Online Graduate Certificate in Negotiation and Influence
Managers need the ability to effectively negotiate and utilize their influence to construct profitable agreements, gain support, close a deal, and implement solutions. Effective negotiators are typically excellent listeners, creative and analytical thinkers, and persuasive speakers. They use their skills and influence to gain acceptance for their solutions, products, or ideas and ensure their strategies are implemented.
The 9-credit Graduate Certificate in Negotiation and Influence, developed by the internationally ranked Penn State Smeal College of Business and offered online through Penn State World Campus, can provide a foundation in these vital negotiation tactics.
The program includes courses to help you develop critical negotiation skills and knowledge that can help you identify and gain sources of power at work. You will have the opportunity to refine those skills in multiparty negotiation scenarios, demonstrating how to influence others with and without the use of power.
Online Curriculum
Core concepts in this certificate include:
- foundational concepts and practices of effective negotiation
- preparation for a negotiation, including identification of personal interests, effectively operationalizing and quantifying those interests, and developing a strategy for engaging in successful negotiation
- ethical challenges associated with negotiation
- competency in managing various multiparty negotiation contexts, including third-party interventions
- sources of power and the ability to effectively manage downward, horizontally, and upward
The Penn State Difference
Reputation — The Penn State Smeal College of Business carries the elite AACSB accreditation, an honor reserved for the top 5% of business schools worldwide. Through this certificate program, you can earn a respected credential that could also help connect you with a powerful network of contacts, resources, and opportunities.
Stepping Stones — This graduate certificate is an excellent stand-alone credential, and the credits earned for it can be applied toward the negotiation and influence concentration of the Master of Business Administration (MBA), the Master's in Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship, or the Master’s in Strategic Management and Executive Leadership, if you apply to and are granted admission to one of these competitive degree programs.
Convenience — As a complement to the challenging, but rewarding, curriculum, online courses provide you with the flexibility and convenience to study around your own schedule without sacrificing quality. You can skip the commute and prepare for more rewarding career opportunities without leaving the comfort of your home.
Who Should Apply?
People who work in public-facing roles, such as sales or client relations, need strong negotiating skills to succeed, but anyone who negotiates up or down within an organization — for resources, responsibilities, or recognition — can benefit from this program.
