2023-2024

Non-Profit and Social Entrepreneurship, Undergraduate Certificate

Department of Management, Marketing, and Information Systems

The W. A. Franke College of Business

The Non-Profit and Social Entrepreneurship certificate program provides students with grounding in sound business principles, which will allow them to either pursue starting a non-profit or social enterprise, or to contribute to existing organizations.  The certificate, which is available to business and non-business majors, consists of fifteen credit hours of coursework (as shown below) or non-business majors.  Business majors and minors must take nine hours beyond their normal business curriculum. 

  • To receive an undergraduate certificate (at least 15 units) at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject matter areas with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.

    Please be aware that federal financial aid is not available for some certificates, if the certificate is pursued and completed as a stand-alone certificate (i.e., not completed concurrently with a degree program). See the "Details" tab for additional information.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 15
Major GPA 2.0
Highest Mathematics Required MAT 114
Additional Admission Requirements Required

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Understand the unique aspects for the non-profit and social enterprises with respect to economic, governance, legal, human resource, management and leadership issues.
  • Develop and communicate mission, vision and values statement for a non-profit or social enterprise.
  • Develop a business model for a non-profit or social enterprise.
  • Given a business model, create an appropriate organization and governance structure for a non-profit or social enterprise.
  • Develop a strategic plan for a non-profit or social enterprise.
  • Develop a marketing/fundraising plan for a non-profit or social enterprise.
  • Interpret financial statement from non-profit or social enterprise.
  • Develop appropriate financial management strategies for a non-profit or social enterprise.
  • Develop and communicate a written business plan for a non-profit or social enterprise.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

    • The W. A. Franke College of Business (FCB) offers more than a dozen undergraduate certificates, some of which are open to all Northern Arizona University students.
    • For a list of certificates open to non-business majors, contact the Office of Academic Services in the FCB.
    • The FCB does not accept upper-division transfer credits from programs not accredited by the AACSB (such as the University of Phoenix or the Bachelor of Business Administration program at NAU).
    • You must complete 6 units of certificate coursework not used in your major, minor, or other certificates, and at least sixty percent of certificate coursework at Northern Arizona University.
Certificate Requirements

  • Take the following 15 units with a minimum GPA of 2.0:


    This certificate is available to business and non-business majors.  Business majors and minors must take twelve hours beyond their normal business curriculum. 

  • This certificate may only be pursued and completed concurrently with a degree program. This certificate is not available as a stand-alone certificate.

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.