The Department of Defense Management (DDM) offers a unique selection of specialized, high-quality, tailored graudate certificates focused on defense management. These certificate options are:

Offered to resident and distance learning students

Composed of a series of four to five courses

Taught by the highly qualified DDM faculty

Open enrollment certificates

Most certificates are open enrollment, permitting students the flexibility to enroll in quarters that fit with their professional and personal schedules. Our most popular certificates are listed below:

Advanced Acquisition Studies (Curriculum 217)

  • Designed for students interested in Defense system acquisition and program management processes, the program operationalizes the business of Defense acquisition and creates Acquisition Warriors for the DoD.  This program supports continuous acquisition reform initiatives mandated by Congress and senior leaders and also supports initiatives to educate operational warfighters in the business of acquisition. The program contributes to Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certifications in Program Management, Test & Evaluation, Production & Quality Management career fields. Additionally, the program provides education supporting for Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. 

Basic Contract Management Certificate (Curriculum 237)

  • Designed for students interested in basic concepts of Contract Management.  This certificate supports continuous acquisition reform initiatives mandated by Congress and senior leaders and also supports initiatives to educate operational warfighters in the business of contract management.  The certificate contributes to Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification in the Contract Management career field.  

Advanced Contract Management (Curriculum 243)

  • Designed for students interested in advanced concepts of Contract Management.  This certificate supports continuous acquisition reform initiatives mandated by Congress and senior leaders and also supports initiatives to educate operational warfighters in the business of contract management.  The certificate contributes to Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification in the Contract Management career field in conjunction with the Basic Contract Management Certificate. 

Strategic Leadershp (Curriculum 205) 

  • Strategic thinking is central to military organizations, yet it can be very difficult. Completion of this certificate increases students’ ability to think strategically; to understand and analyze trends in the strategic environment; and to be influential, strategic leaders. Students will examine historical examples and best practices in organizations, obtain a better appreciation of senior leadership perspectives on organizational strategy, and improve their analytical and critical thinking about the strengths and weaknesses of competitors and their own organization.  As a result of improved strategic thinking, organizational analysis skills, and strategic communication competencies, students will be better prepared to develop productive strategies and lead their organizations toward greater performance.

Browse all our certificates in the Course Catalog.