Through academic study, community engagement, and applied research, Community and Nonprofit Leadership (CNPL) undergraduate students develop into competent, caring professionals interested in community-based change and the expanding nonprofit sector. In smaller, inclusive, project-based courses, CNPL students collaborate with each other and community partners, gaining practical experience and making a difference through their coursework. The CNPL bachelor of science degree prepares its graduates for careers in community and nonprofit settings, graduate school (in law, policy, community health, etc.), and post-baccalaureate service-oriented programs (such as Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, City Year, etc.), enabling them to create, lead, and support innovative community-based initiatives that change lives and make the world a better place. Their work and advanced study address human, family, and civil society issues such as: food and environmental justice, homelessness and rights to housing, health equity, gender equality, racial justice, community and leadership development, community organizing, advocacy, and more.
CNPL majors complete a required internship before graduating, allowing them to pursue their own personal interests and to develop a strong portfolio of skills and references that will propel them to launch successful careers.
Prospective UW-Madison Students
All prospective UW–Madison students must apply through the central Office of Admissions and Recruitment.
Students who indicate interest in the community and nonprofit leadership (CNPL) major on their UW–Madison application will be admitted to the CNPL major upon admittance to the university. In addition, students may indicate interest in CNPL when registering for Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR).
Current UW–Madison Students
Declaration
- First-semester students may declare SoHE majors.
- All students with fewer than 60 GPA credits, a minimal 2.75 cumulative GPA, and not on probation in their current school/college may declare SoHE majors.
Application
- All other students must apply through a competitive application process.
The best way for interested students to receive advising or additional information is by meeting with a SoHE advisor.
Visit On-campus Student Application for application information and deadlines.
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.
| General Education |
* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements. |
School of Human Ecology Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics | 3-4 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Methods | ||
| Statistics for Sociologists I | ||
| Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences | ||
| Basic Statistics for Psychology | ||
| Statistics: Measurement in Economics | ||
| Quantitative Methods in Geographical Analysis | ||
| Arts and Humanities | ||
| Literature | 3 | |
| Humanities | 6 | |
| Social Science | 9 | |
| Physical, Biological and Natural Science | 9 | |
| Human Ecology Breadth | 6 | |
Select six credits of Human Ecology courses from CNSR SCI, DS, HDFS, or INTER-HE. | ||
| Total Credits | 36-37 | |
Community and Nonprofit Leadership Requirements
A complete list of requirements is below. Students should follow the curriculum requirements in place at the time they entered the major. This requirement list should be used in combination with a DARS report.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Community and Nonprofit Leadership Core Courses | ||
| CSCS 125 | Community and Social Change | 3 |
| CSCS 300 | Nonprofit Sector: Overview and Foundations | 3 |
| CSCS 345 | Evaluation and Planning for Community and Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| CSCS 460 | Civil Society and Community Leadership | 3 |
| CSCS 570 | Community Based Research and Evaluation | 3 |
| CSCS 600 | Community Issues and Action Capstone | 3 |
| Community and Nonprofit Leadership Depth Courses | ||
| Complete 9 credits from any other Civil Society & Community Studies courses | 9 | |
| Professional Development | ||
| CSCS 254 | Community & Nonprofit Leadership Symposium | 1 |
| INTER-HE 202 | SoHE Career & Leadership Development | 1 |
| CSCS 601 | Internship | 3 |
| Electives | ||
Select electives to fulfill degree requirement of 120 credits | ||
| Total Credits | 32 | |
University Degree Requirements
| Total Degree | To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements. |
| Residency | Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs. |
| Quality of Work | Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation. |
- (Ecological perspectives on community and society) Articulate and apply an ecological perspective at discrete levels of analysis (individual, group, community, and society).
- (Civic literacy and the public sphere) Assess the major trends in civil society recognizing the influence and interconnectedness across the major sectors of society and exhibit strong capacity for sustained, high impact participation in civic life.
- (Identity, diversity, and social justice) Recognize well-being and social justice as relational and position, applying these principles in community organizing and empowerment.
- (Organizational management and professional development) Demonstrate entry-level knowledge and skills relevant to nonprofit and community organizations and exhibit the practices of a lifelong learner.
- (Research, analysis, and communication) Vet and/or generate high quality data, perform relevant analyses, and share results with target audiences using oral, written, and visual communication techniques.
- (Leadership, ethics, and well-being) Recognize the value of being a reflective, ethical leader who cultivates others’ strengths and leadership capabilities, while exhibiting self-care and care for others.
This is a sample four-year plan for Community & Nonprofit Leadership. We encourage all students to consult with their academic advisor to develop an individualized plan that meets their specific needs.
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| Communications A | 3 | Communications B | 3-4 | ||
| Ethnic Studies | 3 | Social Science | 3 | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning A | 3 | SoHE Breadth | 3 | ||
| Science | 3 | Science | 3 | ||
| Humanities | 3 | CSCS 254 | 1 | ||
| 15 | 13-14 | ||||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| CSCS 125 | 3 | INTER-HE 202 | 1 | ||
| SoHE Breadth | 3 | CSCS 300 | 3 | ||
| Social Science | 3 | Literature | 3 | ||
| Humanities | 3 | Science | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | Social Science | 3 | ||
| Elective | 2 | ||||
| 15 | 15 | ||||
| Junior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| CSCS 345 | 3 | CSCS 460 | 3 | CSCS 601 | 3 |
| Statistics (Quantitative Reasoning B) | 3 | Community & Nonprofit Leadership Depth | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3-4 | Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 15-16 | 15 | 3 | |||
| Senior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| CSCS 570 | 3 | CSCS 600 | 3 | ||
| Community & Nonprofit Leadership Depth | 3 | Community & Nonprofit Leadership Depth | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||||
| Total Credits 121-123 | |||||
Advising & Career Center
The Advising & Career Center (ACC) fosters undergraduate students' personal, academic, and professional development. Through advising, academic planning, and career education, we support students as they navigate the college experience—from exploring our majors as prospective students to becoming SoHE alumni.
Academic Advising
Each SoHE student is assigned to an academic advisor in the Advising & Career Center. SoHE academic advisors support academic and personal success by partnering with current and prospective SoHE students as they identify and clarify their educational goals, develop meaningful academic plans, and pursue their own Wisconsin Experience.
To explore academic advising resources or schedule an appointment with a SoHE academic advisor, visit Advising in SoHE.
Career Development
Active engagement in the career development process is a vital component of a student’s personal growth in college and future success as a lifelong learner, professional, and global citizen. SoHE career advisors help prepare students for life post-graduation through individual and group advising and integration of career readiness throughout our curriculum.
To explore career development resources or schedule an appointment with a SoHE career advisor, visit Career Development.
Professors
Dodge-Francis, Jasper;
Associate PROFESSORS
Gaddis, McInnes;
Assistant Professors
Horowitz, Huambachano, Keeler, Sarmiento;
Faculty Associates
DiPrete Brown, Maguire
For more information, visit the School of Human Ecology faculty and staff directory.
Internships
Internships are a vital part of student career development and a highly valued component of the undergraduate curriculum in the School of Human Ecology. High-quality internships foster student development by bringing theories and classroom-based learning to life in real-world settings. In addition, internships give students the opportunity to explore careers related to their major, gain relevant experience in their field(s) of interest, and develop a better understanding of what is expected in a workplace by performing the tasks of a professional in that field.
For SoHE majors, internships are a requirement of our undergraduate curriculum. Students must have at least a junior standing (54+ credits) in order to pursue a 3-credit internship and must complete a minimum of 150 hours at the internship site. To be eligible, an internship must be educational in nature, directly relate to a student’s major and career goals, and be approved by the Advising & Career Center.
For some SoHE majors, additional course prerequisites may be required. For more information, visit SoHE Internships.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
School of Human Ecology student organizations include:
- Apparel and Textile Association (ATA)
- Association of Fundraising Professionals - UW Madison Chapter (AFP)
- Community and Nonprofit Leaders (CNLUW)
- Financial Occupations Club for University Students (FOCUS)
- Interior Design Organization (IDO)/American Society of Interior Design (ASID) - Student Chapter
- Phi Upsilon Omicron (National Honor Society in Family and Consumer Sciences)
- Student Association for Human Development and Family Studies (SAHDFS)
- Student Retail Association (SRA)
For more information about registering as a SoHE student organization, please visit SoHE Student Organizations.
Learn more about UW–Madison registered student organizations through the Wisconsin Involvement Network.
Advising & Career Center
The Advising & Career Center (ACC) fosters undergraduate students' personal, academic, and professional development. Through advising, academic planning, and career education, we support students as they navigate the college experience—from exploring our majors as prospective students to becoming SoHE alumni.
Academic Advising
Each SoHE student is assigned to an academic advisor in the Advising & Career Center. SoHE academic advisors support academic and personal success by partnering with current and prospective SoHE students as they identify and clarify their educational goals, develop meaningful academic plans, and pursue their own Wisconsin Experience.
To explore academic advising resources or schedule an appointment with a SoHE academic advisor, visit Advising in SoHE.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Active engagement in the career development process is a vital component of a student’s personal growth in college and future success as a lifelong learner, professional, and global citizen. SoHE career advisors help prepare students for life post-graduation through individual and group advising and integration of career readiness throughout our curriculum.
To explore career development resources or schedule an appointment with a SoHE career advisor, visit Career Development.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER FINANCIAL RESOURCES
The School of Human Ecology awards many merit and need-based scholarships each year. The deadline to apply for scholarships is typically late in the fall semester. To be eligible for these awards, scholarship recipients must be registered as full-time SoHE students.
Students who experience emergency financial situations may inquire about the availability of short-term loans through the SoHE Advising & Career Center. In addition, university scholarships, loans, and employment are available through the Office of Student Financial Aid (333 East Campus Mall; 608-262-3060).