Check out course descriptions below or, download, save and print a copy of our handout: Download the PDF.

LEAD 420: Theories of Nonprofit Leadership
3 credit hours

Understand the essential features of nonprofits in the U.S., including both sector-wide and individual organizational elements. You will design a nonprofit organization focused on an issue you care about; creating a mission, assessing risk, developing a budget, programs and governance structure, exploring volunteer management and more.

LEAD 350: Culture and Context of Leadership
3 credit hours

Explore how social change happens in complex systems (or organizations), and how culture, power and social norms shape that change. Reflect on your own personal values, and think about how your experiences have shaped how you see the world.

You will also learn about the value of bringing together people from many different perspectives and backgrounds to make progress on leadership challenges. By understanding the influence of culture and context on leadership, you will be better prepared to lead in ways that are informed, ethical, and oriented to the common good.

LEAD 499: Nonprofit Organization Internship Seminar*
3 credit hours

Apply internship experiences to nonprofit competencies and prepare students to enter the nonprofit job market.

*An internship experience is required before you take LEAD 499. Details below.

Choose one elective:

• LEAD 212: Introduction to Leadership Concepts
• LEAD 225: Fundamentals of Global Food Systems Leadership
• LEAD 405: Leadership in Practice
• ENTRP 340: Introduction to Entrepreneurship
• ENTRP 520: Social Entrepreneurship
• HDFS 301: Helping Relationships
• MANGT 420: Principles of Management
• MANGT 450: Strategic Management of Nonprofit Organizations
• POLSC 507: Introduction to Public Administration

The goal of this experience is to get an overview of the organization and develop a deep understanding of how a single organization functions. The program will support students in locating and obtaining nonprofit internships through advising and notifying students of internship opportunities.

Understanding that every situation is different, internship experiences will be approved on a case-by-case basis. Generally, each internship should be at least 150 hours, spread out over any amount of time and be with a 501(c)(3)* or other approved organization.

Locating an internship site

To get started in finding an internship experience, download this list of previous example sites(PDF). To help narrow your ideas, download this worksheet(PDF) to think through some important considerations.

*A 501(c)(3) is a tax-exempt nonprofit and the most common type of nonprofit in the U.S.

If you've made it this far, it's good to know that you're just a few more credit hours away from fulfilling the certificate in leadership studies, too! Go for the gold and add on a leadership certificate.