Master of Nonprofit Studies

The Master of Nonprofit Studies (MNS) offers an advanced level of knowledge and leadership development for nonprofit managers, for those seeking to transition from positions in the corporate sector and for those who seek to lead or establish a nonprofit organization.

The master’s degree requires five core courses, four elective courses and an integrative seminar.

  • The core courses provide a thorough understanding of the nonprofit sector and address key aspects of nonprofit leadership and management.
  • The elective courses offer an opportunity to specialize on a focused nonprofit function, including social entrepreneurship and program evaluation combined with mission alignment.
  • The program culminates with the integrative seminar, which addresses specific critical issues facing nonprofits, often through a community-based, hands-on learning project.

Class sizes are small (the average is 12-15 students) and adjunct professors are professionals in the fields they are teaching, able to provide both theoretical knowledge and applied, practical experience in the classroom.

The MNS requires 30 hours of coursework. There is no thesis requirement. All 18 semester hours of coursework from the graduate certificate in NPS may be applied to the master’s degree.

15-Month Track

The MNS is available for full-time study* for students seeking to complete a master’s degree in just over a year. The 15-month track schedules courses to ensure completion within a 15-month timeframe starting in the summer and concluding the following summer.

The degree is completed using the following schedule, which includes fall and spring semesters of full-time graduate study. This track includes two summer internships, providing recent college graduates with professional field experiences. The 15-month track admits only in the summer. Be sure to select the “15-month track” application form when applying.

15-Month Track Schedule

Course schedule & sequence for the 15-month track master’s degree
Term Hours Courses
Summer 1 6*
  • NPS 501U Understanding the Nonprofit Sector (required)
  • Internship & Seminar (content specialization elective)
Fall 9
  • NPS 530U Law, Ethics & Governance (required)
  • NPS 540U Resource Development & Promotion (required)
  • Content Specialization or Systematic Design & Inquiry focused course (elective)
Spring 9
  • NPS 520U Financial Management & Budget Decisions (required)
  • NPS 550U Strategic Human Resource Management (required)
  • Content Specialization or Systematic Design & Inquiry focused course (elective)
Summer 2 6*
  • NPS 590U Integrative Seminar (required)
  • Internship & Seminar (Systematic Design & Inquiry elective)

* Summer coursework comprises part-time study for financial aid purposes, but remains eligible for financial aid.

Review the degree requirements below and the schedule of classes each semester for a list of electives available in each area of focus.

Degree Requirements

General Graduate Admissions Graduate Nonprofit Studies Admissions

MNS Program of Study

Total: 30 semester hours

Required

15 semester hours

  • NPS501U Understanding the Nonprofit Sector

  • NPS520U Financial Management and Budget Development

  • NPS530U Law, Ethics and Governance

  • NPS540U Resource Development and Promotion

  • NPS550U Strategic Human Resource Management

Elective

12 semester hours. Select 6 hours (2 classes) from each group below.

Content Specialization

6 semester hours. Topic for  NPS598U must relate to content specialization as determined by the program chair.

  • NPS522U International Non-Governmental Organizations (iNGOs)

  • NPS566U Public Policy and Advocacy

  • NPS567U Sustainability and Nonprofit Organizations

  • NPS571U Social Entrepreneurship

  • NPS581U Community Engagement in the Nonprofit Sector

  • NPS598U Selected Topics

Systematic Design and Inquiry

6 semester hours. Topic for NPS598U must relate to systematic design and inquiry as determined by the program chair.

  • NPS562U Assessment and Program Evaluation

  • NPS570U Program Design and Proposal Writing

  • NPS572U Innovations in Organizational Norms and Practice

  • NPS598U Selected Topics

  • EDUC680U Content Specialization and Research I

Integrative Seminar

3 semester hours