MS IN NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP
Master of Social Work
The Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership/Master of Social Work (NPL/MSW) dual degree program combines the efforts of social work and nonprofit leadership to support students passionate about social change and social impact on both the micro (clinical practice) and macro (societal and policy) levels. The NPL/MSW builds on a practical and theoretical foundation to prepare social workers to:
- Start and lead nonprofit organizations in the local, national, and global spheres.
- Shape programming and agencies to create innovative solutions to long-term challenges.
General Program of Study
The NPL/MSW dual degree program allows students to earn both degrees by completing a total of 22 course units (CUs). On its own, the MSW is a 16 CU degree, consisting of 11 required courses and 5 electives. On its own, the NPL is a 10 CU program, consisting of four core courses, four NPL electives, and two Penn electives. When students complete the NPL/MSW dual-degree, up to four courses are cross-counted between the two degrees. Students may count up to two MSW courses as Penn electives in the NPL program and up to two NPL courses as MSW electives. Depending on course scheduling, students may be able to complete the MSW/NPL in six terms (for example, two academic years and two summers), but students may also extend the dual-degree program to two and a half or three years if they wish (not including summer terms). Ideally, students will apply to the MSW and NPL degrees at the same time, but applicants may also be admitted to the NPL program while in their first year of the MSW program.
Students may work with their academic advisors in the NPL and MSW programs to individualize their course of study, but the following courses have been pre-approved for cross-counting and represent the standard course of study:
- NPLD xxxx: Core course (Fulfills MSW Elective #1)
- NPLD xxxx: Core course (Fulfills MSW Elective #2)
- SWRK 7xxx: Elective (Fulfills NPL Penn Elective #1)
- SWRK 7xxx: Elective (Fulfills NPL Penn Elective #2)
Students complete the following 22 courses: (1) SWRK 6010, (2) SWRK 6020, (3) SWRK 6030, (4) SWRK 6040, (5) SWRK 6140, (6) SWRK 6150, (7) SWRK 7040 or 7080, (8) SWRK 7140 or 7180, (9) SWRK 7130, (10) SWRK 7xxx: Policy Option; (11) SWRK 7xxx: Research Option; (12 – 15) four NPL core courses; (16-19) four NPL electives (taken within the NPL program); and (20-22) three MSW electives (one of which must be SWRK 7600 (for clinical concentration students) or a macro practice elective (for macro concentration students), and two of which may be taken outside SP2). Students may take up to two of their MSW electives outside of SP2 with permission from their MSW academic advisor.
NPL Practicum & MSW Practicum Placement
The Second Year MSW Practicum Placement may fulfill the NPL Practicum requirement, regardless of concentration (clinical or macro). However, in order to fulfill the NPL practicum, there must be the identification of a mentor who agrees to regular leadership and professional development meetings with the student at the practicum placement. In these situations, the student may not need to complete additional hours for the NPL practicum beyond those already required for the MSW practicum placement.
If an NPL practicum leader cannot be identified at the MSW practicum placement site, the student will work with their NPL advisor to identify an appropriate mentor at another agency, and this may require additional hours beyond the MSW Practicum Placement. Please contact NPL Administrative Director Adam Roth-Saks with any questions regarding the MSW practicum placement’s fulfillment of the NPL practicum requirements.
Standard Course of Study
The table below represents the course of study for students who wish to complete the degree in two academic years and two summers.
| Year | Fall | Spring | Summer |
| 1 | • SWRK 6010 • SWRK 6020 • SWRK 6030 • SWRK 6040 + Field | • SWRK 6140 + Field • SWRK 6150 • SWRK 7xxx: Policy Option • SWRK 7xxx: MSW Elective #1 | • SWRK 7xxx: MSW Elective #2 (Fulfills NPL Elective #1) • NPL: Non-core |
| 2 | • SWRK 7040 or 7080 + Field (Fulfills NPL Practicum) • NPLD core • NPLD core • SWRK 7xxx: Research Option • SWRK 7xxx: MSW Elective #3 (Fulfills NPL Elective #2) | • SWRK 7140 or 7180 + Field • SWRK 7130 • NPLD core (Fulfills MSW Elective #4) • NPLD core • NPLD non-core (Fulfills MSW Elective #5) | • NPLD non-core • NPLD non-core |
Contact Us
Adam Roth-Saks, MSEd
Administrative Director, MS in Nonprofit Leadership
215 573 2390
Mai Le, JD, MSW
Administrative Director, MSW Program
215 746 4031