Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the Certificate in Nonprofit Management Program must have earned an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. To apply, you will need:

  • Official transcripts that demonstrate a GPA sufficient to meet Graduate College requirements. (Two copies will be needed: one for the department and one to complete your application to the Graduate College)
  • Two letters of recommendation from professors, employers and/or professional colleagues.
  • A written essay explaining your interest in the certificate program
  • A current resume

Application Process

  • Apply to the Graduate College
  • All application material is subsequently reviewed by faculty to determine admission into the program
  • Additional materials listed below should be uploaded and submitted with your application:
    • Official transcripts demonstrating an earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and a GPA sufficient to meet Graduate College requirements
      Note: Unofficial transcripts are allowed to be uploaded and submitted with your application to allow initial evaluation.
    • Two letters of recommendation from professors, employers and/or professional colleagues. Identify the two people sending letters of recommendation on your behalf. They will, in turn, upload their letters to the Graduate College's On-line application site. To get this process started, go to the Graduate College's Application process webpage and click on the RECOMMENDATIONS link at the left side of the page immediately below the Application process links. Then make sure you check "yes" when it asks you about submitting your letters electronically.
    • A written essay explaining why you are interested in the certificate program in nonprofit management
    • A current resume

Deadlines

The deadline for admission application materials is:
Fall: June 1
Spring: Nov. 1
Summer: March 1

The Public Management Certificate Program begins once a year in January of spring semester.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the program, you must:

  • Have earned an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
  • Be currently employed in a public agency at the national, state, or local level or at a nonprofit.
  • Enter a cohort that is being sponsored by a government or nonprofit agency.
  • Meet Graduate College requirements.
  • Be accepted by the Graduate College and the School of Public Policy and Leadership.
  • Provide two letters of recommendation from professors, employers, and/or professional colleagues.
  • Submit a current resume with your application.

Application Process

  • Apply to the Graduate College through the online application system. Be sure to select the certificate in Public Management (rather than the MPA degree) from the list.
    You are required to send official transcripts for all college-level work to the Graduate College.
    Note: Unofficial transcripts can be uploaded and submitted to the Graduate Coordinator in the School of Public Policy and Leadership for initial evaluation.
  • Identify the two people sending letters of recommendation on your behalf. They will, in turn, upload their letters to the Graduate College's online application site. To get this process started, go to the Graduate College's Application process webpage and click on the RECOMMENDATIONS link at the left side of the page immediately below the Application process links. Then make sure you check "yes" when it asks you about submitting your letters electronically (These can be submitted electronically by the letter writers).
  • After the School and Graduate College obligations have been met, the file then goes to the School’s Admission Committee. The Graduate College will then send you an email confirmation with the status of the admission decision.

Note: If you complete the required 15 credits with a 3.5 GPA or higher, then you will be able to apply for the MPA program and possibly be accepted without taking the GRE the following spring.

Deadlines

Spring semester: Nov. 1