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.

Placement Statistics

Academic Year 2022-2023

44% completed their placement with a national executive-level leader.

12% completed their placement with an international executive-level leader.

44% completed their placement with a local executive-level leader.

INVISIBLE – leave blank

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

80% completed their placement with a nonprofit organization.

Practicum Dates & Details

The practicum process begins the summer prior to the start of the academic year. Students will receive updates in May about virtual practicum events held in June and July. Since the NPL is a one-year accelerated program, and the Leadership Practicum is a year-long experience, practicum start dates depend on the student’s anticipated graduation date.

  • Students taking classes on a part-time basis will complete their practicum in their second year
  • Students taking classes on a full-time basis will complete their practicum in their first year
  • Students who are working professionals and taking classes on a full-time or part-time basis will complete a “mentorship only” experience
  • Dual degree students may have highly individualized practicum experiences to fulfill requirements for both programs. Students are encouraged to review dual degree specific websites and consult with their Academic Advisors for more information.
  • Accelerated students taking classes on a part-time basis and planning to complete the program in the summer following fall and spring semesters will begin their practicum at the start of their first year.
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 in a full-time capacity 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 in a full-time capacity 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.

News

Gianni Morsell posing on campus. Gianni is standing in front of a brick building with a green plant next to her. Her arms are crossed and she is wearing a black shirt and khaki pants.

First graduate of SP2’s Social Justice Scholars Program lands role on Capitol Hill  

“What’s important to me is being in a space where I can help people and I’m constantly in a state of giving back,” says Gianni Morsell, NPL’22. The first graduate […]


Contact Us

Sue Perls, MSEd

On-Campus Coordinator, MS in Nonprofit Leadership Program

215 573 2390

sueperls@upenn.edu