Academic Programs Catalog

The Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership, Global Cultures, and Social Enterprise is a transdisciplinary graduate certificate administered by the Department of Religious Studies in the College of Arts and Letters. Students will develop expertise in the national and international nonprofit, NGO, or philanthropic sectors in the context of global cultural knowledge, with an emphasis on leadership, ethics, values, and human and ecological flourishing in civil society, particularly in a religious context. There are four areas of primary focus: (1) nonprofit organizations and leadership; (2) global cultural and religious knowledge, ethics and values; (3) individual and cultural renewal and flourishing; and (4) social entrepreneurship. Practical application and social engagement is emphasized.
 
Admission

To be considered for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership, Global Cultures, and Social Enterprise students must:

1. have a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution, or be a current advanced undergraduate student at a recognized institution.
2. have a cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of at least 3.0 in the last two years of undergraduate study. This requirement is waived for students currently pursuing a master's or doctoral degree program at MSU.
3. submit an admissions portfolio consisting of a statement of purpose/letter of intent, a resume or curriculum vitae, three letters of recommendation, copies of official university or college transcripts.
4. have an ACM minimum TOEFL score of 90 on the non-native language proficiency test if the student is an international applicant.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and the College of Arts and Letters, students must meet the requirements specified below. The graduate certificate is available only online. 

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership, Global Cultures, and Social Enterprise

Students must complete 10 credits from the following:

1.	The following course (2 credits):
	REL	817	Religion, Cultural Knowledge, and Nonprofits						2
2.	Complete four courses from the following (8 credits):
	GNL	821	Values and Ethics in Applied Leadership						2
	GNL	822	Cross Cultural Dialogue and Collaboration						2
	GNL	823	Social Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Religion						2
	GNL	824	Social Entrepreneurship and Religion: Case Studies						2
	GNL	825	Creativity in Organizations						2
	GNL	826	Flourishing Under Stress						2
	GNL	827	Nonprofit Institutions and Civil Society in a Global Context						2
	GNL	828	Nonprofit Governance						2
	GNL	829	Nonprofits and the Legal Environment						2
	GNL	830	Nonprofit and NGO Marketing and Fundraising						2
	GNL	831	Grant-writing for Nonprofits						2
	REL	818	Global Religions, NGOs, and Social Change						2
	REL	819	Religious Organizations and Civil Society in Asia						2
	REL	820	Secularisms, Publics, and Religions in Asia						2