Furman University Graduate Studies

This fall, Furman University is offering a new pathway for professionals interested in nonprofit leadership, advocacy and mission-driven work.

The Nonprofit Management Graduate Certificate is a five-course program that builds strategic, operational and advocacy skills for those who lead, manage or support mission-driven organizations.

Designed as a stackable credential, the certificate can also serve as a step toward Furman’s full M.A. in Advocacy and Social Policy degree.

Start your application today: https://ow.ly/lAjU50Z6opE

Join us virtually on Wednesday, June 10 to learn how Furman University’s M.S. in Innovation and Leadership (MSIL) can help you strengthen your leadership approach and navigate change across industries, organizations and communities.

Built around collaboration, creativity and applied problem-solving, MSIL equips students with the frameworks and perspective needed to lead through complex challenges.

Learn how you can collaborate with change: https://ow.ly/RSYs50Z6iT5

Only one month left to complete your graduate application for the Fall 2026 semester!

Furman University’s Graduate Studies unlocks the door to new possibilities in your career through expert faculty, evidence-based courses and hands-on assignments. Learn how to earn a graduate degree and make an impact.

Programs starting in Fall 2026 include:

• M.A. in Advocacy and Social Policy

• M.S. in Innovation and Leadership

Apply by July 1: https://ow.ly/Bvbi50Z5LmU

Meet Autumn, Furman's graduate admissions counselor, and discover what’s possible with Furman’s Graduate Studies programs! She’ll be at the Joseph Vaughn Plaza in front of the Duke Library on Thursday, June 11. Learn how our graduate programs can help advance your career and connect you to a professional network that supports you long after graduation.

Let us know if you’re coming: https://ow.ly/E5Bg50Z5KH4

Take a break from the summer heat by joining a virtual information session (VIS) from the comfort of your home. Furman University offers exceptional programs led by expert faculty who equip their students for success. Which of our programs can help you take the next step in your career?

Programs with a VIS in June:

M.S. in Innovation and Leadership (MSIL)

M.A. in Advocacy and Social Policy (MAP)

Save your spot today: https://admission.furman.edu/portal/gradevents

“The [M.A.Ed. in Literacy] program strengthened not only my knowledge but also my professional voice.”

Kate Massey entered Furman’s M.A.Ed. in Literacy ready to become a stronger teacher. She left with the confidence to lead, advocate and support students both inside and beyond the classroom.

Through the program, Kate strengthened her literacy expertise, led professional development, presented at state and national conferences and deepened her commitment to research-based teaching practices. She is now continuing her education at the University of Georgia, where she is pursuing a specialist degree in TESOL. Her next chapter will take her to Medellín, Colombia, where she’ll continue her work as an educator.

Read Kate’s story: https://ow.ly/6aRP50Z4Qj3

AI is changing every industry, but most professionals are still figuring out what that actually means for their work and careers.

That’s the idea behind Applied AI for Professional Practice, a new hybrid professional certificate developed by Furman’s Office of Graduate Studies and the Center for Innovative Leadership in partnership with Build Carolina.

In this blog, facilitator Lelia King shares how the course will help participants move beyond theory and build practical AI fluency through real-world application, industry speakers and hands-on projects. Read more: https://ow.ly/nQS350Z3jnv

Build Carolina

“To me, they really did feel like my academic family, and that was so special to me. I just don’t think you get that everywhere.”

Tre’Dessa has always been passionate about leading her community through service. The M.A. in Advocacy and Social Policy connected her with supportive faculty and fellow classmates that pushed her to grow confidently in her studies. Now she is taking what she’s learned and helping others lead in their communities through Upstate Forever's Citizen Planning Academy.

Read her full story on our blog: https://www.furman.edu/graduate-studies/rooted-in-purpose-how-tredessa-smalls-is-shaping-greenvilles-future/

Recently during Furman Engaged 2026, students in our Master of Science in Community Engaged Medicine (MSCEM) presented their cumulative program work through individual poster presentations exploring health, community and the social factors that shape patient outcomes.

Presentation topics ranged from sickle cell disease and systemic racism to cardiovascular risk in football culture, LGBTQ+ youth mental health, and how healthcare inequities contribute to untreated and mismanaged postpartum depression among African American women.

Community members and students were able to walk through the session, stop for conversations and hear directly from students about the issues they researched throughout the program.

Learn more about the program: https://ow.ly/2eyF50Z2etE

Congratulations to all our Spring 2026 graduates!

The Graduate Studies hooding ceremony included opening remarks from Beth Pontari, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, as well as student reflections from Kate Harrington of the M.A. in Advocacy and Social Policy program and Junie Mertus of the M.S. in Community Engaged Medicine program.

We celebrated graduates from the M.S. in Innovation and Leadership, M.A. in Advocacy and Social Policy, M.S. in Community Engaged Medicine, M.A. in Strategic Design, M.A. in Education and Ed.S. in School Leadership.

We can’t wait to see the impact each of these graduates makes as they .