Program Overview

Introduction to the Non-Profit Leadership Certificate

The Nebraska Wesleyan University Leadership Institute offers Certificate programs at the graduate and undergraduate level for individuals seeking advanced education in organizational and professional leadership. These programs are available for credit or not-for-credit.

Program Structure

Certificates run throughout the academic year and during the summer in eight-week sessions that meet one night per week. Students who complete the Certificates for credit will earn 12 credit hours at Nebraska Wesleyan, and an official diploma acknowledging completion of the Certificate program. Some of the graduate-level courses can be applied to Nebraska Wesleyan's MBA program. Students pursuing these certificates for credit, who meet the admissions requirements for the MBA, are automatically accepted into the MBA and may apply these courses to the program at any time.

Required Coursework

The Nonprofit Leadership Graduate Certificate requires 12 hours of coursework, including:

• LEAD 5110 Understanding the Non-Profit Sector | 3 hours
• LEAD 5130 Servant Leadership, Stewardship and Service | 3 hours
• Leadership Elective | 3 hours
  • Choose one of the following:
    • BUSAD 5250 Leadership
    • BUSAD 5450 Executive Leadership
• Elective | 3 hours
  • Choose one of the following:
    • BUSAD 5350 Social Entrepreneurship
    • BUSAD 5430 Innovation
    • LEAD 5310 Evolve: Your Leadership Voice, Values and Worldview

Course Descriptions

LEAD 5110 Understanding the Non-Profit Sector

Understanding the Non-Profit Sector is designed for individuals interested in leading more effectively from middle and top-level positions within organizations in the non-profit sector. This course enhances or teaches the ability to lead more effectively in a sector providing the most critical part of our society - our social safety net. The course uses readings from professionals in the field, peer learning, and participating in out-of-classroom experiential opportunities to expand knowledge and increase effectiveness when leading.

LEAD 5130 Servant Leadership, Stewardship and Service

This course enhances student understanding of the importance of serving the people who have a connection to and are in turn affected by institutions. Effective leadership and attributes of integrity, trustworthiness, and authenticity are examined in light of course readings. Values-based leadership is explored as students develop their moral compass in life and leadership.

BUSAD 5250 Leadership

In this course, students examine the history of leadership theory to understand its development and explore the future of leadership study. The course utilizes an interdisciplinary approach in its survey of leadership issues, incorporating historical, political, literary, scientific, sociological, and theological perspectives.

BUSAD 5450 Executive Leadership

This course addresses how leaders can effectively utilize creative strategies through an examination of factors that contribute to successful executive leadership practice across a variety of organizational settings. Emphasis is placed on leadership knowledge, approach, and application.

BUSAD 5350 Social Entrepreneurship

Social Entrepreneurship is an intense introduction and immersion into the development and implementation of social entrepreneur enterprises. Students are introduced to the development of managing and expanding social entrepreneurial projects/enterprises.

BUSAD 5430 Innovation

This course invites students to explore the mindset of creativity and innovation with the application of creativity and innovation into the organizational and entrepreneurial process. Students study companies that are creative and innovative and those that failed to be innovative and creative.

LEAD 5310 Evolve: Your Leadership Voice, Values and Worldview

This 5-week program is designed to create personal change, evolve self-knowledge, and expand your world-view. The educational and experiential course provides a peer-to-peer learning cohort, delivers practical tools to use every day, and explores transformational change plus evolutionary change through self-knowledge.