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AH Certification Requirements

The UNO American Humanics certification program is open to all undergraduates and to all majors. It is part of and in addition to any other degree that a UNO student may pursue. Please view our informational presentation, created by the American Humanics Student Association.

To enroll in the program, a student must complete an interview with the American Humanics Director and register in the national American Humanics online profile system.

Minimum requirements are:
AH-Related Coursework

The AH director advises all students in selecting appropriate program-related course work. Students must complete 2 AH core courses (Nonprofit Organizations and Management offered in the Spring and Nonprofit Fundraising offered in the Fall), as well as 5 AH-related courses. Requirements will vary from major to major. Many of these courses may also count toward a student's major degree requirements. Contact the AH director to determine which courses you need to take. The following curriculum guide outlines the coursework necessary to earn certification.

AH Core Courses (6 credits) These courses are required for all AH students

  • PA 3500 Nonprofit Organizations and Management, offered each spring (Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of instructor)
  • PA 4500 Nonprofit Fundraising, offered in the fall (Prerequisites: PA 2170, PA 3500)

Additional Required Coursework (9 credits) Students must take at least one course from under each heading. Specific coursework within this framework will depend upon the specific interests and major of the individual student. Minimum grade-point averages may apply for courses in the College of Business Administration or School of Communication. Faculty members may waive some prerequisites.

  1. Communication Skills (choose one)
    • SPCH 2010 Interpersonal Communication
    • SPCH 2410 Small Group Communication and Leadership
    • SPCH 3130 Speech Communication in Business and Professions (Prerequisite: SPCH 1110 or SPCH 2120)
    • SPCH 3750 Gender and Communication (Prerequisites: SPCH 2010 or SPCH 2140)
    • SPCH 4150 Communication Training & Development Skills (Prerequisites: Junior standing; Communication major; SPCH 2010 or SPCH 2140)
    • SPCH 4160 Communication for Instructional Settings (Prerequisites: SPCH 2010 or SPCH 2410)
    • SPCH 4170 Organizational Communication (Prerequisite: Junior standing)
    • SPCH 4510 Persuasion (Prerequisites: Junior standing; SPCH 2010 or SPCH 2140)
    • SPCH 4530/ENGL 4710 Intercultural Communication (Prerequisites: Junior standing; SPCH 2010 or SPCH 2410)
    • SPCH 4700 Interpersonal Conflict (Prerequisites: Junior standing; SPCH 2010 or SPCH 2410)
    • SPCH 4800 Conflict Mediation (Prerequisites: Junior standing; SPCH 2010 or SPCH 2410)
  2. Personnel Management (choose one)
    • MGMT 3510 Human Resources Management (Prerequisite: MGMT 3490)
    • PA 3600 Personnel and Volunteer Management for Nonprofits (Prerequisite: Junior standing)
    • PA 4410 Public Personnel Management (Prerequisites: PA 2170; junior standing)
    • PSYC 4640 Personnel Psychology (Prerequisite: PSYC 1010)
    • Another course approved by the American Humanics director
  3. Public Relations and Marketing (choose one)
    • JOUR 4230 Principles of Public Relations (Prerequisite: JOUR 2100 or JOUR 2150)
    • JOUR 3620 Principles of Creative Advertising (Prerequisite: Sophomore standing)
    • MKT 2210 Survey of Marketing (Prerequisite: ENGL 1160)
    • MKT 3310 Principles of Marketing (Prerequisites: ECON 2200; MATH 1310; ENGL 1160)
    • PA 4100 Marketing in Public, Nonprofit, and Aviation Organizations (Prerequisite: PA 3500)

Recommended Coursework These courses contribute to career knowledge and certification competencies, and are highly recommended for American Humanics students, depending upon their interests and degree programs. Minimum grade-point averages may apply for courses in the College of Business Administration. Faculty members may waive some prerequisites.

  • Youth & Adult Development
    • CYAF 1600 Human Development and the Family
    • EDUC 2010 Human Growth & Learning (Prerequisites: Admission to teacher preparation; EDUC 2020; and departmental permission)
    • GDRH 2110 Topics in Social Sciences: Life-Span Development (Prerequisite: Goodrich Program student)
    • GERO 2000 Introduction to Gerontology
    • PSYC 2500 Lifespan Psychology (Prerequisite: PSYC 1010)
    • PSYC 3520 Child Psychology (Prerequisite: PSYC 1010)
    • PSYC 3540 Adolescent Development (Prerequisite: PSYC 1010)
    • SOWK 1000 Social Work and Social Welfare
  • Financial and Risk Management
    • ACCT 2010 Principles of Accounting I (Prerequisite: MATH 1310)
    • ACCT 2020 Principles of Accounting II (Prerequisite: ACCT 2010)
    • ACCT 4070 Gonvernmental/Nonprofit Accounting and Auditing (Prerequisite: ACCT 3080)
    • FNBK 3000 Financial reporting and Analysis (Prerequisite: ACCT 2020)
    • FNBK 4590 Risk Management for Business Managers (Prerequisite: Junior standing)
    • LAWS 3910 Introduction to Business Law & Ethics (Prerequisites: ENGL 1160 or proficiency; SPCH 1110 or higher; ECON 2200)
    • LAWS/MGMT 4220 Legal Issues in Management (Prerequisites: MGMT 3490; MGMT 3510)
    • PA 3700 Financial Management for Nonprofits (Prerequisites: PA 2170; PA 3000; PA 3500)
    • PA 4390 Public Budgeting
  • General Nonprofit Management
    • CJUS 4030 Criminal Justice Organization and Administration (Prerequisite: Admitted to Criminal Justice program or minor declared)
    • HED 4960 Health Education - Planning and Organization (Prerequisites: HED 1500; HED 3600; senior standing)
    • MGMT 3490 Management (Prerequisite: ENGL 1160)
    • MGMT 4050 Managerial Decision Making (Prerequisite: MGMT 3490)
    • MGMT 4100 Organization Theory and Practice (Prerequisite: MGMT 3490)
    • MGMT 4150 International Management (Prerequisite: MGMT 3490)
    • PA 2000 Leadership and Administration
    • PA 3200 Program Planning and Evaluation (Prerequisite: PA 3000)
    • PA 4200 Community Organizing and Social Change
    • PE 4220 Organization and Administration of Physical Education (Prerequisite: Junior standing)
    • PSYC 4630 Organizational Psychology (Prerequisite: PSYC 1010)
    • RLS 4240 Recreation Administration
    • SOC 4620 Sociology of Formal Organizations (Prerequisite: 9 hours of sociology including SOC 1010)
    • SOWK 1500 Volunteer Experience (Prerequisite: SOWK 1000, which sophomores may take concurrently)

Internship/Practicum

The student internship/practicum at a nonprofit organization is considered the “capstone” experience. Students must complete a 300-hour internship/practicum at an approved site. The AH director will assist students with internship placement if needed. Students may take the course for credit in their major department if available or on a contract basis through the AH program. Internship scholarships and stipends available for qualifying students. The internship is to be undertaken upon completion of PA 3500 with a grade of B or above. Credit hours may be earned through the appropriate course number, or the requirement can be fulfilled through a contract.

A student internship manual is available for AH students preparing for their internship/practicum experience.

Co-Curricular Activities

In addition to coursework and internships, students must participate in co-curricular activities coordinated by the AH Student Association (AHSA). Throughout the year, the AH Student Association will organize several learning and networking opportunities for AH students.

Specifically, American Humanics students are expected to participate in the following activities:

  1. Become a member of the American Humanics Student Association for at least the equivalent of one year
  2. Attend AHSA meetings a minimum of eight times
  3. Participate in the fall AHSA annual fund drive at least once
  4. Participate in an AHSA fundraising event at least once
  5. Attend an AHSA fall retreat at least once
  6. Participate in the spring awards luncheon at least once
  7. Attend guest speaker presentations and workshops related to nonprofit management at least four times
  8. Attend American Humanics Community Council or Nonprofit Association of the Midlands meetings or events at least twice.
  9. Attend an AH Management Institute at least once.
    The AHMI is held annually at various locations throughout the United States, typically in January. Students will be expected to raise money or pay for their conference experience, which costs approximately $800 per student.
  10. Attend internship or career development training workshops at least once.
Certification Competencies

The American Humanics program has identified 14 core skills and knowledge competencies for undergraduate programs in nonprofit youth and human service management. It is important to note that these are used as criteria to determine satisfactory completion of the American Humanics certificate. Each component of the American Humanics Program--curriculum, internship, and co-curricular activities--is driven by these competencies.

Student Performance

Students must achieve at least a 3.0 average in AH core courses. In addition, students must demonstrate that they have satisfactorily met each of the AH competency areas as well as other AH requirements noted above before they are recommended for national AH certification. Students will be required to maintain a portfolio to show that they have done this.