Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Nonprofit Management & Community Development
University College at the University of West Georgia offers a course of study leading to a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Community Development. For those already employed in the non-profit sector, our certificate offer an opportunity for additional training through courses on grant-writing, program evaluation, and data analysis techniques (quantitative and qualitative).
For more information, please see the Academic Catalog.
The Nonprofit and Community Development certificate is designed for students who want to learn how to establish, administer, or work for non-governmental and non-profit organizations. While conventional certificate programs have an exclusively managerial focus, our program supplements managerial training by also equipping students with the theoretical and practical skills to engage in grassroots advocacy.
Career Opportunities
Link to Additional Career Information:
https://www.buzzfile.com/Major/Political-Science
External Resource
Program Location
Online
Method of Delivery
Courses in the program will be offered 100% online.
Accreditation
The University of West Georgia is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Credit and transfer
Total semester hours required: 15
Maximum Hours Transferable into program: 6
A transfer credit evaluation will be completed by the UWG Transfer Team (transfer@westga.edu). Course application to a program is subject to review by the department.
Graduate students may be able to reduce their cost through prior learning, previous degrees earned at UWG, or transfer credits. We have created a tool to help students estimate their tuition costs.
This program is offered entirely online. Though a student may choose to sign-up for a face-to-face elective or core course, one can earn this degree completely online.
Save money
UWG is often ranked as one of the most affordable accredited university of its kind, regardless of the method of delivery chosen. In addition, online courses and programs can mean a huge cost-savings in many non-evident ways: No more high gas charges. No childcare needed. The flexibility can allow one to maintain a job while attending school. Regardless of state residency, out-of-state non-resident students are not charged non-resident tuition for online course credit hours.
Details
- Total tuition costs and fees may vary, depending on the instructional method of the courses in which the student chooses to enroll.
- The more courses a student takes in a single term, the more they will typically save in fees and total cost.
- Face-to-Face or partially online courses are charged at the general tuition rate and all mandatory campus fees, based on the student's residency (non-residents are charged at a higher rate).
- Fully or entirely online course tuition rates and fees my vary depending on the program. Students enrolled in exclusively online courses do not pay non-Resident rates.
- Together this means that GA residents pay about the same if they take all face-to-face or partially online courses as they do if they take only fully online courses exclusively; while non-residents save money by taking fully online courses.
- One word of caution: If a student takes a combination of face-to-face and online courses in a single term, they will pay both all mandatory campus fees and the higher eTuition rate.
- For the cost information, as well as payment deadlines, see the Student Accounts and Billing Services website
There are a variety of financial assistance options for students, including scholarships and work study programs. Visit the Office of Financial Aid's website for more information.
Coursework
Students may earn the Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Community Development after completing 15 graduate semester credit hours as specified below:
General
Link to Program Sheet [PDF, 10 KB]
Principles and practices of fund accounting are examined with emphasis upon their adaptation to nonprofit institutions. The course includes measuring efficiency and economic use of resources to satisfy legal reporting as well as societal requirements. Auditing the reports and operations of nonprofit organizations is emphasized.
Social science research methods applied to determine program/policy effectiveness. Students will learn skills in process and outcome evaluation, and how to utilize evaluation findings for future planning.
Various changes in the management of public organizations are identified and analyzed. Includes the role of technology, modification of the relationship between public and private spheres, and current trends in the management of change and supervision of a diverse work force.
An in-depth study of the political process and administrative procedures used in American state and local governments to address social, economic and political issues. Comparative analysis of relevant actors and strategies across the states is incorporated.
This course is designed to explore the theoretical principles and practical applications of management for charities and/or nonprofit organizations. The underlying thesis of this course is that by understanding fundamental principles such as developing effective mission and objectives statements, fundraising, marketing and accounting strategies, nonprofits can become more effective and responsive to their constituency's needs. The course will include a field research component.
This course helps to develop the skills necessary for students to have the knowledge to be able to develop a solid funding grant proposal. This course is ideal for students who are working for nonprofit and government agencies and are seeking to develop the skills needed to become an effective grant writer. Additionally this course is ideal for students who work with and/or supervise grant based programs or agencies and who wish to acquire the knowledge of how the grant process works.
Introduction to housing and community development issues, problems and policy. Attention is focused on the operation of the housing market, historical development of housing and community development problems, and the evaluation of public and private sector responses to these problems.
A hands-on practical course in how governments collect and spend tax dollars and with what effects. Theories of budgeting are examined for their usefulness in the daily realities of the government budgeting setting. Through in-class group assignments, students learn to construct budgets with economic data, write policy statements, and demonstrate an understanding of capital budgeting, cash and accounting principles.
What is a good administrator? An examination of dilemmas and hard choices in public administration looked at from three conflicting perspectives: the good person, the good administrator, and the good citizen. topics include personal versus organizational responsibility; professional expertise versus democratic accountability; authority and culpability; and the relation between bureaucratic knowledge and the power it fosters.
Research techniques and computer applications relevant to public and nonprofit agencies. The design, data collection, and analysis component of the research process are emphasized.
A survey of the major theories of organizational design and behavior with an emphasis on comparisons of public, private, and nonprofit agencies.
Concepts, techniques of analysis and evaluation methods for the design and assessment of public policy and programs.
An examination of the processes, policies, and laws pertaining to public personnel, the course analyzes issues concerning personnel administrators including employee protection, motivation, and efficiency.
Demographic changes, human settlement patterns, land-use decisions, and political and social policy dynamics have increased vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters. Planning and policy processes and interventions can help reduce disaster vulnerabilities and increase resilience at every stage of the disaster management cycle: disaster mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery. The course will be divided into four modules relating to planning and policy processes corresponding to these four traditional phases of disaster management. Throughout the semester, particular attention will be paid to how disaster planning and policy efforts can increase and promote resilience and reduce vulnerabilities.
Taken at the completion of the student's degree program. Students not employed in public service will complete a 3-month internship in a governmental agency. An exit paper will be required. It will analyze an actual problem which confronts the agency, describe the problem-solving and decision-making processes involved in the solution, evaluate the supportive evidence for the decision made. Finally, the paper will evaluate linkages between the internship or work experience for the in-service student, classroom materials, and public administration literature. An oral defense of the paper before the student's committee is required. In-service students will received 3 hours credit, and pre-service students may receive 3 or 6 hours credit.
An intensive exploration of the effects of culture on psychological life that works with recent ideas on the interrelationship of history, culture, and the psychological. The course draws upon theory and research approaches derived from feminism, qualitative research paradigms&co
Sociological examination of the places in which we live, how we are housed, and what it is like to live without a place to call home. The focus is housing development in the United States throughout the twentieth century with special attention to its association with economic, gender, race, and family relations, along with public policy. Consideration is given to problems and controversies surrounding 'the American dream': segregation, overcrowding, affordability, urbanization/suburbanization, accessibility, and alternative housing. Special attention will be given to the problem of homelessness.
This course is intended to: 1) help students learn the complexity and diversity of social work practice; and 2) help students learn the basic skills necessary to carry out social casework and social group work. A major part of class time will be devoted to practicing skills in group and individual exercises. Graduate students will be expected to assume leadership roles.
Studies how societal practices and organization produce varying types of ecological degradation. Analyzes various forms of environmental activism. Analyzes selected cases and issues as well as a critical examination and comparison of various sociological viewpoints themselves. Considers global problems and everyday situations with a focus on modernity as risk society.
Graduate-level statistics course, covering hypothesis testing, measures of association, and linear and logistic regression. Pre-Requisite: either SOCI 4003, SOCI 5003, or an equivalent undergraduate statistics course
Social research examines the process of sociological research, with a specific focus upon designing and conducting quantitative research and writing empirical research reports. Students will learn how to evaluate quantitative research published in academic journals, and spend some time discussing the procedural stages for completing a thesis or a position paper.
This course will examine juvenile crime within a larger social context, exploring the positive and negative contributions of the individual, the family, peer, schools, and the larger community. Intervention strategies will be assessed, and a model will be presented for a community action that can reduce/prevent juvenile crime.
This course offers an opportunity to explore a number of areas, which may be defined within the broad heading of justice. It takes a realistic and critical look at the legal, social, psychological, and political effects the 'justice system' on people and their cities. Students will be asked to analyze these effects from the perspective of what is 'just' or 'unjust' - and what we can do about it.
Internship experience within an approved local organizational setting where sociological theories, concepts, and methods can be applied. May be repeated for credit with permission from the head of graduate studies (for a total of six credit hours).
An in-depth exploration of the logic, approaches, techniques, and issues in qualitative sociological research. Qualitative program evaluation and activist research are considered along with basic research.
Examination of institutional ethnography, a way of exploring the particular and generalized social relations that shape people's everyday experiences.
The history of social change from the classical perspective to contemporary theories. Collective behavior and social movement theory will be explored. Attention will be given to who participates in movements, movement strategies and tactics, and movement outcomes. Several movements from American History will be explored including the civil rights movement, the women's movement, the worker's movement, the gay and lesbian movement, and the environmental movement.
Sooho Lee
Professor & Graduate Coordinator of Public Administration
Neema Noori, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology
Karen Owen, Ph.D.
Dean of University College and Honors College, Associate Professor, and Director of the Thomas B. Murphy Center
Guidelines for Admittance
- All graduate applicants must complete the online Graduate Application. A one-time application fee of $40 is required.
- Applicants should also review the Graduate Studies Website for individual program specific requirements and tasks that must be completed prior to admission. See Graduate Studies Application Process.
- International applicants are subject to additional requirements and application deadlines. See Procedures for International Students.
- Official transcripts from a regionally or nationally accredited institution are required and should be sent directly to UWG Graduate Admissions.
Program Specific Admittance Guidelines
- 2.5 cumulative undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Two letters of recommendation
- If you are current graduate student at UWG, speak with your advisor about adding this certificate to your degree program.
Application Deadlines
Specific Graduate Admissions Deadlines are available via the Graduate School
Posted deadline includes Application, app fee, and all supplemental items/documents.
See The Scoop for more specific deadlines.
Admission Process Checklist
Send transcripts and all admission documents to:
Graduate Admissions
University of West Georgia
Mandeville Hall
Carrollton, GA 30118
graduate@westga.edu
Contact
For more information on the Nonprofit Management and Community Development certificate contact:
Dr. Sooho Lee
slee@westga.edu
678-839-4991
Graduate Admissions
Phone: 678-839-1394
Email: graduate@westga.edu
Specific dates for Admissions (Undergraduate Only), Financial Aid, Fee Payment, Registration, Start/End of Term Dates, Final Exams, etc. are available in THE SCOOP.
Specific Graduate Admissions Deadlines are available via the Graduate School
- Demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge in reference to one of the following types of non-profit organizations: social service, education, religious, cultural, or community-based organizations
- Demonstrate knowledge about how to establish, fund, and operate a non-profit organization
- Be able to assess an organization's effectiveness in achieving its goals