Community Impact Leadership Program at Dartmouth

The Dartmouth Community Impact Leadership Program is among the first of its kind in the Ivy League. It prepares students for careers in policy, nonprofit leadership, and public service through coursework and supplemental programming.

This unofficial certificate program is available to sophomores and juniors interested in launching a career of impact either with Teach For America or another service-oriented organization. There is no cost to join the program and we strongly encourage participation from those students who are already planning to partake in specific classes and experiences within their time at Dartmouth. The deadline to apply is January 12, 2026.

Apply today

What to Expect

  • Take two courses from a list of options, including classes such as:
    • PBPL 5: Introduction to Public Policy
    • SOCY 65: Social Psychology of Inequality
    • PSYC 84.03: Leadership: Power, Influence and Persuasion
  • Participate in career acceleration and community building through programming like:
    • Match with a Dartmouth alum who is making change
    • Attend virtual or in-person skill development workshops
  • Complete 25-40 hours of community engagement – this can be fulfilled through existing internships, volunteer work, or program-sponsored opportunities!

Ideal Applicants Possess

  • Academic good standing in either sophomore or junior year
  • An interest in building leadership skills while contributing to community impact
  • A desire to understand community challenges and careers of service
  • A commitment to completing (2) classes and a minimum of 25 hours of community engagement over the course of one year or over three terms

Full Criteria for Completing the Program

  • Complete two courses from the list below or with approved substitutions:
    • EDUC 24 / SOCY 58: Education and Inequality
    • EDUC 27 / SOCY 24: The Impact of Poverty on Education
    • EDUC 32: Learning and Education Across Cultures
    • SOCY 11: Research Methods
    • SOCY 31: Youth and Society
    • SOCY 45: American Inequality
    • SOCY 65: Social Psychology of Inequality
    • PBPL 5: Introduction to Public Policy
    • PBPL 84.04: Inequality and American Democracy
    • PBPL 20 / EDUC 20: Educational Issues in Contemporary Society
    • PBPL 40.03 / WGSS 66.33: Gender and Policy Leadership
    • PSYC 84.03: Leadership: Power, Influence and Persuasion
  • Accelerate your growth with additional career development programming, (5-10 hours per term outside of class):
    • Match with a Dartmouth and TFA alum making change within their industry
    • Attend optional monthly community sessions
    • Receive personalized career development support through the TFA network
    • Attend virtual or in-person skill development workshops
  • Enhance your understanding with experiential learning:
    • Complete 25 hours minimum of community engagement within one calendar year through existing internships, volunteer work, or program-sponsored opportunities. We recommend selecting an opportunity through the Dartmouth Center for Social Impact’s Youth, Education & Mentoring Programs.

Ready to Launch?

Apply today – it takes less than 5 minutes! The deadline to apply is January 12, 2026.

Completing the Community Impact Leadership Program doesn’t guarantee admission to any specific graduate program or employer, but participants gain demonstrable leadership experience and skills that significantly strengthen applications across sectors.

Questions? Contact Brandon Green, the Center for Career Design’s Career & Life Design Coach for the Good & Green Career Community, at Brandon.R.Green@Dartmouth.edu.