Nonprofit organizations confront the challenges and opportunities that mission-driven organizations face today in areas such as succession planning, volunteerism, resource development, and competitive funding. The Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management addresses these areas, drawing on the expertise of experienced practitioners in the St. Louis area.
The graduate program in nonprofit management provides a range of courses that address the major responsibilities and challenges of nonprofit and human resources management. It prepares learners to work effectively in the field, and it enhances the management skills of those seeking careers in related fields.
The program provides individuals with the skills and resources needed to lead mission-driven organizations as productive examples of social entrepreneurship. Studies are grounded in the historical context of nonprofit management and philanthropy, and students acquire skills in all operational areas of nonprofit management, including financial management, law, grant writing, volunteer management, resource development, research and statistical analysis, and marketing communications. At the strategic level, the program teaches leadership, organization development, strategic planning, and the skills of social entrepreneurship.
This program can be completed entirely online.
Contact Info
| Contact: | CAPS |
| Phone: | 314-935-6700 |
| Email: | caps@wustl.edu |
| Website: | https://caps.wustl.edu/programs/graduate/masters-nonprofit-management |
Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management
The Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management consists of 36 units of graduate course work, covering all aspects of nonprofit administration and management, in a combination of nonprofit and human resources management courses; 27 units are required courses and 9 units are chosen from a selection of elective courses.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CAPS-HRM 5000 | Organizational Behavior and Management | 3 |
| CAPS-HRM 5005 | Human Resources Management | 3 |
| CAPS-NPM 5015 | Management in Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| CAPS-NPM 5020 | Resource Development for Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| CAPS-NPM 5030 | Statistics and Research Design in Nonprofit Management | 3 |
| CAPS-NPM 5085 | Financial Management of Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| CAPS-NPM 5145 | Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector | 3 |
| CAPS-NPM 5185 | Legal Issues Impacting Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| CAPS-NPM 5980 | Integrative Capstone Project for Nonprofit Management | 3 |
| Total Units | 27 | |
The remaining courses (9 credits total) consist of a selection of nonprofit and nonprofit-related electives.
This program is offered fully online. Students entering the U.S. on an F-1 or J-1 Visa must enroll in a program full time. F-1 students are only permitted to enroll in one online course per semester and J-1 students may only enroll in non-credit online courses that do not count toward their degree program. WashU Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS) cannot guarantee face-to-face enrollment options each semester of full time enrollment, therefore cannot issue an I-20 or DS 2019 to F-1 and J-1 students for this program. If you are an F-1 or J-1 student and wish to enroll in a CAPS program while here on a Visa, please contact our recruitment team to discuss your options for face-to-face program enrollment. F-1 and J-1 students should not enroll in online courses or programs without first consulting the university’s Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS).
CAPS-NPM 5015 Management in Nonprofit Organizations
Effective mission-driven leadership is central to the success of a nonprofit organization. This core course provides an overview of fundamental principles of management, governance, and leadership in nonprofit organizations. Particular attention is given to issues of motivation, supervision, evaluation of professional staff and volunteers, and working with the board of directors.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring
CAPS-NPM 5020 Resource Development for Nonprofit Organizations
This course concentrates on effective fund-raising management, accenting the practice, principles, process, and programs of fund raising from the private sector. A special focus of the course is an examination of the historical, legal, ethical, and theoretical contexts for fund raising. A comprehensive review and analysis is provided of annual and major gift programs, together with planned giving and capital campaign strategies. The course includes a choice of a preparation of a 12-month fund-raising plan or a paper chronologically describing a completed capital campaign.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall
CAPS-NPM 5030 Statistics and Research Design in Nonprofit Management
This course emphasizes the application of basic behavioral and social science research methods in the evaluation and management of nonprofit programs. Students learn the tools available to evaluate and report the effectiveness of programs and organizations, including program evaluation, survey design, and qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Spring
CAPS-NPM 5085 Financial Management of Nonprofit Organizations
This course focuses on important financial and accounting principles and techniques, with particular attention to operational and project budgeting, financial statement analysis, cash flow projections, endowment building and investment management, and strategic financial planning. Course content is designed to help non-accountants understand standard accounting concepts and procedures, manage the record keeping function, make effective financial decisions and report financial status to key constituents.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall, Summer 3, Spring
CAPS-NPM 5105 Topics in Nonprofit Management: Emerging Research
In this course students read, analyze, and discuss research on the nonprofit sector released within the past five years, compare this new information to the sector's historically identified best practices, and determine how this affects the future success of nonprofit organizations.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall, Summer 3, Spring
CAPS-NPM 5111 Marketing and Communications for Nonprofit Organizations
Examines concepts and techniques for marketing nonprofit organizations to diverse audiences. Emphasis is on strategic marketing planning, with topics including market research, positioning media relations, sponsorship, communication strategies and tactics, and evaluation.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Spring
CAPS-NPM 5135 Leading and Engaging Volunteers in Nonprofit Organizations
Students will explore and develop practical strategies for effective program planning, volunteer recruitment and retention, staff and volunteer relations, program evaluation, volunteerism trends within a global context, and ethical practices. This course will provide an introduction to the core competencies of volunteer resource management as presented by the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA) through its credentialing program.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall, Summer 3, Spring
CAPS-NPM 5145 Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector
Students will examine leadership in the nonprofit sector and develop their own leadership style. Students will study traditional leadership styles including authoritarian, participative, and delegative; examine the differences in leadership in the nonprofit, for-profit, and government sectors; and explore the distinctive roles of nonprofit leaders, including the relationship between the nonprofit executive director and the board of directors, and the relationship between nonprofit leaders, volunteers, and staff. In addition to readings, student research will include interviews and discussions with real-world nonprofit leaders.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall
CAPS-NPM 5185 Legal Issues Impacting Nonprofit Organizations
This course focuses on the opportunities and requirements placed on nonprofit organizations under federal and state laws. We explore how nonprofits are organized, governed, operated, and financed within this legal framework.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring
CAPS-NPM 5980 Integrative Capstone Project for Nonprofit Management
This capstone course provides the opportunity to integrate the program course work through 1) a substantial independent project conducted in a host organization, and 2) the review of several important trends affecting organizations and human resources management.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Summer 4, Summer 3, Summer 2, Summer 1, Summer, Spring, Fall
CAPS-NPM 5994 Internship in Nonprofit Management
Requires completed form and CAPS permission.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall Intersession, Summer 3, Spring, Summer Intersession, Spring Intersession, Fall
CAPS-NPM 5996 Nonprofit Management Elective - 500 Level
To be used for transfer credit, only.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall Intersession, Summer 3, Spring, Summer Intersession, Spring Intersession, Fall
CAPS-HRM 5000 Organizational Behavior and Management
This is a survey course focusing on the individual, group, organizational and environmental factors relevant to understanding and managing behavior in complex organizations. It considers behavior from structural, human resources, political and symbolic perspectives.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Summer 4, Summer 3, Summer 2, Summer 1, Summer, Spring, Fall
CAPS-HRM 5005 Human Resources Management
This course develops a comprehensive understanding of the human resources function in an organization. Particular attention is given to selection, performance management, training, wage and salary administration, career development, human resource planning, and the federal regulations impacting on the function.
Credit 3 units. UColl: HRP
Typical periods offered: Fall, Summer 3, Spring