Certificates
Certificate Programs
WGI offers four non-credit certificate programs designed to help you excel at your vocation:
- Transformational Leadership
- Emotional Intelligence
- Social Intelligence
- Transformational Coaching
Transformational Leadership Certificate Program
Transformational leadership is an emerging model of leadership. Transformational leaders empower and develop themselves, their followers, and their organization to achieve extraordinary outcomes while generating high levels of satisfaction and commitment. As they engage in their own personal transformation, such leaders have a transformative effect on the people around them, and ultimately, their world. Followers of transformational leaders accomplish more than they imagined possible and fulfill more of their potential.
At the Wright Graduate Institute for the Realization of Human Potential, we believe transformational leadership starts from the inside out.
We begin with the assumption that leadership is an innate human ability. In other words, all of us are leaders who are leading all the time through our influence on people and events. The only question is: how are you using your influence? Are you guiding others to their best, or to something else? This program will help you envision, understand, and gain the skills to become a more effective transformational leader.
How it works:
We believe that the skills and qualities that define transformational leaders can be taught. In this program, all content and practices are grounded deeply in your personal and professional experience. Program mentors will support you to make positive, creative contributions that influence all the people and initiatives you touch in powerful ways.
Program prerequisite/co-requisite
Completion of the Year of MORE program or its equivalent
Program structure and requirements:
Transformational leadership certificate program participants enroll in two courses (called Areas of Competence, or ACs):
AC30C – Educational Approaches to Developing and Deploying Personal Power (certificate level)
AC70C – Transformational Leadership and Group Dynamics (certificate level)
This program combines theory with practice in a learning model that emphasizes academic understanding, research, writing, performative learning, and application. To acquire the academic understanding, you will participate in group discussions, read source materials, engage in one-on-one interactions with your mentor, and learn from faculty at the educational weekend(s) at our Elkhorn campus.
You will gain a broad academic foundation for learning that weaves together skill development with theory, research, and emerging methodologies for advancing human potential. You will delve into rich academic traditions from Adlerian, developmental, humanistic, and positive psychology; read about the educational theories of John Dewey, Lev Vygotsky, and Jack Mezirow, among others; explore the contributions of existentialism; and explore the latest findings from neuroscience, behavioral economics, and the human sciences.
Then, you'll apply your insights to your career and life. In-depth discussions, out-of-classroom assignments, leadership exercises, community service, and other learning experiences will help you see the direct relevance of your education to your career.
For each AC in this certificate program you will:
– Write an overview paper demonstrating your knowledge of the field
– Complete performative learning experiences (see below)
– Develop and present a seminar in which you teach others what you have learned
Performative learning experiences for this certificate are:
Completion of Group Process Training
Completion of the full Year of MORE program
Cost of this certificate program:
$12,800, which includes all relevant performative learning experiences above. If you have previously enrolled in the full Year of MORE program, the cost of the certificate program is $5,800. If you have also previously enrolled in Group Process Training, the cost is $4000. There is a non-refundable $75 application fee.
Study weekends: Attendance at the first weekend session for the AC is required.
You may attend three study weekends at the Wright Graduate Institute's campus in Elkhorn, Wisconsin to support your learning and writing.
Additional benefit: If after completing a certificate program at WGI you enroll in the M.A. program, you can apply credit earned from your certificate towards the M.A. degree in Transformational Leadership and Coaching.
Emotional Intelligence Certificate Program
Learn how to become successful at leadership, coaching, training, and teaming by increasing your emotional intelligence. Through this certificate program you can become a more potent agent at work, in your community leadership, and in your interpersonal relationships. As you develop your emotional intelligence, you will become a highly effective transformational leader, team member, coach, trusted advisor, and insightful decision-maker.
How it works:
In this certificate program, you will study the foundations and components of emotional intelligence, such as the purpose of emotions, their role in effective decision-making and communication, and the ways that emotional data contribute to positive self-concept and executive hardiness. You will develop skills in responsible self-expression and social awareness with the goal of experiencing more ownership for and satisfaction in daily outcomes.
You will also be introduced to leading theories of human development and will explore the many subtle links between childhood experience and adult functioning – all with an eye toward lifting individuals and groups to higher performance. You will be introduced to systems theory, attachment theory, and the concept of the false vs. the authentic self. Students will be encouraged to identify and challenge the limiting beliefs that circumscribe behavior on the way to becoming more engaged and effective in every venue.
Program structure and requirements:
Emotional Intelligence certificate program participants enroll in two courses (called Areas of Competence, or ACs):
- AC10C – Foundations of Human Development and Emotional Intelligence (certificate level)
- AC20C – Foundations of Human Relationships (certificate level)
This program combines theory with practice in a learning model that emphasizes academic understanding, research, writing, performative learning, and application. To acquire the academic understanding you will participate in group discussions, read source materials, engage in one-on-one interactions with your mentor, and learn from faculty at the educational weekend(s) at our Elkhorn campus.
You will gain a broad academic foundation for learning that weaves together skill development with theory, research, and emerging methodologies for advancing human potential. You will delve into rich academic traditions from Adlerian, developmental, humanistic, and positive psychology; read about the educational theories of John Dewey, Lev Vygotsky, and Jack Mezirow, among others; explore the contributions of existentialism; and explore the latest findings from neuroscience, behavioral economics, and the human sciences.
Then, you'll apply your insights to your career and your life. In-depth discussions, out-of-classroom assignments, leadership exercises, community service, and other learning experiences will help you see the direct relevance of your education to your career.
For each AC in this certificate program you will:
– Write an overview paper demonstrating your knowledge of the field.
– Complete performative learning experiences (see below).
– Develop and present a seminar in which you teach others what you have learned.
Performative learning experiences for this certificate are:
- Foundations of Human Development and Emotional Intelligence: Completion of Nourishment Self-Care assignments from the Wright Leadership Institute's Year of MORE program or its equivalent.
- For Foundations of Human Relationships: Completion of Family & Intimacy assignments from the Wright Leadership Institute's Year of MORE program or its equivalent.
- Biweekly coaching sessions with a Year of MORE coach or the equivalent.
- Biweekly group mentoring sessions.
Cost of this certificate program:
$7,500, which includes all relevant performative learning experiences above. If you have previously completed the two required quarters of Year of MORE, the cost of this certificate program is $4,000. There is a non-refundable $75 application fee.
Study weekends: Attendance at the first weekend session for the AC is required.
You may attend three study weekends at the Wright Graduate Institute's campus in Elkhorn, Wisconsin to support your learning and writing.
Additional benefit: If after completing a certificate program at WGI you enroll in the M.A. program, you can apply credit earned from your certificate towards the M.A. degree in Transformational Leadership and Coaching.
Social Intelligence Certificate Program
Learn how to effectively influence others, get work done, and succeed as a transformational leader through this social intelligence certificate program. This program will teach you the essential skills in understanding how to motivate others, how groups function, how blocks and limiting beliefs inhibit effectiveness, how your authentic personal power can manifest, and how you and others function in relation to authority.
How it works:
In this certificate program, learners understand the many varieties of influence and personal power they already employ, as well as self-imposed blocks that prevent them from realizing their full power. Skills taught include identifying one's personal power style and learning different means of influencing and motivating others. An overview of developmental and existential philosophy helps learners understand the power of orienting to principles in any situation, including the power of being one's most authentic, truthful self.
In this program, learners also learn to identify and use purpose. Purpose is an essential element of work that informs every aspect of vocational success. Learners identify a life purpose and discover ways in which having a clearer sense of mission brings deeper meaning and greater performance to all careers. You'll analyze your natural gifts and talents and explore how applying those gifts in the service of others can generate a lifelong sense of satisfaction and meaning.
Program structure and requirements:
Social Intelligence certificate program participants enroll in two courses (called Areas of Competence, or ACs):
- AC30C – Educational Approaches to Developing and Deploying Personal Power (certificate level)
- AC40C – Purposeful Living and Leadership (certificate level)
This program combines theory with practice in a learning model that emphasizes academic understanding, research, writing, performative learning, and application. To acquire the academic understanding you will participate in group discussions, read, engage in one-on-one interactions with your mentor, and learn from faculty at the educational weekends at our Elkhorn, Wisconsin campus.
You will gain a broad academic foundation for learning that weaves together skill development with theory, research, and emerging methodologies for advancing human potential. You will delve into rich academic traditions from Adlerian, developmental, humanistic, and positive psychology; read about the educational theories of John Dewey, Lev Vygotsky, and Jack Mezirow, among others; explore the contributions of existentialism; and explore the latest findings from neuroscience, behavioral economics, and the human sciences.
Then, you'll apply your insights to your career and life. In-depth discussions, out-of-classroom assignments, leadership exercises, community service, and other learning experiences will help you see the direct relevance of your education to your career.
For each AC in this certificate program you will:
– Write an overview paper demonstrating your knowledge of the field.
– Complete performative learning experiences (see below).
– Develop and present a seminar in which you teach others what you have learned.
Performative learning experiences for this certificate are:
- Completion of the Personal Power quarter in the Year of MORE program or its equivalent
- Completion of the Life Purpose & Spirituality quarter in the Year of MORE program or its equivalent
- Biweekly coaching sessions with a Year of MORE coach.
- Biweekly mentoring sessions with a master’s level mentor.
Cost of the certificate program:
$7,500, which includes all relevant performative learning experiences above. If you have previously enrolled for the two required quarters of Year of MORE, the cost of this certificate program is $4,000. There is a non-refundable $75 application fee.
Study weekends: Attendance at the first weekend session for the AC is required. You may attend three study weekends at the Wright Graduate Institute's campus in Elkhorn, Wisconsin to support your learning and writing.
Additional benefit: If after completing a certificate program at WGI you enroll in the M.A. program, you can apply credit earned from your certificate towards the M.A. degree in Transformational Leadership and Coaching.
Coaching Certificate
Learn the theory and practice of transformational coaching, a key set of skills for leadership as well as a satisfying and meaningful vocation. This unique program introduces you to the revolutionary Wright Model of Transformational Coaching. This program is dedicated to helping you achieve your fullest potential and reach possibilities beyond what you ever thought was possible.
How it works:
This program focuses on such important coaching skills as developing rapport, creating a winning context for coaching, intentional speaking, contextual listening, asking powerful questions, defining action steps, creating accountability, and using grounded leadership. Participants will build skill in holding vision for people and facilitating their emotional expression, release, and healing. In addition, learners will practice coaching skills and receive supervision while performing a coaching internship.
As a part of this certificate program, you will participate in a coaching internship program in which you will recruit four coaching students, coach them using vision coaching, and receive group and individual supervision to maximize your learning and improve your coaching skills.
Program prerequisite
- Completion of the Year of MORE program or its equivalent
- Completion of the Emotional Intelligence certificate
Program structure and requirements:
Coaching certificate program participants enroll in one course (called an Area of Competence or AC):
- AC80C – Personal and Professional Coaching (certificate level)
This program combines theory with practice in a learning model that emphasizes academic understanding, research, writing, performative learning, and application. To acquire the academic understanding, you will participate in group discussions, read, engage in one-on-one interactions with your mentor, and learn from faculty at the educational weekends at our Elkhorn campus.
You will gain a broad academic foundation for learning that weaves together skill development with theory, research, and emerging methodologies for advancing human potential. You will delve into rich academic traditions from Adlerian, developmental, humanistic, and positive psychology; read about the educational theories of John Dewey, Lev Vygotsky, and Jack Mezirow, among others; explore the contributions of existentialism; and explore the latest findings from neuroscience, behavioral economics, and the human sciences.
For the AC in this certificate program you will:
For each AC in this certificate program you will:
– Write an overview paper demonstrating your knowledge of the field.
– Complete performative learning experiences (see below).
– Develop and present a seminar in which you teach others what you have learned.
Performative learning experiences for this certificate are:
- Completion of a coaching internship
- Participation in coaching supervision for the coaching internship
- Completion of Peer Empowerment Training
- Six biweekly coaching sessions with a masters level coach
- Peer empowerment sessions with other students
- Biweekly mentoring sessions with a masters level mentor
Cost of the certificate program:
$4,500, which includes all relevant performative learning experiences above. If you have previously completed the Peer Empowerment training, the cost is $2,000.
Study weekends
Attendance at the first weekend session for the AC is required. You may attend three study weekends at the Wright Graduate Institute's campus in Elkhorn, Wisconsin to support your learning and writing.
Additional benefit: If after completing a certificate program at WGI you enroll in the M.A. program, you can apply credit earned from your certificate towards the M.A. degree in Transformational Leadership and Coaching.
