Nonprofit Studies Classes

See the list below to view courses offered through these programs of study. Specific course offerings, including selected topics course titles and descriptions, can be viewed for fall, spring and summer terms.

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  • NPS 471U Understanding the Nonprofit Sector

    Semester hours: 3

    Description

    Focuses on the origins, size, scope and composition of the nonprofit sector; operational issues encountered in the management of nonprofits; and the development of strategic solutions to manage and move the sector forward. Topics include theory, public policy, advocacy, management, collaboration, culture, strategy and innovation.

  • NPS 501U Understanding the Nonprofit Sector

    Semester hours: 3

    Description

    Focuses on the origins, size, scope and composition of the nonprofit sector; operational issues encountered in the management of nonprofits; and the development of strategic solutions to manage and move the sector forward. Topics include theory, public policy, advocacy, management, collaboration, culture, strategy and innovation.

  • NPS 520U Financial Management and Budget Development

    Semester hours: 3

    Description

    Focuses on assessing financial performance, establishing policies for fiscal accountability, financial management, including budgeting, resource development, outcomes measurement, assessment, technology, and capital project analysis.

  • NPS 522U International Non-Governmental Organizations (iNGOs)

    Semester hours: 3

    Description

    Introduction to international NGOs and their operation as actors across political and social contexts. Examines the history and evolution of iNGOs and explores their complex dynamics of governance, accountability, and transparency. Examines local to global connections and the impact of globalization on development, wealth inequality, poverty, and exploitation. Explores the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to understand the international policy initiatives that steer iNGO work.

    Prerequisites

    NPS 501U

  • NPS 530U Law, Ethics and Governance

    Semester hours: 3

    Description

    Examines legal and ethical issues as they apply to nonprofit organizations.

    Prerequisites

    NPS 501U

  • NPS 540U Resource Development and Promotion

    Semester hours: 3

    Description

    Provides a comprehensive examination of all major components of marketing strategy and their integration to build awareness of the nonprofit services and support for fundraising. Examines the policies, concepts and methods of marketing communication and fundraising including major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, comprehensive campaigns, stewardship and strategy.

    Prerequisites

    NPS 501U

  • NPS 550U Strategic Human Resource Management

    Semester hours: 3

    Description

    A comprehensive overview of how to strategically align an organization with a defined mission; focusing on partnerships with the board, staff, collaborative partners, and volunteers. Includes organizational assessments, leadership assessment, and HR management strategies for future sustainability and growth.

    Prerequisites

    NPS 501U

  • NPS 562U Assessment and Program Evaluation

    Semester hours: 3

    Description

    Provides an introduction and overview to the tools necessary to assess and evaluate programs in the nonprofit sector.

    Prerequisites

    NPS 501U

  • NPS 566U Public Policy and Advocacy

    Semester hours: 3

    Description

    Explores public policy and the policy making process as it relates to the nonprofit sector, including from a comparative perspective. Includes an examination of advocacy and lobbying.

    Prerequisites

    NPS 501U

  • NPS 567U Sustainability and Nonprofit Organizations

    Semester hours: 3

    Description

    Exploration of three fundamental questions: What is your role as an employee of a nonprofit organization in addressing systemic and planetary changes? How will you and your organization play a part in creating a more just and sustainable world? What type of leader do you need to be to achieve those aims? Applies theories of sustainability to real-world problems, investigates leadership responses to those problems, and explores the effectiveness of organization-based programs and other modes of intervention. Designed as a seminar involving lectures, guest speakers, class discussion, student presentations, reflection, and experiential learning opportunities.

    Prerequisites

    NPS 501U

  • NPS 570U Program Design and Proposal Writing

    Semester hours: 3

    Description

    Exploration and use of the tools of systematic inquiry to analyze social problems, design effective interventions, and develop successful funding proposals. Emphasizes skill development through applied projects. Links program design and evaluation to proposal writing as critical aspects of nonprofit management and development processes. Examines stakeholder engagement, leadership, decision making, strategic planning, and theories of change as key elements of effective programs and proposals.

    Prerequisites

    NPS 501U

  • NPS 571U Social Entrepreneurship

    Semester hours: 3

    Description

    Interdisciplinary exploration of the field of social entrepreneurship and the structures used by social entrepreneurs to affect change.

    Prerequisites

    NPS 501U

  • NPS 572U Innovations in Organizational Norms and Practice

    Semester hours: 3

    Description

    Exploration of the questions: How can we as nonprofit leaders put into place practices within nonprofits that reflect values of equity, representation, and democracy? How can such practices strengthen nonprofit effectiveness? What are their challenges and risks? What are the pressures and constraints against doing so? Emphasizes skill development through applied projects, written analysis, and oral presentation. Links organizational norms to practices relating to decision making, pay structures, board structures and representation, and equity and inclusion.

    Prerequisites

    NPS 501U

  • NPS 577U Grant and Proposal Writing

    Semester hours: 3

    Description

    Seeking funding from government and private foundations is highly competitive and requires both skill and art. This course will provide the background necessary to develop competitive funding proposals by exposing students to the basic skills, principles, and techniques of grant and proposal writing along with an overview of the funding process.

    Prerequisites

    NPS 501U

  • NPS 581U Community Engagement in the Nonprofit Sector

    Semester hours: 3

    Description

    Centers engagement with communities as a fundamental building block for nonprofits as they work to address complicated and multi-dimensional social problems in sustainable, comprehensive ways. Emphasizes skill development in the process of designing community engagement efforts to achieve common goals. Explores the elements, use and effectiveness of coalitions, collaborations, and partnerships. Connects the process of community engagement to leadership skills and to the improvement of policies, programs, and practices of nonprofit organizations and other institutions.

    Prerequisites

    NPS 501U

  • NPS 590U Integrative Seminar

    Semester hours: 3

    Description

    Integrative seminar with community-based learning project (or critical issues facing nonprofits). This course integrates the skills and knowledge obtained within the curriculum.

    Prerequisites

    NPS 501U and NPS 520U

  • NPS 598U Selected Topics

    Semester hours: 1-6

    Description

    Selected topics in nonprofit studies.

    Prerequisites

    NPS 501U

  • NPS 599U Independent Study

    Semester hours: 1-3

    Description

    Independent study in nonprofit studies.

    Prerequisites

    NPS 501U