Certificate in Nonprofit Management Course Descriptions
Please note, not all classes are available each semester. Please check with advisors for the most up-to-date list of courses.
Required Courses
PSAA 643: Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector
Overview of the origins, size, scope, and composition of the nonprofit and voluntary sector in American society today; introduction to the historical, political, and religious foundations of the nonprofit sector; examines theoretical and conceptual framework in this course. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
PSAA 644: Management and Leadership of Nonprofit Organizations
Introduction and overview of nonprofit organizations and the environment they operate in; examination of the distinctiveness of these organizations and the special skills required for effective management of them; empirical and normative issues surrounding nonprofit management and leadership. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
Elective Courses
PSAA 616: Public Organization in a Pluralistic Society
Examination of how public policy issues are contested and shaped by the major cleavages in American society, such as race and ethnicity, economic and social class, and gender; strategies for building consensus across these divisions. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
PSAA 630: Program Evaluation in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
Organizations today are responding to increasing demands for accountability. These demands come from an increasingly sophisticated public and clientele, and from funding sources including government, foundations, and corporations. This course is designed to introduce theories, research, and practice for program evaluation and systems that support the organization's information needs. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
PSAA 633: Philanthropy: Fundraising in Nonprofit Organizations
This course examines the theory and practice of fundraising in nonprofit organizations. It provides students with an overview of fundraising strategies and techniques, and of how they relate to the achievement of organizational goals. It also focuses on ways of integrating various fundraising activities into an effective fundraising program. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
PSAA 635: Social Welfare and Health Policy
Course explores the historical development and impact of U.S. public welfare, child welfare, employment, and health social service programs. Course analyzes values and assumptions that formed the foundations of social welfare policy and explores the social, economic, political, and cultural context in which these policies developed and their potential future. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
PSAA 636: Grant and Contract Management for the Public and Nonprofit Sector
Course examines the use of contracts and grants in providing social services. Explores the theoretical background of government contracts and grants; the management of third-party services from the perspectives of government agencies, private sector contractors, and nonprofit organizations; and the skills needed to write effective grant and contract proposals. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
PSAA 642: Ethics in Public Policy
Theory and practice for analyzing and responding to the ethical responsibilities and dilemmas for professional conduct; ethical dimensions of analysis and decision making for policy makers and public administrators. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
PSAA 648: Performance Management in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors
Drawing on readings, practical exercises, and guest lectures, students will examine public sector performance management and measurement as tools for improving strategic planning, resource allocation, organizational learning, internal operational processes, and internal and external accountability. Students will apply their learning to the development of a particular organization's performance measurement system. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
PSAA 669: Legal Environment of Nonprofit Management
Laws, policies, and ideals affecting the creation and governance of nonprofit organizations; includes medical, education, cultural, social, religious, and advocacy organizations; considers these organizations' contributions to society, how they cooperate with or rival for-profit entities, and how they should be governed. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
PSAA 689: Tools of Leadership and Advancement
This course focuses on techniques and practices that executives employ to get their work done through politicians, bureaucrats, the media, lobbyists, governing boards, and their supervisors and staff. The course explores the important issues that arise from conflict with policy makers, moral and ethical concerns, and professionalism in public service. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
PSAA 689: Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations
This course introduces students to the underlying fundamental principles, concepts, and methods of strategic marketing as applied to the nonprofit sector. The course will introduce students to the practice of marketing by learning the language and issues common to the field.
PSAA 689: International Nongovernmental Organizations
This course examines nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that operate outside of the U.S. The emphasis is on how philanthropy, nonprofit, and NGO sectors operate, with special attention to their niche alongside private and public sectors, revenue sources, impact on society, and converse effects of society and its institutions. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
PSAA 689: Strategic Planning and Fiscal Management in
Nonprofit Organizations
This course introduces students to the underlying fundamental principles, concepts, and methods of strategic planning and financial management applicable to the nonprofit sector and how they are related. Course will introduce students to the practice of budgeting and strategy by learning language and issues common to these fields. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
