Nonprofit Management: Public, Professional & Social Sectors MS

Major: Nonprofit Management: Public, Professional & Social Sectors
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 45.0
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 52.0201
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 11-2031

About the Program

The MS in Nonprofit Management: Public, Professional & Social Sectors is designed to prepare students to successfully handle the responsibilities, challenges, and opportunities facing today’s nonprofit sector. Skills in strategic planning, governance, communication, fund development and stewardship, marketing, and innovation learned in the classroom and put into practice with partnering nonprofit entities will provide students with the essential tools to effectively carry out and lead the nonprofits’ mission.

Drexel is steeped in the tradition of experiential learning and as a result, even though this is a full online program, there are three required experiential learning opportunities in which students work with nonprofits: Nonprofit Workshop I and II, as well as the Regional Volunteer Experience. Students have the option to work with a nonprofit for their two-course capstone sequence as well. 

This degree equips you with the following demonstrable skills:

  • Communication: Enhance oral, written, and presentation skills to easily and effectively collaborate with and lead others in the workplace. Students will also learn how to communicate with outside constituents, board members, and community leaders while honoring the organization’s mission.
  • Campaign Management: Build the strategic planning, management, communication, and financial skills needed to effectively run annual funds and capital campaigns
  • Donor Cultivation: Using communication, leadership, and nonprofit sector trends, as well as specific mission information, students will learn how to cultivate interested individuals into donors, elevate small donors into capital-level donors, and maintain those relationships over time.
  • Ethics: Develop a strong moral and ethical framework to manage mission-driven, largely volunteer-based institutions
  • Self-Assessment: Gain the ability to examine one’s role, responsibility, and effectiveness within an organization. By acknowledging strengths and weaknesses, students can capitalize on strengths while also targeting specific areas for growth.

Program Delivery

The MS in Nonprofit Management: Public, Professional & Social Sectors is a part-time graduate degree program that is offered entirely online. Drexel University operates on a quarter schedule (four 10-week terms per academic year). Students will take two courses per quarter.

Additional Information

Please visit our webpage for more information about the program, admissions requirements, and application details. 

Admission Requirements

  • Completed online application
  • Bachelor's degree from and accredited institution
  • Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (graduate degree GPAs will also be considered)
  • Official transcripts from all universities or colleges and other post-secondary educational institutions attended (including trade schools)
  • Two letters of recommendation (three preferred)
  • Personal statement (minimum 500 words) describing your interest in the program. Specifically, please discuss the following:
    • Why are you interested in the nonprofit sector?
    • How do you envision the program helping you to facilitate your future career goals?
    • How you will contribute to the program and to your peers?
  • Resume
  • OPTIONAL: Students may elect to submit any of the following:
    • GRE/GMAT scores
    • Example of a work project that demonstrates a specific skill or expertise
  • International students must submit a TOEFL score of 550 or higher. Please visit the International Student Requirements webpage.
  • Interviews are not required, but may be requested.

Degree Requirements

ACCT 608Government and Not-for-Profit Accounting3.0
NPM 501Foundations in Fundraising and Ethics3.0
NPM 520Writing for Nonprofits3.0
NPM 550Stewardship & Donor Cultivation3.0
NPM 600Nonprofit Workshop I3.0
NPM 602Nonprofit Workshop II3.0
NPM 603Regional Volunteer Experience3.0
NPM 645Strategic Planning for Nonprofits3.0
NPM 670Managing Effective Capital Campaigns3.0
NPM 700Capstone I1.5
NPM 701Capstone II4.5
Electives12.0
Students should choose 4 elective courses from the list below:
Creative Enterprise and Innovation
International Cultural Policy
Community Cultural Planning
Strategic Social Media Communication
Foundations of Public Relations
Event Planning
Grant Writing
Nonprofit Communication
Focus Groups
Fostering Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
Program Evaluation
Leading Nonprofit Organizations
Nonprofit Organizations
Total Credits45.0

Sample Plan of Study

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
NPM 5013.0NPM 5203.0ACCT 6083.0NPM 6003.0
Elective3.0Elective3.0NPM 5503.0Elective3.0
 6 6 6 6
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
NPM 6033.0NPM 6023.0NPM 6703.0NPM 7014.5
NPM 6453.0Elective3.0NPM 7001.5 
 6 6 4.5 4.5
Total Credits 45

Program Level Outcomes

  • Communication - demonstrate the use of effective oral, written, and presentation skills to easily and effectively relate to, collaborate with, as well as communication with outside constituents, board members, and community leaders while always honoring the mission.
  • Campaign Management - demonstrate knowledge of strategic planning, management, communication, and financial skills to effectively run annual funds and capital campaigns.
  • Donor Cultivation - demonstrate how to use communication, leadership, and nonprofit sector trends, as well as specific mission information to cultivate interested individuals into donors, elevate small donors into capital level donors, and maintain those relationships over time.
  • Ethics - demonstrate the ability to employ a strong moral and ethical framework to manage mission-driven, largely volunteer-based institutions.
  • Self-Assessment - demonstrate the ability to examine one's role, responsibility, and effectiveness within an organization. By acknowledging strengths and weaknesses, one can capitalize on one's strengths while also targeting specific areas for growth.