Certificate in Facilitation

Executive Certificate in Facilitation

Learn how to design and facilitate more effective gatherings to draw out the unique contributions of all participants, build consensus, and foster action that leads to results.

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The Executive Certificate in Facilitation is a cohort-based program that prepares senior managers and executives to design and facilitate effective face-to-face meetings and gatherings. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with other senior-level professionals while learning through a combination of interactive classroom instruction, reading, self-reflection, and hands-on practice.

You’ll learn through interactive engagement with expert facilitators who specialize in areas including facilitating vision and strategy, working in the emotional domain, and facilitating cross-cultural and diverse constituencies. Each course will be preceded by an interactive virtual session that will set the stage for the upcoming course. Led by skilled guest facilitators, the virtual sessions will include the following topics: Equity in Facilitation; Virtual Facilitation; and Facilitating with an Eye towards the Onlys in the Room. The virtual sessions will provide opportunities for you to interact with faculty and fellow classmates, and ultimately deepen your learning between each of the four courses. By the end of the program, you’ll understand how to bring about shifts in thinking, create new alignments, build consensus, and foster action that leads to results.

  • Ideal for
    Managers & executives

  • Duration
    4 courses over 4 months

  • Tuition
    $8,700

  • Format
    Online & On-Campus

  • Schedule
    All day, Mon–Wed, once a month

  • Semester of Entry
    Fall & summer

Upon successful completion of the certificate, you’ll be able to:

  • Design productive and inspirational meetings
  • Collect group needs and facilitate gatherings to advance the work of groups
  • Construct and deliver innovative facilitated experiences
  • Express leadership presence to drive outcomes in both small and large group settings

Curriculum & Schedule

You must successfully complete the four required courses for a total of 8.7 Continuing Education Units (CEUs), which is equivalent to 87.0 contact hours. The program must be completed in sequence as a cohort over four-months. Full attendance for each module is mandatory to successfully complete this Executive Certificate Program.

For more information on course schedules, please see the Facilitation Program Fall 2024-Spring 2025 Schedule.

  1. Being a Facilitator (2.1 CEUs)
  2. The Art of Facilitation Design (2.2 CEUs)
  3. Facilitating Teams and Groups (2.2 CEUs)
  4. Facilitating in the 21st Century (2.2 CEUs)

What Is On-Campus Learning?
On-Campus programs combine traditional classroom learning with interactive experiential methodology. Classes typically meet for two or three consecutive days once a month at our downtown Washington, D.C. campus.

What Is Live Online Learning?
Live online instruction is enhanced by incorporating various instructional practices and technology tools. Features such as Zoom video conferencing, breakout rooms, and chat allow for real-time interaction and collaboration among learners. Tools like Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Canvas Groups facilitate teamwork and information sharing within the learning community. Polling, surveys, and threaded discussion boards promote active engagement and the expression of opinions. It is important to foster social respect, privacy, and incorporate Jesuit values to create a supportive and inclusive online environment. By utilizing these practices and tools effectively, live online instruction can be engaging, interactive, and conducive to meaningful learning experiences.

Course Schedule

Course Name Fall 2024 Spring 2025
Being a Facilitator Oct 07- Oct 09 Mar 03- Mar 05
The Art of Facilitation Design Nov 11- Nov 13 Mar 31- Apr 02
Facilitating Teams and Groups Dec 09- Dec 11 May 05- May 07
Facilitating in the 21st Century Jan 13- Jan 15 Jun 09- Jun 11

Faculty

Maya Bernstein

Maya Bernstein believes in the power of individuals and groups to adapt and to creatively respond to challenges and opportunities they face in their work and lives.  She draws on ...
Read more

Rae Ringel

Rae Ringel is a certified executive coach and founding President of The Ringel Group. She is a faculty member at the Georgetown University Institute for Transformational Leadership and founding director ...
Read more

Kim Weinberg

Kim Mensh Weinberg has over twenty-five years of experience in executive coaching, group facilitation, leadership development, and organizational consulting. She is adept at navigating individuals and teams through significant challenges, ...
Read more

How to Apply

Application Dates

Fall Cohort

Application Opens—Jan 1

  • Deadline—Sep 6

Spring Cohort

Application Opens—Aug 1

  • Deadline—Jan 15

Program Prerequisite

Applicants should have at least 2-4 years of experience leading groups or teams.

Please review the refund policies in our Student Handbook before completing your registration.

Degree Requirement

You must hold a bachelor's degree or the equivalent in order to enroll in our certificate programs. For each cohort, an application review committee offers admission to a diverse group of students to enrich the classroom experience.

Tips for the Online Application

  • Our online application securely stores your information and saves your progress so you can update and complete your information at your convenience
  • Click the “SAVE” button at each stage of the application process to ensure that your work and documents are uploaded

Tips for Your Letter of Recommendation (not required for all programs)

  • Your recommender is notified when you submit your online application
  • Notify your recommenders ahead of time and submit your application at least one week prior to the deadline to allow time for them to complete and submit your recommendation
  • A personal email address for your recommender works best
  • Government, military, and corporate email servers often have filters that delay or prevent messages from being delivered

International Students

International students who enter the U.S. on a valid visa are eligible to enroll in certificate courses. However, Georgetown University cannot sponsor student visas for noncredit professional certificate programs.

A TOEFL examination is not required for non-native speakers of English but students are expected to read, write, and comprehend English at the graduate level to fully participate in and gain from the program.

Students from most countries may register for our online certificate programs, however, due to international laws, residents of certain countries are prohibited from registering.

Tuition & Funding

Total tuition for 4 courses is $8,700. Textbooks are not included.

Funding

Noncredit professional certificates do not qualify for federal financial aid, scholarships, grants, or needs-based aid. However, several finance and funding options do exist, as listed below.

Employer Education and Training Budgets

Some employers offer funding for employee education or professional development. If an employer guarantees payment for employee education and training, Georgetown will accept an Intent to Pay form. If you are using employer sponsorship or training authorizations, you must submit an Intent to Pay form with your registration.

If your employer will pay for your tuition, select “Third-Party Billing” as your method of payment when you register for courses online. Please submit an Intent to Pay form indicating that your employer or another third party should be billed for tuition. Invoices will not be generated without this form on file.

Federal Agency Training Funds*
  • According to the Federal Employees Almanac 2014, federal agencies may:
    • Pay training and education expenses from appropriated funds or other available funds for training needed to support program functions
    • Reimburse employees for all or part of the costs of training or education
    • Share training and education costs with employees
    • Pay travel expenses for employees assigned to training
    • Adjust an employee's normal work schedule for educational purposes not related to official duties

Georgetown accepts Standard Form-182 (SF-182) for training authorizations from the federal government.

*Federal employees should ask the appropriate budget officer about training budgets available.

Georgetown Employee TAP Benefits

Eligible Georgetown employees may use their Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) benefits to fund 90% of the certificate program tuition—employees will be invoiced for the remaining 10% of tuition and must pay any other charges associated with their certificate program. Employees using TAP benefits may work directly with the HR Benefits Office to ensure payment prior to the start of any course. This payment option is only valid if registration occurs at least 10–14 business days prior to the start date of the first course. Any fees incurred due to course withdrawal are the student’s responsibility and are not funded by Georgetown University TAP. For questions regarding TAP benefits, please contact the HR/Benefits Office at tapbenefits@georgetown.edu or (202) 687-2500.

GoArmyEd.com for Active Duty, National Guard,
Army Reserve Soldiers, and Army Civilians

SCS is registered with GoArmyEd.com to accept SF-182 training authorization forms. GoArmyEd.com is the virtual gateway for all eligible active duty, National Guard, and Army Reserve soldiers to request Tuition Assistance (TA) online. GoArmyEd.com is also the virtual gateway for Army Civilians to apply for their Civilian education, training, and leadership development events.

Interest-Free Payment Plan

The professional certificate programs offer an interest-free payment plan for certificate programs that are more than one month in duration and for which the total tuition is greater than or equal to $4,000. The payment plan is structured in the following manner:

  • Payment #1: A down payment of 25% of the total tuition balance must be paid online (within 72 hours after you register and select Payment Plan) via the Noncredit Student Portal. Please submit your down payment as soon as possible.
  • Payments #2, #3, and #4: Your remaining balance will be due in three (3) equal monthly installments beginning 30 calendar days after your down payment is processed. Your monthly payments must be paid via credit card in the Noncredit Student Portal. You will be able to access each invoice and payment due date in your student account.
  • PLEASE NOTE: Automatic Payment Service is not available. You must make each subsequent payment via the Noncredit Student Portal.

Military Benefits/GI Bill®

A number of tuition benefits are available through the Department of Veterans Affairs and under various parts of the GI Bill®. Please visit the Resources for Military Students page for additional information and instructions.

Tuition Discounts

Only one tuition discount may be applied at the time of registration. Tuition discounts cannot be combined. Tuition discounts are not applied retroactively. Please contact pdcprograms@georgetown.edu with any questions.

GU Alumni 10% Discount

Georgetown University alumni and SCS certificate completers are eligible to receive a 10% tuition discount for many certificates offered within SCS’s Institute for Transformational Leadership (ITL) portfolio. When registering for an eligible certificate through the SCS website, you will see the "10% Georgetown Alumni Discount" as an option. The Enrollment Team will then verify your eligibility status as a Georgetown University alumnus or certificate completer.

OPM Federal Scholarship Alliance 10% Discount

Eligible federal employees across the country receive a 10% scholarship applied to the current tuition rate for all SCS degree programs and professional certificate programs each academic semester. Please contact pdcprograms@georgetown.edu for steps to be added to this discount group.

Contact Us

Still have questions?

Georgetown University
Institute for Transformational Leadership
at the School of Continuing Studies
640 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001

Phone: (202) 687-7000
Email: itlprograms@georgetown.edu
Fax: (202) 784-7200

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