Business Essentials Certificate

Lead the way toward effective management practices for the improvement of urban schools

Graduate Certificate (12 credits)

The business essentials for urban school administrators certificate program provides students with strategies to develop business systems that best support urban school environments. Advance in your current career through this 100% Online+ business essentials certificate through Davenport’s Global Campus. You’ll be well equipped to effectively analyze an urban school’s performance management process and leadership development plans. Plus, you’ll develop tools on how to gain alignment on goals for improved business management of urban school building operations, resources and communications.

Certificate credits apply toward a master’s in urban educational leadership degree

Take the business essentials certificate as a stand-alone certificate or stack it with the urban education leadership principles graduate certificate and instructional core transformation for school administrators graduate certificate and earn your master’s degree in urban educational leadership in less than two years.

Explore classes for Davenport’s business essentials certificate

Coursework explores constructing operational systems, recognizing and solving complex school building issues and effectively communicating the solutions to education employees and community stakeholders. Faculty and students will summarize the essentials of performance management used to assess the performance of an individual school.

See Full Course List

Courses		12 Credits
UEDU744	Human Capital Management This course is designed to introduce candidates to the whole spectrum of traditional human resources’ responsibilities and major functions and to grapple with the organizational challenges that have emerged in urban school districts due to poorly functioning HR systems, and challenges with labor and reactionary management. Topics will include intentional recruitment of a diverse workforce, effective candidate screening and selection processes, onboarding, performance management and evaluation, compensation, career progression and employee and labor relations. Additionally, candidates will learn how to transform an urban school or district’s human resource management function into a more strategic and integrated component of a district’s overall approach to improving student achievement. Applicable Course Fees can be found at https://my.davenport.edu/financial-aid/how-much-does-du-cost/tuition-and-fees. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Master of Urban Education program	3
UEDU753	Stratgc Imprvmnt Urbn Sch/Dist In this course, candidates will be introduced to successful reform strategies and best practices that address how time, resources, and responsibilities can be allocated in urban schools and districts. Candidates will determine how each of these strategies can be managed politically and communicated to stakeholders. Exploration of strategic frameworks including strategic decision making and analysis of complex systems, structures and problems from multiple stakeholder perspectives will take place from a socio-economic and a socio-political context. Applicable Course Fees can be found at https://my.davenport.edu/financial-aid/how-much-does-du-cost/tuition-and-fees. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Master of Urban Education program	3
UEDU765	Financial Management Candidates will examine a series of best practices in school budgeting, which clearly outline steps to developing a budget that best aligns resources with student achievement goals. Urban school and district budgets will be evaluated with a specific focus on coherence and optimizing student achievement with available resources. The role of the school and district’s instructional priorities as a guide for decision-making will be evaluated with a specific focus on making budgetary decisions in the context of increased numbers of diverse and impoverished candidates, dwindling state and federal resources and the redistribution of public school educational funds to private and charter school management organizations. Applicable Course Fees can be found at https://my.davenport.edu/financial-aid/how-much-does-du-cost/tuition-and-fees. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Master of Urban Education program	3
UEDU774	Performance Management In this course, candidates will learn the essentials of performance management, specifically how to judge the performance of individual schools, decide which are effective enough to continue supporting, and how to use data to determine whether to shore up struggling schools or create new ones. Candidates will reflect upon the literature on government agencies and businesses that have shifted to performance-based accountability and management, learn why traditional compliance-based systems and structures are not suitable to achieve breakthrough student achievement in urban schools, and examine the necessary technical, cultural and staff capacities in performance-based organizations. Candidates will critique the differences between the leadership and management skills, competencies and dispositions needed in performance-based organizations compared to those valued in compliance-based organizations and the implications surrounding tenure, legacy systems of promotion and seniority. Applica	3

Which class should I take? When should I take it?

See our Recommended Program Sequences:

Finish this graduate certificate program in just one semester

13:1

Benefit from a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio at Davenport

100%

Pursue your urban education graduate certificate 100% online

40,000

Number of students in urban schools positively impacted by our program participants

Why pursue a business essentials certificate at Davenport?

In as little as one semester, you’ll develop a foundational understanding of urban school leadership and gain skills in business as related to urban schools. You’ll be well positioned for new job opportunities. By earning the business essentials certificate, you’ll be poised for advancement within your school district.

This certificate curriculum is part of Davenport’s master of education in urban educational leadership program, so once you’ve earned your certificate, you can seamlessly continue with the full master’s program. Or, you can get straight to work as an urban education leader, paving the way toward increased educational equity.

Experience the Davenport difference:

Benefit from our educational partnerships

Take advantage of Davenport’s relationships with partner districts, some of which often offer tuition benefits to candidates enrolled in our urban education programs.

Hands-on experience in urban settings

Gain hands-on experience through projects, service learning, research, fieldwork and internships in urban education settings with a focus on leadership for educational equity and inclusion.

Financial aid and discounts available

Benefit from Davenport’s expansive partnerships with local schools and districts. If you work for one of our educational partners, you may be eligible for tuition discounts of up to 39%.

Faculty who are educational leaders

Learn from Davenport University faculty who have nearly 30+ years of experience as educators, collectively, with expertise in areas like elementary and secondary teaching and educational leadership as well as certification in Online+ learning instruction.

Focused on best practices

Leverage your experience while exploring research and best practices in areas like leadership for educational equity, curriculum, instruction and assessment, entrepreneurship and more.

Award-winning program

Davenport is a Transformational Award Winner as recognized by the American Council on Education.

Get started on your business essentials for urban school administrators certificate

Explore the admissions requirements and then take the next step toward earning your business essentials certificate at Davenport.

Talk to a graduate admissions advisor

Davenport’s admissions team is here to answer your questions. Please call us at 800.686.1600 or email us at info@davenport.edu.

Apply now or request more information

Start or advance your career as an education leader in our cities. Request more information or begin your application now.

Explore programs related to the business essentials for urban school administrators certificate

Urban Educational Leadership Principles Graduate Certificate

Instructional Core Transformation School Administrators Graduate Certificate

Certificate in Urban Educational Leadership

Master of Education in Urban Educational Leadership

About Davenport University

Davenport is a private, not-for-profit university with more than 150 years of experience preparing students for successful careers.

Offering over 60 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, we align with top employers to design degree programs that help you gain the skills and real-world experience you need to rise above the rest. With small class sizes and campuses across Michigan or online, you’ll earn a quality education on your schedule at Davenport University.

Some programs require a student to complete a portion of their degree plan off-campus.
View a full list of those programs and courses

Business Essentials for Urban School Administrators