Admission to the Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management is based on the following:

• Evidence of ability to do quality professional-level work
  The applicant must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Rare exceptions may be made for persons with substantial and extensive experience in nonprofit sector management.
• Evidence of career commitment to nonprofit management
  This is normally clear from the resume, but the applicant should also address this topic in the application.
• Evidence of administrative experience
  The application and resume should illustrate the extent and level of administrative experience. Applicants should have completed at least two years of management work.

The certificate program includes four required courses and one elective.

Required Courses:

PAD 550: Institutional Development of the Nonprofit Organization (Required)
Examines nonprofit organizations as community institutions, and the role of institutional management and leadership in their development. Covers the nature of leadership and management in the nonprofit sector and the differences between them; fundraising and financial management; governance and the respective roles of board, staff and volunteers; the political, economic and inter-organizational environment; community relations; needs assessment; and, planning and performance measurement. A highly interactive, hands-on course emphasizing discussion, case analysis and problem solving. See a sample syllabus for PAD 550.

PAD 651: Fund Raising and External Relations for Nonprofit Organizations (Required)
This course provides the fundamentals of fund raising and external relations for nonprofit organizations, with special emphasis on the challenges faced by small to mid-sized community and faith-based organizations. In a climate of devolution and other significant changes in the nonprofit environment, leaders and managers must pay increasing attention to developing a viable strategy for attracting diverse and sustained financial support as well as for developing productive relations with key stakeholder groups, including clients, area residents, members, trustees, legislators, the press, and other important elements. This course will be a practical, hands-on exploration of the skills and knowledge needed to equip leaders and managers of nonprofits to position their organizations effectively.

PAD 652: Financial Administration and Control of Nonprofit Organizations (Required)
This course is designed to provide an understanding of basic financial, budgetary, and accounting concepts, processes, and techniques relevant to managers in nonprofit organizations; to develop an appreciation of how and why financial decisions are made and how they affect nonprofit operations; to strengthen participants' ability to understand and use financial documents; and to develop skills in financial analysis and management.

PAD 656: Capstone Seminar in Nonprofit Leadership and Management (Required)
This seminar considers key aspects of leadership and management in the nonprofit sector as they are applied in practice. Integrates significant theory and research results with practical skills. This course is intended as a capstone experience for students pursuing the graduate certificate in nonprofit management and/or the MPA nonprofit specialization.

Electives:

• PAD 604: Organizational Behavior
• PAD 632: Organizations and Management in the Public Sector
• PAD 510: Proposal Writing and Program Evaluation
• LAW 722: The Law of Nonprofit Corporations
• PAD 630: Public Human Resources Management
• MKT 605: Services Marketing
• PAD 634: Ethics in the Public Sector
• UST 572: Conflict Management

The required courses should be taken first. The time to completion of the certificate will range from 1 1/2 to 2 years, depending on whether students take one or two courses per semester and whether students attend classes during the summer session.