Program Overview

Nonprofit Professional Certificate Program

The Nonprofit Professional Certificate program is designed to enhance strategic leadership and managerial skills, as well as boost job prospects in the nonprofit sector. This nationally recognized certificate program awards qualified students from diverse academic fields with the national Certified Nonprofit Professional credential.

Program Description

The program is ideal for students wishing to complement their majors with a strong core of nonprofit management knowledge and skills through professional affiliation with and certification by the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, the nation's leader in education for nonprofit careers. The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (NLA) and Arizona State University (ASU) joint program provides curricular and cocurricular programs that prepare students through its competency-based, experiential educational framework, which includes curriculum instruction in management of nonprofit elements (fundraising, volunteers, organizational management) and field experience.

At a Glance

• College/school: Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions
• Location: Downtown Phoenix

Curriculum

The program includes active participation by nonprofit professionals who offer workshops, seminars, mentoring, and field trips. The certified nonprofit professional credential can be earned in conjunction with any bachelor's degree and requires successful participation in co-curricular, experiential activities in addition to required academic coursework.

• Required Courses:
  • NLM 220 Introduction to Nonprofit Organizations (3 Credit Hours, Minimum Grade: C)
  • NLM 320 Professional Development Seminar (4 Credit Hours, Minimum Grade: C)
  • NLM 420 Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Institute (3 Credit Hours, Minimum Grade: C)
  • NLM 440 Nonprofit Professional Certification (1 Credit Hour, Minimum Grade: C)
• Elective Courses:
  • Upper Division NLM Elective (6 Credit Hours, Minimum Grade: C)

Enrollment Requirements

A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded prior to the award of an undergraduate degree. A student already holding an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:

• Utilize self-evaluation and self-critique when proposing creative solutions to complex social issues.
• Prescribe their individual strengths and knowledge effectively within the social sector and related fields by creating well-structured career position plans.

Career Opportunities

The nonprofit professional credential opens up career opportunities across a range of diverse nonprofit areas, such as arts and culture; environmental, health and human services; and youth development.