LEADERSHIP PRACTICUM

Learning to lead by example

Students may choose to participate in a mutual matching process the summer prior to the start of the academic year or they may identify their own mentor/placement organization. Practicum experiences can be in-person, hybrid, or virtual.

Practicum Statistics

Academic Year 2022-2023

44% completed their placement experience with a national organization.

12% completed their placement experience with an international NGO.

44% completed their placement experience with a local organization.

INVISIBLE – leave blank

33% completed a placement experience; 67% completed a mentorship experience.

80% completed their placement experience with a nonprofit organization.

Placement

Placement

The Leadership Practicum is an integral part of the experiential learning process. It builds on the core competencies and principles of leadership developed in the classroom and encompasses:

  • a supervised mentoring and leadership development experience with an executive director or senior level leader at a local, national, or international social impact organization;
  • a partnership with the goal of understanding the organization and providing student support on various levels. These can include strategic planning, succession planning, branding or marketing, development and philanthropy, or other targeted projects; and
  • a commitment of a minimum of 250 hours of practicum time with the sponsoring organization (virtually, hybrid, or fully in-person) during the academic year beginning in September and ending in April.

Many full-time on-campus and full-time online students complete a placement experience, but those who are working while enrolled in the NPL program are eligible to complete a mentor-only experience.

Mentor-Only

Mentor-Only

A modified Leadership Practicum is an opportunity for students to build on core competencies and principles of leadership developed in the classroom.

Students have the opportunity to work with a mentor to bolster the mentorship portion of the practicum. This option facilitates:

  • a mentoring and leadership development experience with either an executive director or senior-level leader at a local, national, or international social impact organization;
  • a partnership with the goal of learning about the organization.

Students who are currently working while enrolled at Penn are eligible to complete a mentor-only experience; most part-time online and part-time on-campus students complete a mentor-only experience.

Placement for Submatriculation Students

Placement for Submatriculation Students

The Leadership Practicum is an integral part of the experiential learning for all submatriculation NPL students. It builds on core competencies and leadership principles developed in the classroom and encompasses:

  • a supervised mentoring and leadership development experience with either an executive director or senior level leader at a local, national, or international social impact organization;
  • a partnership with the goal of understanding the organization and providing student support on various levels. These can include strategic planning, succession planning, branding or marketing, development and philanthropy, or other targeted projects; and
  • a commitment of a minimum of 250 hours of practicum time with the sponsoring organization (virtually, hybrid, or fully in-person). This typically takes place during the summer between earning an undergraduate degree and the fall semester of the master’s degree, or during the academic year of senior year, as long as at least two NPL Core Courses have been taken prior to the practicum.

Events

04/02

Acts of Kindness Pop-Up

Stop by the Caster lobby for some breakfast on your way to class!

Events

04/02

Virtual NPL Lunch & Learn — Corporate Giving

Corporate giving comes in all shapes and sizes depending on many factors. During this course we will explore national corporate giving trends and how they can be considered when developing […]

News

Douglas Brooks

SP2 announces Douglas M. Brooks, MSW, as 2024 Commencement speaker

SP2 announced today that Douglas M. Brooks, MSW, a nationally recognized leader in HIV and health care policy and advocacy, as well as a senior leadership fellow at SP2, will deliver the School’s 2024 Commencement speech on May 18.


Contact Us

Sue Perls, MSEd

Associate Director, MS in Nonprofit Leadership Program

215 573 2390

sueperls@upenn.edu