Completion of certificate content requirements
Explore Management Foundations
NOTE: Beginning Fall 2025 the name of this program will change to "Management & Leadership" and the curriculum will change (see the Program Curriculum section for details), and the credits will increase to 18.
Whether you're changing careers or seeking career advancement, a background in business management is a fundamental and important asset for your overall professional mobility. Champlain's online management certificate program outfits graduates with the foundational skills, knowledge, and competencies necessary to succeed in today's modern business occupations. Our online business management courses build out industry-specific business management skills like communication to leadership best practices, financial intelligence, critical thinking, and problem-solving, Champlain's online management certificate area of focus will prepare you for a wide breadth of career opportunities—whether that’s a promotion, professional development or job satisfaction in your current role.
Build Your Career Future
We know how important it is for busy working adults to gain knowledge and expertise quickly to achieve career goals, which is why our online courses in key areas from change management to effective communications with stakeholders apply to the workplace from day one. Whether you've already earned an undergraduate degree or you're currently pursuing your bachelor's degree, our online management certificate program is a great way to earn a credential in the field, get your resume noticed, and demonstrate proficiency in a focused area of knowledge.
Program Curriculum
Learn more about Champlain's 100% online management foundations undergraduate certificate, designed for working professionals.
NOTE: Beginning Fall 2025 the name of this program will change to "Management & Leadership", the curriculum will change, and the credits will increase to 18. See Fall 2025 Curriculum Changes below.
Starting with a frame of human communication as a dynamic system of interactions in which people make choices that impact their relationships, other people, and themselves, students will define theory-informed communication concepts and processes, and critically examine how they apply to everyday life across a variety of contexts. Students will reflect on how the theory, concepts and processes apply to their own lives in becoming competent communicators who are knowledgeable, skilled, and versatile.
The perspectives, beliefs, and preferences of employees in today's workplace are more diverse than perhaps ever before. Today's high-performing managers are those who foster inclusive, positive, and responsive organizational cultures for their people. But with such varied perspectives, what cultural considerations make the most sense for an organization? Management in the 21st Century will teach students how to foster a workplace environment where people can flourish and are motivated to meet objectives and ambitions for the organization.
Understanding financial statements and how to interpret them is important to all those working in businesses. In this course students learn the relationship among financial statements; study how to interpret this information and to apply this understanding in real-world contexts; and learn how to use financial information to help make sound management decisions.
Students will learn how to create conditions for successful conflict engagement, a necessary skill for any professional. The course focuses on the foundational capacities to remain calm and connected with oneself and others. In this state students can access helpful ideas and responses and be their best selves regardless of environment. Improving facility for conflict creates stronger relationships and reduces fear. By the end of the course, students will understand that disagreement and difference can become a source of personal and interpersonal growth.
As business environments become more complex, the accompanying dilemmas require a more advanced problem-solving process. Students are introduced to methodology for analyzing data and applying appropriate techniques for unconventional and creative solutions. They will learn how to systematically analyze a problem, generate innovative and provocative ideas for solutions, make choices among those ideas, and evaluate the results.
In the culminating course for the certificates, students will reframe knowledge and competencies from their certificate into a workable model that is applied through experiential learning models to a professional opportunity. Students will apply these competencies as professional best practice in a project that incorporates relevant research findings from the field.
Prerequisites
The perspectives, beliefs, and preferences of employees in today's workplace are more diverse than perhaps ever before. Today's high-performing managers are those who foster inclusive, positive, and responsive organizational cultures for their people. But with such varied perspectives, what cultural considerations make the most sense for an organization? Management in the 21st Century will teach students how to foster a workplace environment where people can flourish and are motivated to meet objectives and ambitions for the organization.
Starting with a frame of human communication as a dynamic system of interactions in which people make choices that impact their relationships, other people, and themselves, students will define theory-informed communication concepts and processes, and critically examine how they apply to everyday life across a variety of contexts. Students will reflect on how the theory, concepts and processes apply to their own lives in becoming competent communicators who are knowledgeable, skilled, and versatile.
Students will learn about the application of positive individual and group strengths and capacities that can be recognized, evaluated, and expanded to advance organizational well-being. This course encourages students to apply positive organizational behavior processes to everyday challenges organizations face to drive positive workplace behaviors and outcomes. This course also helps students to practice and gain skills, knowledge, and competencies to become positive and impactful leaders and change-makers from whatever position they hold.
Project Management is the formal application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project-based activities to meet organizational requirements. Project management is accomplished through the use of processes such as Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing. Project managers can divide projects into these phases to provide better management control with appropriate links to the ongoing operations of the organization. Collectively, these phases, known as the project life cycle, form the foundation for the practice of project management and are guided by the Body of Knowledge from the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Students will learn how to create conditions for successful conflict engagement, a necessary skill for any professional. The course focuses on the foundational capacities to remain calm and connected with oneself and others. In this state students can access helpful ideas and responses and be their best selves regardless of environment. Improving facility for conflict creates stronger relationships and reduces fear. By the end of the course, students will understand that disagreement and difference can become a source of personal and interpersonal growth.
Students will learn effective workplace negotiation skills and strategies that they can apply in a wide variety of business contexts including operations, business development, sales, and client relations. Students will explore the negotiation process, including identifying the objectives, challenges and motivations of each party, the various transactional structures that can achieve each party's objectives and the ethical, professional, political, and social issues that can arise in a business negotiation.
Additional Program Details
Graduates of the online management foundations certificate program will demonstrate the following industry-specific skills, knowledge, and competencies:
- Describe the foundations of strengths-based management practice that support today’s modern enterprise and apply them to one's professional practice.
- Demonstrate effective communication skills that also enable intercultural communication, including effective listening skills, and interact respectfully and appropriately in a variety of cultural contexts.
- Interpret financial data and information associated with business decisions.
- Recognize the nature of conflict and its impact on interpersonal relationships and organizations.
- Differentiate passive thinking from critical thinking and make decisions using critical thinking techniques and tools.
Fall 2025 due to the curriculum changes, the learning outcomes of this program will change to the following:
- Adapt to Evolving Business Environments. Analyze and respond to dynamic organizational challenges by applying foundational management principles, project management methodologies, and interpersonal communication skills to foster resilience and adaptability.
- Foster Positive Organizational Behavior and Resolve Conflicts. Apply strategies to promote collaboration, inspire positive organizational behavior, and effectively manage and resolve conflicts to build cohesive and high-performing teams.
- Drive Strategic Outcomes Through Leadership, Communication, and Conflict Resolution. Utilize strategic decision-making, negotiation, and communication techniques to manage complex projects, resolve workplace conflicts, and align outcomes with organizational goals.
Champlain College Online's business faculty, led by Department Chair Dr. Albert Orbinati, are expert practitioners in the field. Their industry expertise ensures that our business management curriculum is aligned with the needs of employers, and reflects the skills today’s business professionals need for success. Classes led by our seasoned experts will give you real-world insight into the business world, and create a rich community of career-focused learning.
Tuition & Costs
Online Undergraduate Tuition Fall '24 - Summer '26
*Based on a 3-credit course; cost will vary if course is a different number of credits
** Veteran rate effective Spring 2025, not retroactive
See the undergraduate cost of attendance and fees here
Affordability and Paying For Your Education
We provide a number of options to make your online education affordable, including preferred tuition for alumni, associate degree graduates, community college graduates, and military.
Gain New Skills With a Certificate
Business and financial occupations are expected to grow 8% from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average growth for all fields, as a result of an increasingly complex global business landscape.*
*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2020
Top Reasons To Pursue a Certificate
- Enter a new field
- Build new skills
- Gain knowledge on your way towards a degree
- Differentiate your resume
- Earn a credential

Why Champlain
Superior Faculty
"The classroom environment was great, and the faculty were very helpful in terms of reaching out and being available. All of my professors were willing and ready to call, email or text whenever I needed them."

Academic Excellence and Recognition

Regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education

Designated as a Military Friendly School for our commitment to the military community

Ranked among the best by Tech Guide for game design and computer science

Named the among the best schools with accelerated bachelor's degrees by Intelligent.com
Meet the Program Director
Albert Orbinati, PhD
- Business (A.S., B.S., M.S., Certificates)
- Human Resource Management (B.S., Certificates)
- Leadership (M.S.)
- Management Information Systems (B.S.)
- Organization Development & Human Relations (M.S.)
About
Albert Orbinati, PhD, is Assistant Professor and Department Chair for the undergraduate and graduate business programs at Champlain College Online.
Prior to Champlain, Dr. Orbinati's roles have included Assistant Vice President of Online Learning and Continuing Education at Medaille University in Buffalo, NY; Dean of the School of Professional and Continuing Education at Russell Sage College in Albany, NY; and Director of Online and Non-Traditional Programs at Utica University in Utica, NY. In addition to his career in higher education, Albert is a member of the U.S. military, and currently holds the rank of Major in the Vermont Air National Guard.
Dr. Orbinati holds a B.A. in Urban Planning from Binghamton University, an M.A. in Adult Education from Central Michigan University, an M.B.A from Champlain College, and a Ph.D. in Adult Education from Capella University.

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