Certificates of Nonprofit Administration and Northwest Natural History

Awarded by North Cascades Institute, the Certificate in Leadership and Nonprofit Administration and Northwest Naturalist Certification are required components of this M.Ed. degree. Available only to students who complete the full graduate residency program, the certificate reflects our belief that academic study is most valuable when combined with professional work experience. Together, they define the structure of this graduate program and lead to greater employability for our students.

During the residency, students tackle many professional responsibilities and independent projects under the supervision of North Cascades Institute faculty and staff. The work is challenging, diverse and, most of all, fun. Certificate requirements include four categories:

• Natural and Cultural History
• Education Curriculum, Instruction and Evaluation
• Leadership and Nonprofit Administration
• Learning Center Operations

From naturalist studies and teaching all ages to managing a world-class environmental learning center, our students stretch themselves by playing key roles in a dynamic community. The certificate acknowledges each student’s competency and provides students with evaluations, letters of reference and other materials from the Institute.