Civic and Nonprofit Leadership Certificate
Designed primarily for those who already hold or wish to assume nonprofit leadership roles. It will also be of interest to those in government agencies or private businesses that deal extensively with nonprofits. The nonprofit certificate emphasizes the distinctive features of nonprofit organizations and provides management skills and knowledge that are helpful, specifically for civic and nonprofit leaders.
The graduate certificate in civic and nonprofit leadership requires a minimum of 18 credits:
Certificate Required Courses.
These two (2) courses and the capstone essay are required:
PAD 5142 Managing the Nonprofit Organization
PAD 5174 The Independent Sector
Capstone Essay
A capstone essay that combines knowledge gained through the program and the student’s
unique topical interests is to be prepared at the culmination of the program of study. The essay
can be accomplished in one of three ways. The first alternative is a non-credit essay on a topic
chosen jointly by the student and faculty advisor and evaluated by one or more of the faculty.
The second alternative is an Action Report (PAD 6908) prepared for the MPA degree that
focuses on some aspect of nonprofit management or the nonprofit sector. If this alternative is
undertaken, it must be in addition to the other 18 credits required for the certificate. The third
alternative is an assigned final paper that satisfies the requirements of one of the courses in
the program of study. The paper in the third alternative must be approved both by the
instructor for the course and the student’s advisor.
Select two (2) of the following Certificate Optional Elective courses:
PAD 5173 Nongovernmental Organizations
PAD 5208 Budget and Finance in Nonprofit Organizations
PAD 5335 Strategic Leadership for Communities
PAD 5206 Fundraising and Fund Development
Certificate Recommended Electives.
Select two additional courses from above or from the following courses with the approval of advisor; at least one must be a PAD course:
PAD 5041 Public Service Ethics
PAD 5327 Public Program Evaluation
PAD 5397 Foundations of Emergency Management
PAD 5417 Human Resource Management
PAD 5826 Intergovernmental Management and Relations
PAD 5828 Nonprofits, Nongovernmental Organizations, and Disasters
PAD 5859 Managing Public Procurement
ACG 5505 Government and Not-for-Profit Accounting and Auditing *
ARE 5665 Leading the Arts Organization
ARE 5865 Cultural Policy
ARE 5930 Grant Writing for Arts Organizations
MAR 5816 Marketing Strategy *
POS 5465 Lobbying *
SOW 5235 Social Welfare Policies and Services
SOW 5282 Legislative Advocacy *
SOW 5455 Grant Writing and Grant Management
URP 5122 Planning Dispute Resolution
URP 5743 Neighborhood Planning
(This is not an exhaustive list. Other courses in specialized fields such as arts administration,
emergency management, social work, history archives management, or communication as
approved by the advisor.)
* These courses may require prerequisites or instructor permission.