Master of Arts Curriculum
The curriculum for the Nonprofit, Social and Public Leadership program delves deep into essential areas of social impact leadership:
- religious identity in social impact
- grassroots community organizing
- advanced policy analysis and strategy
- nonprofit leadership
- fundraising and development
- poverty and domestic social challenges
- data analysis
- and program evaluation.
The strength of our curriculum lies in its strategic partnerships and expert instruction. Courses are developed and taught by leading practitioners at the Garland School of Social Work in partnership with the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty and the Garland School of Social Work. These connections extend to major institutions like the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United Nations’ World Food Programme, offering students unprecedented access to global change-makers.
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Course Descriptions
SNPL 5201 Faith and Social Change
This course examines how faith traditions have historically and continue to drive social change, moving beyond well-known movements to explore diverse faith-based community engagement strategies. Students will explore the role of religious institutions as essential partners in systemic change efforts and gain the language and understanding needed to engage the faith sector in effective social change work.
SWO 5322 Social Policy for Social Work Practice
This course introduces the historical context of social policy and services in the United States, the analysis of current developments, and how social workers influence social welfare policy and provide social services.
SWO 5323 Organizational Leadership and Management
This course prepares students to perform managerial functions in public, nonprofit, and faith-based human service organizations. Specific attention is given to the topics of leadership, human resources, fundraising, grant writing, organizational development, resource management, structure and governance, and efforts to link human service organizations in an integrated community-wide service delivery system.
SPL 5305 Data Analytics and Landscape Analysis
This course equips students with analytical tools and methodologies to interpret complex data and social policy landscapes, emphasizing the practical application of data analytics for strategic decision-making, impact assessment, and policy evaluation. Students will learn to collect, analyze, and visualize data, conduct stakeholder and ecosystem analyses, and leverage data-driven insights to inform leadership strategies. Through case studies, hands-on projects, and real-world applications, students will develop the critical skills needed to navigate and influence dynamic social and public sector environments.
SWO 5384 Program Evaluation for Practice Improvement
Apply systematically derived, culturally responsive, and evidence-informed decisions for continuous quality improvement of human service systems, programs, and congregations.
SNPL 5324 Fundraising for Social Change
This course provides a comprehensive exploration of fundraising strategies that fuel mission-driven organizations and social change initiatives. Students will learn the fundamentals of grant writing, donor cultivation, major gifts, corporate partnerships, and fundraising development and develop the skills necessary for proposals, donor relationships, and strategies that align with organizational goals and long-term impact. Special emphasis will be placed on pursuing government grants and contracts, engaging the private sector, and building sustainable funding streams through individual and institutional giving.
SNPL 5352 Understanding Poverty: Systems, Solutions, and Social Change
This course examines the systemic causes and far-reaching effects of poverty in the U.S. and globally. Students will analyze economic inequality, public policy, labor markets, and historical injustices that contribute to poverty, as well as the role of climate change and globalization in shaping economic disparities. The course explores responses from governments, nonprofits, and the private sector, assessing their effectiveness in addressing poverty and promoting economic mobility.
SNPL 5364 Organizing Systems for Change
This course explores how systems are structured, challenged, and transformed to drive social change. Students will examine the mechanics of systemic power, the role of institutions, and the strategies used to create lasting impact across sectors. The course covers frameworks for collective action, coalition-building, policy advocacy, and cross-sector collaboration, emphasizing the interplay between grassroots organizing, government, and private sector engagement. Through case studies and applied learning, students will develop the skills to analyze systems, identify leverage points, and implement strategies that lead to meaningful and sustainable change.
SNPL 5325 Advanced Policy Application: Food Security & Poverty in the US
This course provides an in-depth analysis of domestic food security and poverty policy in the United States, examining the historical and contemporary policy landscape, exploring the effectiveness of federal programs such 11 as SNAP, WIC, school meals, and the Earned Income Tax Credit in addressing food insecurity and economic hardship. The course emphasizes policy design, implementation, and evaluation, considering the roles of government, nonprofits, and the private sector in shaping and influencing anti-poverty efforts. Students will develop the skills to assess current policies, advocate for reforms, and contribute to systemic solutions that promote economic and food security.
SNPL 5265 Action for Social Change: An Immersive Experience Through a weeklong intensive course, students explore social change in action through immersive site visits and seminar discussions in a location that relates to policy. Through a combination of seminars and site visits, students engage directly with policymakers, government agencies, advocacy organizations, industry representatives, and other key players in the change process. Students will critically examine how social change theories and strategies manifest in real-world policy and advocacy contexts. This experience provides students with practical, on-the-ground knowledge of how social change is implemented within influential institutions.
SNPL 5395 Capstone
This integrative seminar and culminating course provides students the opportunity to synthesize, integrate, and apply the knowledge gained from the MA in Social, Nonprofit, and Policy Leadership. Students will develop a project and presentation that reflects competency in the goals and objectives of this leadership degree.
Ready to begin your application? Click here to get your BEAR ID in just a few minutes and you're on your way! Have questions? Email the Admissions team at SNPL_Admissions@baylor.edu.