225 Humphrey School
301 19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455
United States
Admissions are being paused for the 2022-2023 academic year.
To lead in the 21st century, human services professionals must possess interdisciplinary skills and innovative thinking to help transform public systems and deliver better services that improve the quality of life for recipients. The customized Certificate in Human Services Leadership provides working professionals the knowledge and skills necessary to redesign public services and programs, address racial disparities and other barriers, and develop creative policy solutions to complex and growing community needs.
What You Will Gain
- Grounding in key skills and knowledge for leadership in public and nonprofit service-providing organizations
- Knowledge of how public, nonprofit, and philanthropic revenue sources, structures, and operations create unique cultures that must be navigated to lead change across institutional boundaries
- Deeper understanding of racial, gender, and income disparities and strategies for improving organizational operations and client circumstances
- Experience with human-centered redesign to improve accessibility, accountability, and coordination among professionals and agencies
- Access to faculty and resources of a top-10 U.S. graduate school of public affairs that is also ranked second for nonprofit management
Learning Environment
The Certificate in Human Services Leadership offers a blend of academic rigor and practical experience with a flexible schedule that combines virtual content and face-to-face sessions that accommodate busy schedules.
The Certificate Is Ideal for
Professionals working in all aspects of human services program development and delivery at public, nonprofit, and philanthropic organizations seeking professional development and advancement opportunities. In addition, organizations committed to improving the quality of life for service recipients could benefit by having multiple staff complete the program.
View Certificate in Human Services Leadership application requirements
Curriculum
The certificate requires 12 credits, six from required courses and six from a choice of electives. The 12 credits of certificate coursework can be applied towards a mid-career Master of Public Affairs (which has a minimum requirement of 30 credits).
REQUIRED COURSES
ELECTIVE COURSES (6+ CREDITS)
- PA 5011 – Management of Organizations (3 cr.)
- PA 5103 – Leadership and Change (1.5 cr.)
- PA 5137 – Project Management in the Public Arena (1.5 cr.)
- PA 5145 – Civic Participation in Public Affairs (3 cr.) OR PA 5253 – Designing Planning and Participation Processes (3 cr.)
- PA 5190 – Topics in Public and Nonprofit Leadership and Management (1–3 cr.). PA 5190 is limited to "Leading Across Boundaries" (2 cr.).
- PA 5311 – Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
- PA 5405 – Public Policy Implementation (3 cr.)
- PA 5421 – Racial Inequality and Public Policy (3 cr.)
- PA 5927 – Effective Grantwriting for Nonprofit Organizations (1.5 cr.)
- OLPD 5011 – Leading Organizational Change: Theory and Practice (3 cr.)
- PA 5105 / GCC 5023 – Leading Across Sectors to Address Grand Challenges (3 cr.)
Cost
Information on certificate program costs can be found on the Tuition and Financial Aid page of our website.