School of Public Affairs

Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management

"My generation of third sector leaders had no formal graduate nonprofit managmenet education available. We learned by trial and error, with many bumps along the way. Today's nonprofit executives can take advantage of the School of Public Affairs' superior quality curriculum, focusing on the theoretical and practical applications. With this education the nonprofit leaders of today and tomorrow will be equipped to make an even greater impact in our communities."

Cathy Robbins
El Pomar Foundation

Thriving nonprofit organizations are an essential component of community well-being. The Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management program provides the knowledge and skills to lead and manage nonprofits effectively. Aspiring nonprofit leaders will gain fundamental skills; those already in the field will expand their skills; and nonprofit board members will gain knowledge to enhance their capacity to govern.

A Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management consists of four required classes. For descriptions of courses see UCCS Course Catalog



Required courses include:
P AD 5110 Seminar on Nonprofit Management
P AD 5140 Nonprofit Financial Management

Plus two of the following:
P AD 5130 Collaboration across Sectors
P AD 5150 Understanding and Achieving Funding Diversity
P AD 5160 Nonprofit Boards and Executive Leadership
P AD 5170 Strategic Management for Nonprofit and Public Managers
P AD 5180 Social Entrepreneurship
P AD 5220 Human Resource Management in Public Service Organizations
P AD 5260 Managing in a Multicultural Society
P AD 5350 Program Evaluation
P AD 6115 Grant Writing

Courses may be offered in the classroom or online. Students are not required to apply to a degree program to take these courses, but must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. Students must earn grades of B- or better in each course counted toward a certificate. Current Master of Public Administration (MPA) students may take these courses and earn the certificate in addition to the MPA as part of their degree plan. Students who complete the certificate only may apply these courses to the MPA degree if admitted within three years of taking the certificate courses. 

These courses also may be used as electives toward the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree at UCCS School of Public Affairs.

To enroll in the certificate program, all students must:
•submit a one-page certificate application and official transcripts to the School of Public Affairs

Students not currently admitted to the MPA or MCJ degree program must also: 
•submit a brief application and a $25 processing fee to the UCCS admissions office to be admitted as a nondegree student 
•submit official transcripts to the School of Public Affairs