Advisor: Janice Maatman
Room 224E, Walwood Hall

The purpose of the Graduate Certificate Program in Nonprofit Leadership and Administration (NLA) is to strengthen the capacity of leaders to carry out the missions of the organizations they serve. This is accomplished through education, community-service, and research designed to improve the contribution that public-serving organizations can made to society. Special emphasis is placed on individual and community development as the pivotal function of nonprofit organizations and collaboration as the central mode of public problem solving.

The Nonprofit Leadership and Administration certificate program may be taken by itself or in conjunction with a graduate degree program.

Admission Requirements

The criteria for admission to this certificate program are (a) a master’s or other graduate degree, or (b) current admission to a graduate degree program, or (c) a bachelor’s degree with an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 and work or voluntary experience or familiarity with nonprofit organizations. Students may transfer in a maximum of six (6) semester hours of graduate credit from another institution or from courses taken at Western Michigan University as a Guest student.

The following must be submitted in order to be considered for admission:

1. The University’s Application for Graduate Admission, with the application fee.
2. An official transcript from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended (except WMU). Even if the applicant is a graduate of WMU, an official transcript is required from each institution attended prior to, and after, WMU.
3. The School of Public Affairs and Administration’s “Departmental Information Form” (DIF).
4. A one-page biographical essay.
5. A current resume.

Students will be admitted to this certificate program three times per year. The Admissions Committee will review applications in October to admit students for the Spring semester; in February to admit students for the Summer session; and in June to admit students for the Fall semester.