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Advanced study in social work and nonprofit management is available through a dual degree program co-sponsored by the School of Social Work and the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.

The program allows students to earn a Master of Social Work and Certificate in Nonprofit Management with a minimum of 63-66 (SWAPPP and clinical concentrations, respectively) credits rather than the 75 credits necessary if the two degrees were pursued separately. This efficiency lowers the overall cost of tuition while also reducing time to earn both degrees.

Program goals

The objectives of this dual degree and certificate program are to:

  • Prepare graduates to understand the nonprofit sector’s relationship to the for-profit and government sectors
  • Develop graduates’ knowledge on how to build a fundraising and donor communication plan model
  • Prepare graduates to understand how to budget and evaluate the financial management practices of nonprofit organizations
  • Prepare graduates to have the skills to analyze and implement laws impacting nonprofit organizations and their governance

Among the many benefits offered by participation in the dual degree and certificate program are the following:

  • Graduates holding these degrees will gain knowledge and skills in nonprofit governance, management, fundraising, and program development and evaluation, which they will need to become leaders and change agents in this rapidly growing sector.

The nonprofit management certificate must be conferred prior to or during the same semester as the M.S.W. conferral. Students receive both degrees upon graduation from VCU.

Student learning outcomes

See the individual program pages for student learning outcomes.

Other information

Advising

The student is assigned an adviser from each program to develop a plan of study. Advisers coordinate regarding program curriculum as appropriate. M.S.W. advisers guide students to understand the plan of study and to advise on elective courses for clinical students and are encouraged to meet with advisers within the Wilder School.