foster a Positive and Engaged Culture

The Graduate Certificate in Servant Leadership is designed to guide you on how to create a positive work culture of growth, engagement and employee well-being. Offered fully online through Grand Canyon University’s Colangelo College of Business, this program can equip you with practical leadership strategies and interpersonal skills that promote collaborative decision-making. Through a flexible, structured curriculum, you can develop the tools needed to lead with empathy and drive positive organizational change.  

Jerry Colangelo and recipient shaking hands at GCU awards event.
Graduate Certificate in Servant Leadership
Class Settings
Online
Tuition Rate

Online$665 per credit [More Info]

Course Information
Credits: 16
Online: 8 weeks

[More Info]
Transfer Credits

The University will accept one course of the total certificate requirements in transfer.

Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements (Master's)

  • Undergraduate Degree*
  • 2.8+ GPA

OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and

  • GMAT: 500
  • GRE: 300 combined**

Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).

Why GCU

Practice Servant Leadership Through Interactive Learning

In each servant leadership class, you will have the opportunity to engage in dynamic group discussions, examine the principles of servant leadership and assess leadership styles across various organizations. 

GCU integrates Christan values, ethical leadership and community impact into every aspect of the curriculum. You will be taught how to serve others with humility and purpose, while fostering emotional intelligence to create an engaged workplace culture.

Flexible Online Format Designed for Emerging Servant Leaders

GCU’s online graduate servant leadership certificate provides digital resources, a supportive learning community and the convenience of studying remotely. Each servant leadership course is designed to fit your busy schedule while offering meaningful interaction with faculty and peers. Whether you’re balancing work, family or other responsibilities, this flexible format can allow you to pursue leadership development while maintaining your other commitments.

Online servant leadership certificate student smiling at laptop in café while studying.
Coursework

Graduate Servant Leadership Coursework

In each servant leadership course, you can develop advanced leadership skills in effective communication, critical thinking, global awareness, ethics and conscious capitalism.

Throughout your courses, you have the opportunity to articulate the responsibilities of leadership through a Christian worldview. This includes the biblical basis of servant leadership and the professional integrity required of Christian leaders.

While completing this graduate servant leadership certificate program, you will be taught to:

  • Identify key concepts of leadership and how the science of organizational behavior contributes to effective leaders and managers
  • Recognize how a servant leader is different from other leaders and how focusing on the needs of others can create interdependency rather than dependency in organizations
  • Be able to synthesize the interdependent concepts of global business, cultural intelligence, self-awareness and interpersonal relationships
  • Understand the important role of conscious capitalism in elevating humanity and helping people and communities flourish
Careers

Graduate Servant Leadership Certificate Career Paths

Earning a graduate servant leadership certificate can help prepare you to lead with compassion, integrity and in service to others. Individuals who pair this certificate with a degree program can enhance their confidence and capabilities to lead, serve and transform.

This certificate program, when combined with a degree program, can prepare you for roles such as:

Chief executive

General or operations manager

Human resources manager

Sales manager

Training and development manager

Social and community services manager

Facilities manager

Administrative services manager

1.1 Million

Number of new jobs estimated to open for management occupations from 2024 to 2034(See disclaimer 1)

Industries Known for Servant Leadership

Some industries may tend to place a higher value on servant leadership careers.

Servant Leadership in Nursing

As with the healthcare industry as a whole, servant leadership in nursing is particularly well-aligned due to the direct patient care involved in the nursing field. Nurses build relationships with many of their patients through regular, personal interaction. Through this interaction, nurses and physicians are able to create personalized care plans that best meet the medical needs of each patient.

Servant Leadership in Education

Servant leadership can be an effective leadership model used in schools. School principals who incorporate servant leadership in education can help encourage, empower and serve their teachers. Teachers who feel supported increase their effectiveness in the classroom; thus, positively impacting student learning as well as their relationships with parents and colleagues.

Servant Leadership in Business

Many companies favor servant leadership training in business. Chick-fil-A, Whole Foods, Marriott, Southwest Airlines, Nordstrom and REI are among the long list of recognized companies who understand the importance of creating nurturing workplace environments for their employees.(See disclaimer 2) When employees feel respected, heard and appreciated, their morale, engagement and productivity increases.(See disclaimer 3)

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Read through some of the most frequently asked questions to learn more about becoming a servant leader and earning your graduate certificate in servant leadership.

Courses

Program Curriculum

Credit Summary
Major16 credits
Degree Requirements16 credits

Core Courses

  • GCU cannot and will not promise job placement, a job, graduate school placement, transfer of GCU program credits to another institution, promotion, salary, or salary increase. Please see the Career Services Policy in the University Policy Handbook.
  • Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
  • Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change
Female servant leader speaking at podium.
Empower Your Leadership Through Service

If you’re interested in becoming a servant leader, fill out the form on this page to get in contact with a university counselor and get started.

Apply Now

1.  COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective August 2025, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Management Occupations, retrieved September 2025.

2. Lichtenwalner, B. (2024, Aug. 21). Servant Leadership Companies List. Modern Servant Leader. Retrieved June 20, 2023.

3. Winch, G. (2024, Sept. 9). The Importance of Feeling Respected, Appreciated, and Liked at Work. Psychology Today. Retrieved Oct. 6, 2025.

4. VanBenschoten, B. (2020, Nov. 25). What Is Servant Leadership and How To Apply It. The National Society of Leadership and Success. Retrieved June 20, 2023.