The Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management provides practitioners in the Greater Birmingham area with an opportunity to enhance their skills and improve their capacity to effectively run their organizations. This program is designed to serve those who wish to gain specialized knowledge in the field of nonprofit management without committing to a full graduate program.

This Certificate is earned after completion of five (5) courses totaling 15 credit hours. For the most up-to-date information about courses, please visit the Graduate Catalog. Classes are offered online and on campus.

Applying for the Graduate Certificate

To complete the Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management, students must apply to UAB Graduate School. Application must include: 

• Undergraduate transcripts from accredited institutions;
• A statement of interest that addresses this prompt:
  • In 1-2 single-spaced pages (200-500 words), please share why the Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management at UAB is right for you. Address motivations, ways you want to make change, and vision for your career after obtaining the Certificate. If you have prior academic deficiencies, please also address those in this statement; 
• And one (1) letter of recommendation that meets the below criteria:
  • This letter must be an academic or professional reference. Academic examples include those from professors or faculty advisors; professional examples include those from supervisors in either a work or volunteer position. Letters from peers, co-workers, friends, etc. are not acceptable.

Students admitted into the MPA program may earn the Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management alongside their MPA degree. To do this, students are required to contact the MPA Program Manager, Carin Mayo (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), before they start taking elective courses.

Future Graduate Work

Sometimes, students who begin a Graduate Certificate program want to continue and earn their MPA degree. To do this, students must complete all application requirements as outlined in the Graduate School guidelines. A maximum of four (4) courses (12 hours) with a grade of B or better may be applied toward the MPA degree if the student is accepted in the program.

Successful completion of the nonprofit management certification does not automatically admit a student into the MPA program. All application materials must be completed. Students who pursue the MPA degree following certification must complete all course work within seven years of the first course taken in the certificate program.

If you have any questions about the graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management, contact Carin Mayo at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..