This course provides an introduction and understanding of often complex theories and break them down into easily digestible chunks. Here you can discover some of the key theories and philosophies that have influenced coaching, and still do. You will also learn how each of these theories can be practically applied to coaching, using the ICF competencies.
Coaching research is the systematic study of coaching processes and outcomes using established research methods. Unlike personal anecdotes or testimonials, research relies on structured ways of collecting and analyzing data so that findings can be examined, compared, and built upon.
What makes life worth living? It’s both a simple and profound question – and one that psychology largely ignored for most of the 20th century. This Reading Guide is not intended to make you an expert in positive psychology, but to help you understand its place in coaching’s evolution and explore how its principles might inform your practice.
Coaching is very different from the other helping professions. At its core, coaching rests on a fundamental belief: our clients are the experts on their own lives. They know what’s best for them. They have their own answers.
Systems thinking invites a fundamental reorientation in coaching. Rather than asking only “What should change?” it encourages deeper questions about “What is shaping this?” and “How does this system generate the results we see?”
The curriculum was updated in 2025 to reflect the updated ICF competencies and emerging trends in Coaching. If you already completed modules for this course area, you can count any four (4) of the modules you completed towards this requirement.
eg. For completion, this course area requires completion of any 4 modules (previous or current)
No. You can complete these modules in any order.
Please refer to the ‘attendance’ tab above. This requirement varies depending on your program of enrollment.
If your program requires you to attend classes for these topics you can find them scheduled on the class calendar. To locate the calendar click on ‘SCHEDULE’ in the top menu and then select the relevant calendar.
Your Coaching Model Project must be completed before you can begin Observed Coaching, and then submitted when you apply to Graduate.
Not all programs require attendance for this course area. Please refer to your graduation checklist to determine which classes to attend.
Classes are delivered via zoom. Each module will appear in every time option at last once throughout your member period.
* If a session does not show this month, it will show in a future month.
* If you miss a session you can take it another week at a different time.
The curriculum was updated in 2025 to reflect the updated ICF competencies and emerging trends in Coaching. If you already completed modules for this course area, you can count any four (4) of the modules you completed towards this requirement.
eg. For completion, this course area requires completion of any 4 modules (previous or current)
No. You can complete these modules in any order.
Please refer to the ‘attendance’ tab above. This requirement varies depending on your program of enrollment.
If your program requires you to attend classes for these topics you can find them scheduled on the class calendar. To locate the calendar click on ‘SCHEDULE’ in the top menu and then select the relevant calendar.
Your Coaching Model Project must be completed before you can begin Observed Coaching, and then submitted when you apply to Graduate.
YOUR COACHING RESEARCH PAPER
Coaching Research will provide you with the opportunity to explore a particular topic or concept in depth. Your Research Paper is intended for a general audience and can apply to an individual or team/group setting.
You read other graduate’s coaching research via the ICA blog
» Download and Read Instructions
This must be completed BEFORE you join Observed Coaching. And, is submitted when you apply to graduate.
The curriculum was updated in 2025 to reflect the updated ICF competencies and emerging trends in Coaching. If you already completed modules for this course area, you can count any four (4) of the modules you completed towards this requirement.
eg. For completion, this course area requires completion of any 4 modules (previous or current)
No. You can complete these modules in any order.
Please refer to the ‘attendance’ tab above. This requirement varies depending on your program of enrollment.
If your program requires you to attend classes for these topics you can find them scheduled on the class calendar. To locate the calendar click on ‘SCHEDULE’ in the top menu and then select the relevant calendar.
Your Coaching Model Project must be completed before you can begin Observed Coaching, and then submitted when you apply to Graduate.
The curriculum was updated in 2025 to reflect the updated ICF competencies and emerging trends in Coaching. If you already completed modules for this course area, you can count any four (4) of the modules you completed towards this requirement.
eg. For completion, this course area requires completion of any 4 modules (previous or current)
No. You can complete these modules in any order.
Please refer to the ‘attendance’ tab above. This requirement varies depending on your program of enrollment.
If your program requires you to attend classes for these topics you can find them scheduled on the class calendar. To locate the calendar click on ‘SCHEDULE’ in the top menu and then select the relevant calendar.
Your Coaching Model Project must be completed before you can begin Observed Coaching, and then submitted when you apply to Graduate.