Program Overview

Introduction to the Online Social, Nonprofit and Public Leadership Program

The Garland School of Social Work and Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty offer an online master's degree in Social, Nonprofit, and Public Leadership, available in full-time or part-time paths. Additionally, two online for-credit professional certificates are offered: the Nonprofit Leadership Certificate and the Public Policy Certificate. The program's foundation in civic engagement and leadership development prepares students to bridge societal divides and foster collective impact.

Program Overview

Drawing from established expertise in Public Deliberation and Interfaith Leadership, the program equips students with proven strategies for working across differences to achieve shared goals.

Online Certificate Program Length

Each certificate is offered online and includes 12 credit hours of coursework chosen from the MA in Social, Nonprofit, and Public Leadership program, taken across two trimesters.

Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership

• The Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership includes 12 hours taken in the fall and spring.
• Courses focus on:
  • Social policy
  • Organizational leadership and management
  • Program evaluation
  • Fundraising

Certificate in Public Policy

• The Certificate in Public Policy includes 12 hours taken in the spring and summer.
• Courses focus on:
  • Social policy
  • Understanding poverty
  • Policy analysis
  • Organizing systems

Certificate Admission Requirements

Admission to the certificate program is conducted by a formal online application. The admissions review team conducts a holistic review that considers all aspects of the admission requirements. An application is considered complete when all of the following materials have been received:

• A completed online application
• $45 application fee
• Resume
• Official transcript from bachelor's degree-bearing institution
  • A file will be considered complete for review purposes with unofficial transcripts. If admitted, official transcripts will be required.

Eligibility Requirements

Qualified students are admitted regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, gender, age, or disability. The certificate program requires all applicants to have either:

• A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States
• Proof of equivalent education at an international institution of higher learning

Transferability of Certificate Credits

Students accepted into the Master of Arts in Social, Nonprofit and Public Leadership degree program who have met specified benchmarks in one of the certificates will be allowed to transfer the credit toward the completion of the Master of Arts degree. Note that applicants who are not admitted into the program may reapply for any subsequent year.