Social, Nonprofit and Public Leadership Program Certificates

In addition to the online master's degree offering in its full-time or part-time paths, the Garland School of Social Work and Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty will offer two, online for-credit professional certificates:

• Nonprofit Leadership Certificate
• Public Policy Certificate

Our program's foundation in civic engagement and leadership development prepares students to bridge societal divides and foster collective impact. Drawing from our established expertise in Public Deliberation and Interfaith Leadership, we equip students with proven strategies for working across differences to achieve shared goals. 

Online Certificate Program Length

Each certificate will be offered online and will include 12 credit hours of coursework chosen from the MA in Social, Nonprofit, and Public Leadership program, taken across two trimesters.

The Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership will include 12 hours taken in the fall and spring, with courses focused on social policy, organizational leadership and management, program evaluation, and fundraising. 

Application Deadline for Fall 2026: July 15, 2026

The Certificate in Public Policy will include 12 hours taken in the spring and summer, with courses focused on social policy, understanding poverty, policy analysis, and organizing systems.

Application Deadline for Spring 2027: November 15, 2026

Certificate Admission Requirements

Admission to the certificate program is conducted by a formal online application. The admissions review team will conduct a holistic review that considers all aspects of the admission requirements. An application will be considered complete when all of the following materials have been received:

1. A completed online application  
2. $45 application fee
3. Resume
4. Official transcript from bachelor’s degree-bearing institution*
5. Application essays

* A file will be considered complete for review purposes with unofficial transcripts. If admitted, official transcripts will be required.

The letter of admission constitutes the University’s official notification of an admission decision. Admitted students will have a maximum of one year (three terms) from the date of admission within which to enroll. Attempts to enroll after this time period will require the completion of another application.  

Eligibility Requirements

Qualified students will be admitted regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, gender, age, or disability. The certificate program requires all applicants have either:

1. a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States, or
2. proof of equivalent education at an international institution of higher learning.

Note: Applicants who are not admitted into the program may reapply for any subsequent year.

Transferability of Certificate Credits

Students accepted into the Master of Arts in Social, Nonprofit and Public Leadership degree program who have met specified benchmarks in one of the certificates will be allowed to transfer the credit toward the completion of the Master of Arts degree.

CURRICULUM: Learn about our curriculum and read course descriptions here.