DEGREE OVERVIEW: NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT May 2009
Introduction | Why this degree? | What to expect | Who gets this degree and for what? | Admissions advice

What can I expect to find in a nonprofit management program?

Students who want to study nonprofit management at an advanced level may choose from a great variety of program designs and offerings.

Several universities offer a specialized graduate degree in nonprofit management, each with its own unique title (as explained earlier in the discussion called “What’s in a name?”), and most of which are master level courses. Because of the relative newness of this field, there are very few dedicated doctoral level programs. There are also concentrations in nonprofit management offered under other umbrella masters degree programs such as the Master of Business Administration or Master in Public Administration. Several universities that offer graduate degrees also offer certificate programs.

• Learn the differences between degree and certificate programs

General structure of programs

In addition to a variety of program concentrations, universities vary greatly in the formats and timelines for education.

Programs at the University of San Diego, University of San Francisco, and others are almost entirely populated with students who pursue their studies part-time while working full-time in nonprofit organizations. Thus these programs hold their classes in the evenings and weekends to accommodate their professional students and usually operate on a cohort model, where students are grouped together for the duration of the program. More traditional full-time graduate programs are offered at a variety of universities as well.

• Read “Going to grad school part-time” to learn more about some pros and cons of part-time study

Accreditation

According to Dr. Roseanne Mirabella’s website of her research on nonprofit management education (another good resource), “Though there is no accrediting body specifically focused on nonprofit management education programs, many of the colleges and universities are accredited by outside bodies and undergo a rigorous voluntary peer review process to achieve accreditation. When inquiring about specific programs, ask if the college or university is accredited and if the specific nonprofit management program is accredited. For example, the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) has a Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation that is authorized to accredit masters degree programs in public affairs and administration. Though not specifically focused on nonprofit management education, its accreditation process does include these concentrations and certificate programs in its review.”

Usual course work and concentrations

Nonprofit management graduate degree programs place a strong emphasis on connecting the theoretical with the practical. Experiential learning is usually accomplished through work with real clients in the community for courses or through internships.

Students of executive or part-time nonprofit management programs who are full- or part-time working professionals can, as Nicole McGovern, alumna of the Case Western Reserve University Masters of Nonprofit Organizations, says, “keep my head and foot in the work world in order to apply and learn from my graduate program every day.”

Susan B. Macek, an alumna of the Seattle University Master of Nonprofit Leadership program says, “I worked full-time while attending school and was able to apply my education in my organization through class projects.”

• Read the benefits of working part-time while studying

Many nonprofit management programs offer their students a lot of flexibility to explore and cultivate intellectual and professional interests within the degree. Students may develop individual concentrations within the degree through elective coursework. If the program is part of a larger grad school, students can often fulfill electives in other departments or schools for an interdisciplinary curriculum.

You may also consider obtaining a dual or joint degree. Some common dual degree options include law and a specialty field such as social work or public health.

Typical core curriculum offerings include courses that give you a foundation in:

• History and theory of nonprofit organizations and their management
• Nonprofit finance including accounting, budgeting, reporting, and tax laws
• Laws and regulations that govern nonprofit organizations
• Researching, designing, and evaluating programs
• Fundraising and campaign planning
• Leadership and ethics
• Strategic planning and organizational development
• Decision making

Additionally, depending on your interests and focus, you may be able to take elective courses offered by the program or other degree programs at the university that cover specific skill sets or specialized areas:

• Marketing, communications, and information technology
• Advocacy skills and strategies
• Shaping public policy
• Social entrepreneurship and earned income strategies
• Business development
• Arts management
• Health care management
• Housing and community development
• Issues facing international organizations

Most graduate education programs post their course offerings online for prospective students to view. Studying the curriculum for the program in which you are interested will give you a clearer sense of how your graduate education will be structured and what you will be learning. Comparing the curricula will also help you determine which graduate program may be a better fit for your interests. Here are a few curricula from a few schools to give you an idea of what other nonprofit management graduate programs may be like:

• University of Indiana-Purdue Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies
• University of Wisconsin Master of Science in Nonprofit Management and Leadership
• The University of San Francisco Institute for Nonprofit Management has a teaching resource center where anyone can search for course syllabi that has been submitted by nonprofit management programs. You can search for syllabi here.

In order to complete your degree, nonprofit management graduate degree students may be required to complete a capstone project or thesis. A capstone project is an opportunity for you to apply the education you’ve received throughout the program by addressing a real issue and need in the community. It usually culminates in a written report and presentation. A thesis, on the other hand, is a written paper based on research that you have conducted on a topic relevant to nonprofit management and your area of interest.

• The Nonprofit Academic Centers Council has created a recommended core curriculum for nonprofit management studies; view the PDF here. The same organization offers a report on indicators of quality here (PDF).

Students and faculty

Programs may differ with regards to the students that matriculate. Your classmates may be relatively new to or transitioning into the field, with some experience volunteering, working with a nonprofit, or participating in a national service program. The majority, hopefully, will have at least a few years of work experience, whether in the private, public, or nonprofit sectors, and bring varied perspectives and skills to the classroom.

Your faculty will have extensive knowledge of and experience in nonprofits and a variety of issue areas with individual areas of expertise and research interests. Many will also be very active in nonprofit organizations as consultants to, board members of, or even current staff.

→ Continue reading this degree overview →