Organizations must continually adapt in our increasingly complex and quickly changing environment. In order to effect change and thrive, they require support. The Executive Certificate in Organization Development Consulting & Change Leadership is for anyone who wants to better understand organizational systems and help facilitate sustainable change processes. You’ll learn foundational self-awareness, concepts, and skills needed to design inquiry and engagement processes that help organizations fulfill their missions and become more equitable, humane, and empowering workplaces. You will apply those skills in a program-long practicum where you will work with another student as a team of consultants to a real-world client on an OD engagement.
This program is designed for change leaders, internal practitioners in Human Resources (HR), Organization Development (OD), and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI), as well as current and future external consultants. You'll focus not only on what you need to be “doing,” but also on who you are “being” as a consultant and leader. This deeply transformative program goes beyond teaching organization development as a discipline; you will be challenged to become an impactful OD practitioner with a curious mindset, a grounded presence, and an ability to lead with an open heart.
Our curriculum has been designed to meet the moment—where the concepts of work and workplace are being reimagined, where DEI and OD have become inextricably intertwined, and where OD learning and practice can be maximized via synchronous and asynchronous methodologies in face-to-face, remote, and hybrid environments. Join our learning community and become a more effective instrument of change.
Ideal for: consultants, change leaders, and practitioners in HR, OD, and DEI
Ideal for
consultants, change leaders, and practitioners in HR, OD, and DEI
Duration: 9 courses over 8 months
Duration
9 courses over 8 months
Tuition: $11,895
Tuition
$11,895
Format: Online & On-Campus
Format
Online & On-Campus
Schedule: All day, Thurs–Sat, once a month
Schedule
All day, Thurs–Sat, once a month
Semester of Entry: Spring
Semester of Entry
Spring
Upon successful completion of the program, you’ll be able to:
Facilitate transformation through an Organization Development (OD) lens
Express a deeper understanding of your own strengths, preferences, and habits, and how these ways of being, along with our myriad social identities, shape the ways we see, understand, and experience the world and each other
Leverage insights about yourself to become a more effective instrument of influence as a consultant and change leader
Apply relevant theories and models to assess the current state of an organization and build capacity of individuals and groups to articulate and bring about desired change
Implement sustainable change at the individual, group, and systems levels by developing strategies for inclusive engagement, dialogue, and decision making, and building capacity to navigate conflict
Demonstrate practitioner competencies of the OD Cycle (entry, contracting, data collection, analysis and feedback, intervention) through a program-long applied team project with a real client
Leverage a peer network that supports continued personal and professional growth
Testimonials from current students and alumni.
The faculty facilitated an in-depth learning experience that beautifully modeled the art of this work. I gained practical wisdom and learned skills and theories that helped me immediately grow my career.
Sharon Newport
Executive Certificate in Organization Development Consulting & Change Leadership
Curriculum & Schedule
You must successfully complete all nine required courses for a total of 17.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs), or 174 contact hours. The program must be completed in sequence as a cohort over eight months. Classes meet monthly for 3-4 full days followed by a half-day faculty-led learning team meeting on the Friday after each course. This program has a hybrid delivery modality. Classes 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7 are delivered live-online via the Zoom Conferencing application, and Classes 2, 5, and 8 are delivered in person at the SCS campus in downtown, Washington DC. Attendance for all live-online and in-person/on-campus class sessions and Learning Team Meetings is mandatory to successfully complete this Executive Certificate Program.
To view a list of all mandatory class dates, please see the 2025 Cohort Schedule.
Making Meaning of Systems: Organizational Theory (2.4 CEUs)
Cultivating Self as an Instrument of Change (1.8 CEUs)
Collecting Data and Designing Feedback (1.8 CEUs)
Transforming Systems: Change Theory and Practices (1.8 CEUs)
Working with Group Dynamics and Conflict (1.8 CEUs)
Designing Interventions that Move Systems to Action (1.8 CEUs)
Facilitating Inclusive Dialogue and Clear Decision Making in Organizations (1.8 CEUs)
Integrating and Applying Lessons Learned (1.8 CEUs)
Organization Development Consulting Application (2.4 CEUs)
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.
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.
Brian Emerson, Ph.D. is a Principal of Andiron, a firm committed to helping leaders navigate organizational complexity by building both/and mindsets. Brian has an impressive history of partnering with organizations ... Read more
Marcia Feola
As a principal, in Powerfulwork, Marcia’s focus is on creating a vibrant consulting firm dedicated to bringing leading-edge leadership and management tools to business and government. With over 30 years ... Read more
Anne Litwin
Dr. Anne Litwin has been a consultant to organizations, an executive coach, a researcher and author for more than 30 years in the USA and internationally. Anne has a passion ... Read more
Magdy Mansour
Magdy works with leaders to create new ideas and approaches to achieving a desired future state. Magdy is an Organization Development consultant and certified Leadership Coach at The Clearing, ... Read more
Sharon Newport
Sharon is an experienced organizational consultant, international facilitator and speaker, and award winning executive. Sharon Newport, CAE is an organizational development consultant who partners with leaders to advance their ... Read more
Tony Bennae Richard
Tony Bennae Richard is a disabled veteran who served the United States Navy for twenty-four years as a Hospital Corpsman, Naval Officer, and internal organization development consultant for Navy Medicine. ... Read more
Lisa Silverberg
Lisa Silverberg, ODCCL Assistant Program Director, is the founder and principal of Process Matters, LLC. She is an OD consultant, facilitator, and coach. Lisa Silverberg, ODCCL Assistant Program Director, is ... Read more
Jessica Srikantia Field
Jessica Srikantia Field, Ph.D., PCC, ITCA, is the Academic Director and Associate Professor of the Practice with the Georgetown Institute of Transformational Leadership (ITL). Jessica has engaged in global solidarity work with extraordinary ... Read more
Fasika Tefera
Fasika Tefera, ODCCL Program Director, is an award-winning organizational change consultant and executive coach advising leaders and enhancing organization and individual performance for almost 20 years. Fasika Tefera is an ... Read more
Jessica Zucal
Jessica is an organization system innovator and change enabler, with over twenty years of experience, Jessica helps clients to see the system while equipping them to navigate it and drive ... Read more
How to Apply
Application Dates
Spring Cohort
Application Opens—Sep 1
Deadline—Feb 15
Program Prerequisites:
A minimum of five years of education, training and/or professional experience in coaching, human resources, leadership, organization development or a related field.
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 program tuition for all 9 courses is $11,895. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
