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Values-Based Leadership

  • Certificate

Lead With Compassion

The Fred Rogers Institute (FRI) Certificate in Values-Based Leadership at Saint Vincent College equips professionals in child- and youth-serving fields to grow their leadership and ground their work in their values. With a focus on the leadership example of Fred Rogers and the application of research-based principles in leadership and personal development, the certificate focuses on developing leaders who prioritize service, empathy, and ethical leadership in their organizations and communities. It integrates Fred Rogers’ philosophy of compassionate leadership, emotional intelligence, and relational trust with traditional servant leadership principles.

Who Should Apply?

  • Professionals with a bachelor's degree or higher who wish to advance their professional learning
  • Individuals in child-, youth- and family-serving fields who wish to grow as leaders in their careers
  • Professionals who already have an advanced degree and wish to pursue a certificate
  • Students pursuing a Masters in Education at Saint Vincent College and want to advance their learning with the addition of a certificate

Graduate Programs

Program Highlights

Graduate Fellowship

Saint Vincent College offers a prestigious graduate fellowship program for aspiring educators—complete with full tuition scholarship and a monthly stipend—in exchange for working in a local PreK–12 school district as a teacher, substitute, or support staff. Over two years, fellows earn their master’s degree at no cost, acquire practical in-district experience, and graduate with a competitive edge for employment, boasting a 98% job placement rate post-program.

Fully Online Program

This fully online program is designed with flexibility in mind, making it ideal for working educators. The only in-person component occurs during the final summer, where candidates conduct research at the Fred Rogers Archive. The accelerated 15-credit program can be completed in just 18 months. 

Education professor in a blue shirt assisting two students—one in a dark green hoodie and the other in a white cap and light blue sweatshirt—at a classroom desk, with other students working in the background.

Experienced, Approachable Instructors

Our education instructors at Saint Vincent College bring a wealth of real-world experience to the classroom, combining practical knowledge with a supportive, student-centered approach. Having worked as teachers, administrators, and specialists, they understand the challenges and rewards of education firsthand. This experience allows them to provide relevant insights and personalized guidance, making them approachable mentors who are dedicated to preparing future educators for success in diverse and dynamic teaching environments.

Curriculum Requirements

The Certificate in Values-Based Leadership is a 15-credit, graduate-level program offered fully online. Designed for working professionals, the flexible course pacing allows you to balance your studies with full-time employment. This certificate can be pursued independently or as an extension of master’s-level programs within the Education Department at Saint Vincent College.

Note that while the sequence below is strongly recommended, it may be possible to participate in courses in a different order or pace participation. Consult with SVC Admissions by emailing gradadmission@stvincent.edu to discuss personalization options.

  • Educational Leadership and Professional Development - 1st summer
  • Fundamentals of Learning and Growing - Fall semester
  • Inclusionary Education - Fall semester
  • Fred Rogers and Leadership - Spring semester
  • Fred Rogers Archive Research - 2nd summer

For more information, including course descriptions, visit the Fred Rogers Institute page. 

Admission Information

To learn more about admission requirements, please visit our Graduate Admissison webpage.

 

Graduate Programs
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