Executive Coaching develops the dialogic, developmental, and strategic competencies needed to coach leaders and professionals toward greater effectiveness, growth, and fulfillment.
Complete in 6–12 Months
Coach Leaders Through Complexity and Growth
About the Executive Coaching Certificate
The Executive Coaching Certificate is a program offered through Meridian University's Center for Transformative Learning. Designed for professionals seeking to develop a sophisticated approach to coaching leaders and executives, the certificate draws on Meridian's graduate curriculum in developmental coaching to provide a comprehensive foundation in executive coaching practice.
As a certificate participant, you will take courses from the anchor and other parts of Meridian's graduate curriculum offered during the period of your enrollment. This means you will engage with the same rigorous, faculty-led coursework that graduate students experience, tailored to the certificate's focus on executive coaching principles and practices.
What is Executive Coaching?
Executive Coaching is a professional practice focused on enhancing the performance, development, and well-being of leaders and executives. Drawing on developmental psychology, organizational theory, and dialogic practices, executive coaching engages leaders in reflective conversations that deepen self-awareness, expand perspective, and catalyze growth. Effective executive coaching addresses not only skills and strategies but also the deeper developmental capacities that enable leaders to navigate complexity, inspire teams, and drive organizational success.
Meridian's developmental coaching curriculum provides the theoretical depth and practical rigor that distinguish this certificate. The concentration focuses on guiding individuals through the stages and transitions of their personal and professional lives, taking a holistic approach that considers career, family dynamics, and personal aspirations. Key figures informing the curriculum include Carol Dweck and her research on growth mindset, Robert Kegan and the concept of deliberately developmental organizations, Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, and Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development. Certificate participants explore topics such as developmental assessment, ritualization, liminality, and perspectival capability through sample courses like Developmental Assessment, Post-conventional Development, and Models of Self-Identity Development.
The Growing Demand for Executive Coaching
As organizations face increasing complexity and the pace of change accelerates, the demand for skilled executive coaches continues to grow. This concentration prepares graduates to apply developmental coaching methods in diverse professional settings including corporate environments, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, private coaching practices, and online developmental coaching. Coaches who bring both depth and breadth to their practice -- integrating psychological insight with business acumen -- are uniquely positioned to support leaders in achieving transformative results, fostering growth and resilience through significant life and career transitions.
Details
Certificate Details
- 16 credits of graduate-level coursework (4 courses at 4 credits each).
- Complete in 6 to 12 months — take 8 credits per quarter (6 months) or 4 credits per quarter (12 months).
- Courses are drawn from Meridian's graduate curriculum offered during the period of enrollment.
- Content and collaboration via Meridian's social learning platform.
Tuition
$476 per credit
Total certificate cost: $7,616 (16 credits)
Credits earned through the certificate may be applied toward a Meridian University graduate degree program, as applicable.
Accreditation
The Executive Coaching Certificate is part of Meridian University's California state approval and WSCUC (WASC) accreditation. WSCUC is a higher education accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education. WSCUC is also the accreditor for Stanford University, UCLA, and the University of California at Berkeley.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the application requirements?
The documents below are required to complete an application for certificate programs:
- Certificate Application (opens in a new tab)
- Application Fee: A non-refundable application fee of $50 USD is required to process your application at the time of submission
- Official Bachelor's Transcript: Must be received in a sealed envelope and may be mailed directly to the University's Los Angeles Campus (2450 Colorado Avenue, Suite 100E, Santa Monica, CA 90404) from the academic institution. Electronic transcripts are accepted if sent directly from the academic institution to admissions@meridianuniversity.edu
- Personal Statement (500 words): Included as part of the application form and should highlight the formative and significant experiences in your life, and how those experiences have influenced you in choosing to pursue a certificate program
- Information Meeting Attendance: In addition to submitting application materials, it is necessary that applicants attend an information meeting with certificate program faculty prior to moving forward in the application process. Prior to scheduling an information meeting, we require prospects to meet with an Admissions Advisor to discuss their certificate program interests further
- If you have not already done so, please schedule this Advising Appointment using this link. Once you meet this requirement, we will follow up with the next steps to schedule an Information Meeting with the faculty
What is the Executive Coaching Certificate?
The Executive Coaching Certificate is a 16-credit program offered by Meridian University that provides a comprehensive foundation in Executive Coaching. The certificate draws on courses from Meridian's graduate curriculum, offering rigorous, faculty-led coursework aligned with the certificate's focus area.
How long does it take to complete the certificate?
The certificate can be completed in as few as 6 months (taking 8 credits per quarter) or up to 12 months (taking 4 credits per quarter). Each course is 4 credits, and the program requires a total of 16 credits.
How much does the certificate cost?
Tuition for the Executive Coaching Certificate is $476 per credit. The total cost for the 16-credit certificate is $7,616.
Can I apply these credits toward a Meridian degree?
Yes. Credits earned in the Executive Coaching Certificate may be applied toward a Meridian University graduate degree program, as applicable. This allows you to build on your certificate work if you choose to pursue further graduate study at Meridian.
Is the certificate accredited?
Yes. The Executive Coaching Certificate is part of Meridian University's California state approval and WSCUC (WASC) accreditation. WSCUC is a higher education accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education, and is also the accreditor for Stanford University, UCLA, and the University of California at Berkeley.
What courses will I take as part of the certificate?
Certificate participants take courses from Meridian's graduate curriculum that are offered during the period of their enrollment. The specific courses available each quarter are drawn from the anchor and other parts of the graduate curriculum, providing a rich and varied learning experience grounded in the certificate's focus area.
What technology do I need to participate?
You will need an email account, a high-speed internet connection, and access to a computer, iOS or Android device. For live video sessions, you will need a webcam and microphone for your device. Course video calls are conducted with participants video-enabled.
How many courses do I need to complete?
The certificate requires four courses. At Meridian, each course is 4 credits, so the 16-credit certificate is completed by taking four courses. You can take up to two courses per quarter (8 credits) to finish in 6 months, or one course per quarter (4 credits) to finish in 12 months.
How can I reach program support?
The program support team will be available to assist from start to finish. Please send your questions, requests, or issues to admissions@meridianuniversity.edu