Master of Science in Nonprofit Management
Overview
Facing the threat of privatization and for-profit competition, nonprofit organizations are challenged to find leaders who not only possess keen business and managerial skills, but can also effect change at a community or social level. Being successful in this dynamic and rewarding field requires strong leadership, managerial, and interpersonal skills, as well as in-depth knowledge of fundraising, marketing, program development, and governance issues.
Integrating theoretical approaches with practical applications, the Master of Science in Nonprofit Management prepares you for a leadership position in a not-for-profit university, hospital, charity, foundation, or religious organization. Upon completion of this nonprofit degree, you emerge well equipped to embark on a career in nonprofit management—prepared [and inspired] to make a meaningful impact.
Program Objectives
- Explore leadership practices that contribute to organizational success
- Understand legal and governance issues in nonprofit organizations
- Hone your fundraising skills, including grant and proposal writing
- Recognize important social, organizational, and cultural change agents
- Discover traditional and nontraditional ways to promote nonprofits to supporters, the public, and the media
- Analyze national and international trends, issues, and political shifts affecting the nonprofit marketplace
Interested in learning more?
Curriculum
Required Courses (21 q.h.)
| LDR 6100 | Developing Your Leadership Capability | 3 q.h. |
| NPM 6110 | Legal and Governance Issues in Nonprofit Organizations | 3 q.h. |
| NPM 6120 | Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations | 3 q.h. |
| NPM 6125 | Promoting Nonprofit Organizations | 3 q.h. |
| NPM 6130 | Fundraising and Development for Nonprofit Organizations | 3 q.h. |
| NPM 6140 | Grant and Report Writing | 3 q.h. |
| LDR 6360 | Dynamics of Change at the Community and Social Level | 3 q.h. |
Electives (6 q.h.)
Choose two of the following courses:
| NPM 6150 | Human Resources Management in Nonprofit Organizations | 3 q.h. |
| LDR 6110 | Leading Teams | 3 q.h. |
| CMN 6080 | Intercultural Communication | 3 q.h. |
| CMN 6050 | Crisis Communication | 3 q.h. |
| COP 6940 | Personal and Career Development: Leadership in Practice (enrollment into this course requires participation in the cooperative education program) | 3 q.h. |
Concentrations (15-16 q.h.)
Choose a concentration below or select any College of Professional Studies graduate certificate.
Global Studies Concentration
| GST 6100 | Globalization and Global Political and Economic Systems | 4 q.h. |
| GST 6101 | Global Literacy, Culture, and Communication | 4 q.h. |
| GST 6102 | Global Corporate and Social Responsibility | 4 q.h. |
Choose one of the following courses:
| GST 6210 | Global Players: The Developers | 4 q.h. |
| GST 6340 | Global Issues: Poverty and Wealth | 4 q.h. |
| GST 6610 | Sustainable Development | 4 q.h. |
Human Services Concentration
| HSV 6100 | Theory and Practice of Human Services | 3 q.h. |
| HSV 6110 | Human Service Management and Development | 3 q.h. |
| HSV 6630 | Research and Evaluation in Human Services | 3 q.h. |
| HSV 6160 | Introduction to Employee Assistance Programs | 3 q.h. |
| HSV 6640 | Policy Issues in Human Services | 3 q.h. |
Leadership Concentration
| LDR 6110 | Leading Teams | 3 q.h. |
| LDR 6120 | Creating Leadership Capacity: Developing Bench Strength | 3 q.h. |
| LDR 6125 | Managing Organizational Culture | 3 q.h. |
| LDR 6135 | The Ethical Leader | 3 q.h. |
| LDR 6140 | Developing the Strategic Leader (recommended as last course) | 3 q.h. |
Organizational Communication Concentration
| CMN 6010 | Foundations of Organizational Communication | 3 q.h. |
| CMN 6020 | Ethical Issues in Organizational Communication | 3 q.h. |
| CMN 6050 | Crisis Communication | 3 q.h. |
| CMN 6090 | Organizational Culture, Climate, and Communication | 3 q.h. |
| CMN 6110 | Group Dynamics and Interpersonal Conflict: Meeting Management | 3 q.h. |
Project Management Concentration
| PJM 5900 | Foundations of Project Management* | 4 q.h. |
| PJM 6000 | Project Management Practices | 3 q.h. |
| PJM 6010 | Project Planning and Scheduling | 3 q.h. |
| PJM 6015 | Risk Management | 3 q.h. |
Choose two** of the following courses:
| PJM 6020 | Cost and Budget Management | 3 q.h |
| PJM 6135 | Project Quality Management | 3 q.h |
| PJM 6125 | Project Evaluation and Assessment (recommended as last course) |
3 q.h |
| *This course is required for students who do not have project management experience. Students with project management experience are not required to take this course. | ||
| **Students who take PJM 5900 are only required to take one course within this section. | ||
Social Media and Online Communities Concentration
Choose five of the following courses:
| CMN 6015 | Introduction to the Digital Era: The Power of Social Media | 3 q.h. |
| CMN 6025 | Digital Era Skills: Platforms, Tools, and Techniques | 3 q.h. |
| CMN 6035 | Legal, Policy, and Ethical Issues in the Digital Era | 3 q.h. |
| CMN 6045 | Leveraging New Digital Technologies: Strategy, Assessment, and Governance | 3 q.h. |
| CMN 6055 | Planning and Design of Social Media Channels and Online Communities | 3 q.h. |
| CMN 6065 | Implementation and Management of Social Media Channels and Online Communities | 3 q.h. |
Sports and Social Change Concentration
| LDR 6410 | Leadership and Organization in Sport | 3 q.h. |
| GST 6102 | Global Corporate and Social Responsibility | 4 q.h. |
| HSV 6120 | Social Inequality, Social Change and Community Building | 3 q.h. |
| LDR 6360 | Dynamics of Change at the Community and Social Level | 3 q.h. |
| LDR 6427 | Gender and Diversity in Sport | 3 q.h. |
Total Quarter Hours: 42-43
What will your course sequence look like?
Many prospective students want to understand the order in which they should take courses, as well as when certain courses are offered. For a sample course schedule, please review the Master of Science in Nonprofit Mangement Course Sequence Map.
Admissions Requirements
Below are the official Admissions Requirements for this program.
- Online application
- Statement of purpose (500-1000 words): identifying your educational goals and expectations from the program; please be aware that the University's academic policy on plagiarism applies to applicant's statement of purpose
- Professional resume: current resume that displays job responsibilities, relevant experience, and education history
- Two letters of recommendation: from individual(s) with either academic or professional knowledge of your capabilities, such as a faculty member, current employer, mentor, or colleague
- Official undergraduate degree documentation
- Proof of English language proficiency: ONLY for students for whom English is not their primary language: English language proficiency guidelines
For general admissions information and recommended admissions deadlines, Graduate Admissions.
Tuition
Estimated total tuition for this program is $22,470.00.
Tuition for individual courses is based on the number of quarter hours. Most courses are 3-6 quarter hours. See Graduate Tuition Rates for details.
Use our Tuition Calculator below to see if transfer credit or tuition reimbursement from your employer could reduce your total tuition.
Tuition Calculator
Please note: The estimated total tuition is based on tuition rates for Academic Year 2011-12 and does not include any fees or other expenses. Some courses and labs have tuition rates that may increase or decrease total tuition. Tuition and fees are subject to revision by the president and Board of Trustees at any time.
Student Profile
Who Will Your Classmates Be?
This master's degree program is designed for individuals who wish to pursue a management or leadership position in the nonprofit sector. This sector spans charitable, educational, scientific, and religious/faith-based organizations, as well as private foundations such as grant-making entities, civic and social organizations, business leagues, veterans’ organizations, and political action committees.
While the program is open to individuals who are new to the nonprofit sector, it is best suited for those with at least three years of experience working in or volunteering for a nonprofit organization.
All Master of Science in Nonprofit Management applicants must hold an undergraduate degree.
Career Outlook
Put Your Degree to Work
As the economy rebounds, hiring in nonprofit organizations is on the upswing. In fact, according to Nonprofit HR Solutions’ 2010 Nonprofit Employment Trends Survey, 36% of nonprofits plan to create new positions this year.
The fastest growing jobs are in:
- Direct services
- Fundraising
- Program management
- Program support
Faculty Spotlight
Rick J. Arrowood is an Academic Specialist/Full-time faculty member with Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies. Arrowood’s primary area of focus is in the nonprofit management track, although he also teaches with Foundation Year, Global Pathways, and in a number of leadership programs. In addition, he has earned a reputation for creating highly interactive online learning opportunities through NUOnline by maximizing the learning experience for the student, often replicated by other faculty.
Before joining the full-time teaching faculty at the College of Professional Studies, Mr. Arrowood served two decades in high-level leadership roles in nonprofit organizations. In 2008, through a Governor’s Citation, Governor Deval L. Patrick recognized Arrowood’s contributions of service to the ALS nonprofit community. In addition, he is credited with envisioning the first-ever state-wide registry for people living with Lou Gehrig’s disease through a legislative mandate. Today, this registry remains fully funded and is being replicated nationwide.
In addition to his extensive nonprofit leadership, Rick J. Arrowood brings seven years of undergraduate and graduate teaching experience in adjunct capacities at area colleges and universities in the disciplines of nonprofit, business, human services, and professional studies. He began working with the College of Professional Studies as a senior lecturer in 2008 where he has taught legal governance and board issues, human resource management, financial management, fundraising and development, professional speaking, and business law. In the fall of 2010, Arrowood taught a graduate leadership course through the Global Leadership Program at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.
Mr. Arrowood received his Juris Doctor degree from the Massachusetts School of Law and a Bachelor of Human Resource Management from Palm Beach Atlantic College.
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