Bachelor of Arts in Faith-Based Nonprofit Leadership Specialization in Social Impact Community Development

Degree abbreviation

B.A. in Faith-Based Nonprofit Leadership Specialization in Social Impact Community Development

Total program length

120 semester credit hours

Normal completion time

Four academic years

General education

36 credit hours

Professional application courses

15 credit hours

Capstone requirement

6 credit hours

Academic unit

HBIU College of Leadership

Total credits

120

Duration

4 years

• Analyze the operational, financial, and regulatory landscapes governing nonprofit organizations.
• Evaluate systemic social issues to design evidence-based community development interventions.
• Apply principles of servant leadership and stewardship to resolve complex organizational challenges.
• Design comprehensive strategies for volunteer recruitment, resource mobilization, and donor relations.
• Integrate ethical decision-making frameworks with professional practice in community engagement.
• Communicate effectively to diverse stakeholders to advocate for organizational missions and community needs.
• Course Outline
• Semester 1 — Year 1
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• ENG101
• College Composition
• 3
• None
• BUS105
• Foundations of Business Management
• 3
• None
• SOC110
• Introduction to Sociology
• 3
• None
• HUM101
• Ethics and Character Development
• 4
• None
• ENG101 — College Composition: Focuses on the development of critical thinking and written expression through academic research. Students learn to articulate arguments supported by scholarly evidenceThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• BUS105 — Foundations of Business Management: Provides an overview of management principles including planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Discusses the role of management in achieving organizational goalsThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• SOC110 — Introduction to Sociology: Explores social behavior, cultural systems, and the structure of society. Examines the impact of human interaction on community developmentThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• HUM101 — Ethics and Character Development: Examines foundational ethical theories and their application to personal and professional life. Focuses on the integration of character-based virtues into leadership stylesThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• Semester 2 — Year 1
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• ENG102
• Advanced Rhetoric and Research
• 3
• ENG101
• MAT201
• Applied Statistics
• 3
• None
• BUS120
• Accounting for Nonprofits
• 4
• BUS105
• PHL150
• Foundations of Social Philosophy
• 3
• None
• ENG102 — Advanced Rhetoric and Research: Builds on composition skills with an emphasis on research methodologies and synthesis. Includes formal academic writing in the social sciencesThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• MAT201 — Applied Statistics: Introduces basic statistical concepts and their application to organizational data analysis. Covers descriptive and inferential statistics for decision-makingThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• BUS120 — Accounting for Nonprofits: Explains fundamental accounting principles as applied to mission-driven organizations. Focuses on transparency, budgeting, and fiscal stewardshipThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• PHL150 — Foundations of Social Philosophy: This course examines major philosophical frameworks that shape contemporary social thought and individual value systems. Students will analyze the intersection of ethics and societal development. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• Semester 3 — Year 2
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• MGT210
• Organizational Leadership
• 3
• BUS105
• COM205
• Professional Communication
• 3
• ENG102
• SOC220
• Social Problems and Issues
• 4
• SOC110
• HIS210
• History of Social Movements
• 3
• None
• MGT210 — Organizational Leadership: Analyzes various leadership models and their effectiveness in non-hierarchical structures. Emphasizes the importance of servant leadership in staff developmentThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• COM205 — Professional Communication: Develops verbal and written communication strategies for diverse audiences. Covers public speaking, media relations, and conflict resolutionThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• SOC220 — Social Problems and Issues: Critically examines contemporary social challenges such as poverty, inequality, and community displacement. Analyzes potential systemic solutionsThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• HIS210 — History of Social Movements: Surveys the historical development of social reform and civil society. Analyzes the impact of these movements on current institutional structuresThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• Semester 4 — Year 2
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• MGT250
• Nonprofit Administration
• 3
• MGT210
• PSY230
• Human Behavior and Development
• 3
• None
• BUS270
• Resource Mobilization
• 4
• BUS120
• SOC220
• Community Outreach and Engagement Strategies
• 3
• THE150
• MGT250 — Nonprofit Administration: Focuses on the administrative requirements of nonprofits including governance, board relations, and legal compliance. Emphasizes operational stabilityThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• PSY230 — Human Behavior and Development: Examines psychological theories relating to human growth and social interactions. Provides a framework for understanding community stakeholdersThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• BUS270 — Resource Mobilization: Introduces techniques for fundraising, donor acquisition, and sustainable resource planning. Explores ethical implications of donor stewardshipThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• SOC220 — Community Outreach and Engagement Strategies: This course explores practical models for building community partnerships and delivering social services. Emphasis is placed on capacity building, resource mapping, and inclusive engagement practices. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• Semester 5 — Year 3
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• MGT310
• Strategic Planning for Social Impact
• 3
• MGT250
• RES301
• Research Methods for Community Development
• 4
• MAT201
• SOC350
• Urban and Rural Community Dynamics
• 3
• SOC220
• BUS315
• Human Resource Management
• 3
• MGT210
• MGT310 — Strategic Planning for Social Impact: Teaches the process of developing long-term organizational goals and program strategies. Integrates mission alignment with environmental analysisThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• RES301 — Research Methods for Community Development: Prepares students to conduct needs assessments and evaluate program efficacy. Covers qualitative and quantitative methodologyThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• SOC350 — Urban and Rural Community Dynamics: Analyzes the unique structures and needs of urban vs. rural communities. Focuses on place-based development strategiesThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• BUS315 — Human Resource Management: Examines policies and practices related to staff recruitment, training, and retention. Emphasizes professional excellence and workplace ethicsThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• Semester 6 — Year 3
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• MGT380
• Program Evaluation and Design
• 4
• RES301
• BUS360
• Project Management
• 3
• BUS105
• SOC405
• Globalization and Community Change
• 3
• SOC110
• BUS330
• Professionalism and Civic Duty
• 3
• THE150
• MGT380 — Program Evaluation and Design: Focuses on designing metrics to track program success and social impact. Provides tools for reporting outcomes to stakeholders and donorsThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• BUS360 — Project Management: Teaches the fundamentals of leading complex projects from inception to completion. Addresses scheduling, budgeting, and risk mitigationThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• SOC405 — Globalization and Community Change: Examines the impact of global socioeconomic shifts on local communities. Discusses the ethics of cross-cultural engagement and aidThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• BUS330 — Professionalism and Civic Duty: This course examines the role of individual career paths in contributing to the common good and systemic social improvement. Topics include personal ethics, social responsibility, and the development of professional identity within the nonprofit sector. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• Semester 7 — Year 4
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• MGT420
• Public Policy and Advocacy
• 3
• SOC220
• BUS410
• Financial Stewardship and Ethics
• 3
• BUS120
• SOC440
• Community Organizing and Empowerment
• 4
• SOC350
• ELECT1
• Leadership Elective
• 3
• None
• MGT420 — Public Policy and Advocacy: Provides an overview of the intersection between public policy and nonprofit activity. Covers the basics of government relations and advocacyThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• BUS410 — Financial Stewardship and Ethics: Delves into the ethics of resource management and internal controls. Focuses on the role of financial transparency in institutional credibilityThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• SOC440 — Community Organizing and Empowerment: Examines methods for mobilizing community assets to solve collective problems. Focuses on participatory development and stakeholder inclusionThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• ELECT1 — Leadership Elective: An advanced elective course focused on specialized leadership skills in a chosen focus area of the nonprofit sectorThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• Semester 8 — Year 4
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• CAP490
• Senior Capstone Project
• 4
• MGT380, RES301
• MGT450
• Global Leadership and Sustainability
• 3
• MGT310
• BUS495
• Professional Development and Ethics
• 3
• None
• ELECT2
• Community Development Elective
• 3
• None
• CAP490 — Senior Capstone Project: The culmination of the program requiring the design, implementation, and assessment of a community impact initiative. Integrates leadership, management, and ethical principles into a professional portfolioThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• MGT450 — Global Leadership and Sustainability: Examines the challenges of long-term sustainability for community programs. Focuses on legacy and the lasting impact of leadershipThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• BUS495 — Professional Development and Ethics: Prepares students for entering the workforce with an emphasis on lifelong learning and ethical decision-making. Discusses career paths in the nonprofit sectorThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• ELECT2 — Community Development Elective: An advanced elective course focusing on specific social impact issues such as education, public health support, or housingThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..

Applicants must provide evidence of high school completion or an equivalent GED, alongside a personal statement detailing their commitment to community engagement and ethical leadership. Prospective students should demonstrate academic readiness through official transcripts reflecting a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale. Senior Capstone Project The Senior Capstone Project serves as the culminating academic experience, requiring students to design, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive social impact project for a partnering nonprofit entity. Spanning the final semester, this 4-credit course mandates that students synthesize prior learning in strategic management and community theory to address a specific organizational or social need. Deliverables include a formal project proposal, an execution report, and a final presentation to a faculty and practitioner review board. Integration of faith-based perspectives is central to this experience, as students are tasked with articulating how their project reflects biblical stewardship and servant leadership principles. The project assesses not only technical proficiency in project management but also the student’s growth in ethical maturity. By navigating the challenges of implementation, students must demonstrate a capacity to act with character, resilience, and a consistent focus on the common good, thereby confirming their readiness for professional service in a way that honors their personal faith commitments.

• Graduation requires the successful completion of 120 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. All students must complete the core curriculum, their chosen specialization courses, and the Senior Capstone Project with a passing grade of 'C' or higher. Students must also maintain satisfactory standing in the university’s spiritual formation initiatives, which include regular chapel attendance and specified community service hours.
• Beyond academic attainment, the institution expects graduates to demonstrate evidence of a life characterized by integrity, personal accountability, and a commitment to service. Successful students show that their intellectual development is matched by a deepening sense of vocation, enabling them to lead with humility and to uphold the highest standards of professional ethics in their future work. Completion of these requirements signifies both academic mastery and a readiness to engage the world through responsible and mission-focused leadership.
• Career Opportunities
• Nonprofit Program Director
• Community Outreach Coordinator
• Grant Writer and Development Specialist
• Volunteer Services Manager
• Social Impact Analyst
• Church-based Ministry Administrator
• Policy Advocate for Human Services
• Important Notices
• The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
• HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
• HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
• Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
• The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
• Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
• Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
• This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
• Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
• Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
• Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
• Degree abbreviation | B.A. in Faith-Based Nonprofit Leadership Specialization in Social Impact Community Development
• Total program length | 120 semester credit hours
• Normal completion time | Four academic years
• General education | 36 credit hours
• Leadership and community impact core | 63 credit hours
• Professional application courses | 15 credit hours
• Capstone requirement | 6 credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• ENG101 | College Composition | 3 | None
• BUS105 | Foundations of Business Management | 3 | None
• SOC110 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 | None
• HUM101 | Ethics and Character Development | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• ENG102 | Advanced Rhetoric and Research | 3 | ENG101
• MAT201 | Applied Statistics | 3 | None
• BUS120 | Accounting for Nonprofits | 4 | BUS105
• PHL150 | Foundations of Social Philosophy | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• MGT210 | Organizational Leadership | 3 | BUS105
• COM205 | Professional Communication | 3 | ENG102
• SOC220 | Social Problems and Issues | 4 | SOC110
• HIS210 | History of Social Movements | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• MGT250 | Nonprofit Administration | 3 | MGT210
• PSY230 | Human Behavior and Development | 3 | None
• BUS270 | Resource Mobilization | 4 | BUS120
• SOC220 | Community Outreach and Engagement Strategies | 3 | THE150
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• MGT310 | Strategic Planning for Social Impact | 3 | MGT250
• RES301 | Research Methods for Community Development | 4 | MAT201
• SOC350 | Urban and Rural Community Dynamics | 3 | SOC220
• BUS315 | Human Resource Management | 3 | MGT210
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• MGT380 | Program Evaluation and Design | 4 | RES301
• BUS360 | Project Management | 3 | BUS105
• SOC405 | Globalization and Community Change | 3 | SOC110
• BUS330 | Professionalism and Civic Duty | 3 | THE150
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• MGT420 | Public Policy and Advocacy | 3 | SOC220
• BUS410 | Financial Stewardship and Ethics | 3 | BUS120
• SOC440 | Community Organizing and Empowerment | 4 | SOC350
• ELECT1 | Leadership Elective | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• CAP490 | Senior Capstone Project | 4 | MGT380, RES301
• MGT450 | Global Leadership and Sustainability | 3 | MGT310
• BUS495 | Professional Development and Ethics | 3 | None
• ELECT2 | Community Development Elective | 3 | None