Nonprofit Organization Management and Leadership Graduate Certificate
Through the Public Policy Administration Program, UMSL offers the Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Organization Management and Leadership for students who are current professional staff, board members, and other leaders of nonprofit and voluntary organizations, as well as those who plan to work in the field. The NPML certificate is the only nonprofit program in the St. Louis region that has full membership in the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC). The certificate can be taken by itself or in conjunction with the Master of Public Policy Administration degree or a graduate degree in another field. Course credits earned in the certificate program can be applied to the MPPA, but a separate application to the master's program is required.
Certificate Requirements
The Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Organization Management and Leadership requires the completion of 18 credit hours. Nine of these include the following core courses:
| Course Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| P P ADM/SOC WK 6300 | Leadership and Management in Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| P P ADM/SOC WK 6310 | American Philanthropy and Nonprofit Resources Development | 3 |
| P P ADM/SOC WK 6311 | Staff Management Issues in Nonprofit Organizations | 1 |
| P P ADM/SOC WK 6312 | Legal Issues in Managing Nonprofit Organizations | 1 |
| P P ADM/SOC WK 6313 | Financial Issues in Managing Nonprofit Organizations | 1 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Six hours of electives are to be taken from approved courses in accounting, business administration, economics, management, marketing, political science, psychology, public policy administration, and sociology. A student may choose among these courses or other courses approved by the program director.
Three hours of internship are also required. Students who have significant relevant field experience in the nonprofit sector may request that the internship requirement be waived. To request a waiver, students must submit a written request outlining the student's professional or managerial field experience with appropriate documentation. Any request for a waiver from the internship requirement must be approved by the program director. Students who receive a waiver must take an additional three hours of electives in lieu of the internship.
Requirements for admission to the graduate certificate program include an undergraduate degree and a GPA of 3.0 or better. Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation. At least one of the letters should be from a current or former college-level instructor. Applicants must submit a two-page personal statement explaining how the certificate program fits in the applicant's educational and professional goals. The letters and personal statement should be sent directly to the Public Policy Administration office.