LEADERSHIP PRACTICUM
Learning to lead by example
Through the Leadership Practicum, SP2 students in the MS in Nonprofit Leadership Program experience strong direction and stewardship in action while benefiting from individual mentoring and leadership development. The practicum also fosters a commitment by local nonprofit leaders to cultivate the next generation of transformative leaders.
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.
Where do SP2 Students Work?
This is not an exhaustive list of partner organizations.
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. 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 consult with the Practicum Coordinator and their Academic Advisor to determine the best time to complete their practicum.
- Students taking classes on a full-time basis will complete their practicum in their first year.
- Students who are working while enrolled at Penn 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
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
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
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.
Interested in Hosting a Practicum Student?
The Leadership Practicum is a mutually rewarding partnership that provides organizations with bright, motivated graduate students eager to assist in completing projects. It allows our students to apply classroom principles to real-world settings, and to build important skills related to teamwork, accountability, and finding solutions to ongoing problems. Mentors at host organizations meet with students regularly to provide advice, coaching, and encouragement, playing a critical role in guiding the development of the mentee.
If you are interested in hosting a practicum student, please contact Sue Perls, MSEd, On-Campus Coordinator, MS in Nonprofit Leadership Program, at sueperls@upenn.edu.
Events
04/25
Philanthropy’s Role: A Conversation with Amy Schiller and Kat Rosqueta
Join the Nonprofit Leadership program and the Center for High Impact Philanthropy for lunch and a conversation with Amy Schiller, author of The Price of Humanity: How Philanthropy Went Wrong and […]
Events
04/25
SP2 Mock Interviews
Join us for an interactive SP2 Mock Interview Event designed to equip both current students gearing up for job interviews and incoming students preparing for practicum interviews. During this workshop, […]
News
Alumni
04/18
Alumni Q&A | Terri Broussard Williams, NPL ’20
An award-winning lobbyist, nonprofit executive, and public speaker, SP2 alumna and Dean’s Alumni Advisory Board member Terri Broussard Williams, NPL ’20, is head of state and local government relations at financial services firm Edward Jones.
Contact Us
Sue Perls, MSEd
Associate Director, MS in Nonprofit Leadership Program
215 573 2390