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.
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.
Where do SP2 Students Work?
American Civil Liberties Union
Anti-Drug and Alcohol Crusaders
Centre for Advanced Studies in Policy Research
Centro de Cultura Arte Trabajo y Educacion
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.
Full-Time On-Campus Students
The Leadership Practicum is an integral part of the experiential learning process for full-time NPL students. 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 Philly-area nonprofit organization or foundation;
- 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 180-225 hours of practicum time with the sponsoring organization during the academic year beginning in early October and ending in mid-April.
Part-Time On-Campus Students
A modified Leadership Practicum is an opportunity for part-time, on-campus students to build on core competencies and principles of leadership developed in the classroom. Part-time students’ current jobs within social impact and nonprofit organizations fulfill the requirement to support an organization in areas that include strategic planning, program development and evaluation, philanthropy, etc.
Part-time 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 Philly-area nonprofit organization or foundation;
- a partnership with the goal of learning about the organization
Submatriculation On-Campus Students
The Leadership Practicum is an integral part of the experiential learning for all sub-matriculation 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 nonprofit organization or foundation;
- 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 180-225 hours of practicum time with the sponsoring organization. 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.
Full-Time Online Students
The Leadership Practicum provides opportunities for online NPL students to build on core competencies and principles of leadership that have been developed through coursework. The experience is tailored to meet the needs of each student, with the assistance of the student’s academic advisor. Practicums must meet these criteria:
- a supervised mentoring and leadership development component with either an executive director or senior level leader at a nonprofit organization or foundation where the student currently works, or an organization found in consultation with their academic advisor;
- a partnership with the goal of learning about the organization and providing student support on various levels for professional growth;
- a commitment of 180-225 hours of practicum time with the sponsoring organization throughout the program’s duration. This can be completed at the organization where the student currently works even if the mentorship is elsewhere.
If a student is not currently employed in the social impact sector, the student’s academic advisor will assist in identifying a partner for the student to complete the practicum requirement. Regardless of the sector in which the student is employed, there may be the need to identify an additional mentor for a student’s full-time job in order to fulfill the Leadership Practicum requirements.
Part-Time Online Students
A modified Leadership Practicum is an opportunity for part-time, online students to build on core competencies and principles of leadership developed in the classroom. Part-time students’ current jobs within social impact and nonprofit organizations fulfill the requirement to support an organization in areas that include strategic planning, program development and evaluation, philanthropy, etc.
Part-time 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 nonprofit organization or foundation;
- a partnership with the goal of learning about the organization
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
03/28
Family Law, Gender Equity, and Reproductive Rights – Melissa Weiler Gerber
Melissa Weiler Gerber is President and CEO of accessmatters.org, an organization aims to transform access to sexual and reproductive health. Join MSSP class Law and Policy (MSSP 6310) to learn […]
Events
03/29
Defender Association Presentation
A team of staff and social workers from the Defender will be talking about the mission and work of the Defender Association and the role of social work in serving […]
News
Student Life
03/21
SP2 announces Amber Hikes, MSW’08, as 2023 commencement speaker
Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) announced today that SP2 graduate Amber Hikes, MSW’08, (they/she), current Deputy Executive Director for Strategy & Culture for the ACLU, will deliver the School’s 2023 Commencement speech on May 13. Learn more from today’s message from SP2 Dean Sara “Sally” S. Bachman, PhD.
Contact Us
Sue Perls, MSEd
On-Campus Coordinator, MS in Nonprofit Leadership Program
215 573 2390