Nonprofit Leadership Certificate

North Park University is pleased to offer a nationally recognized Nonprofit Leadership Certificate through an affiliation with Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, a 60-year-old national alliance of colleges and universities, national nonprofit partners, and collaborating professional associations.

The Nonprofit Leadership Certificate is designed to prepare students for fulfilling and well-paying careers in management in the nonprofit sector, an area of the economy that is experiencing significant growth. More than one million nonprofit organizations are at work across the country, employing more than 10 million people and aided by over 100 million volunteers. It is estimated that these organizations, with society’s growing demand in their services, will need more than 50,000 new professionals every year to meet this challenge.

Designed to provide excellent preparation for entry-level careers in nonprofit organizations, this baccalaureate level certificate is intended to accompany any major and can also be applied toward a concentration in Nonprofit Management within the Bachelor of Science in Business and Economics degree program. To obtain the certificate, students must meet five program requirements, including fulfillment of a 300-hour internship in a nonprofit organization.

Program Requirements

These requirements are designed with one thing in mind: to prepare North Park University students for employment in the nonprofit sector. All requirements must be fulfilled in order to meet the nationally specified level of competency required by the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. Each student must meet with North Park’s Campus Director Christa Beall Diefenbach to officially register in the program. Contact Christa by email or by phone at (773) 244-5747.

Two Core Courses

BSE 3720: Introduction to Nonprofit Leadership and Management (2 semester hours) - an introduction to various issues and topics relevant to nonprofit leadership.

BSE 3730: Advanced Nonprofit Management and Leadership (4 semester hours) - provides students with knowledge and understanding of the leadership and management of nonprofit organizations. Students will gain theoretical and practical knowledge of the most essential leadership skills and attributes, as well as management functions exercised in nonprofit organizations. A final project involving assessment of a nonprofit organization is required. Prerequisite: BSE 3720

Three Electives

One course in Child and Youth/Human Development:

PSYC 1000: Introduction to Psychology (4 semester hours)
SOC 1910: Introduction to Sociology (4 semester hours)
YM 1510: Introduction to Youth Ministry (4 semester hours)

One course in Communication Studies:

COMM 1910: Public Speaking (4 semester hours)
COMM 2010: Introduction to Communication Studies (4 semester hours)
COMM 2030: Interpersonal Communication (4 semester hours)
BSE 2540 and BSE 3510: Business Communication and Public Relations (4 semester hours total)

One course in Financial Management:

SBNM 5350: Nonprofit Financial Management (graduate level course: 2 semester hours)

Undergraduate students must be a senior and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to take graduate-level courses. Alternative courses might be accepted on an individual basis. See the Campus Director for more information.

One nonprofit management internship – BSE 4970 (1-4 semester hours)

A minimum of 300 hours: equivalent to two semesters of 10 hours per week, one semester of 20 hours per week, one summer of 25 to 30 hours per week or some combination of these options. Internships must be pre-approved by the Campus Director.

Active membership in the Nonprofit Leadership Club (NLC) for at least two semesters

Designed to operate like a nonprofit, this student-led organization meets weekly to plan and implement nonprofit awareness events and activities. The mission of NLC is to prepare and educate future professionals for lives of significance and service in the nonprofit sector through cultural, social, and educational co-curricular opportunities. NLC membership is open to all North Park students.

Attendance at one national Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Management Institute

Held in early January, the Institute brings together hundreds of college and university students from across the country to learn more about the field of nonprofit management and network with prospective employers and colleagues.

Nonprofit Leadership Certificate