Academics

Program Summary

The doctoral program prepares its graduates to take positions as college professors or as research-oriented policy analysts in research centers, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. The program assumes that new students have a master’s degree in public policy, public administration, health policy, or a related field, but students may also fulfill master’s prerequisite courses after entering the program.

The core courses in the doctoral program build on those master’s prerequisites, providing a strong foundation in policy analysis, program evaluation, microeconomics, quantitative methods, and research design and implementation.

Students choose two fields of specialization in which to focus their coursework and research. The Public & Nonprofit Management Focus area is the most relevant to the Non-Profit Studies Program.

Course Sequence

The Public and Nonprofit Management Focus Area within the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy includes the following courses:

Doctoral Courses (choose at least one 3-hour course):

• PMAP 9331 Foundations of Public Administration
• PMAP 9341 Policy Design and Implementation
• PMAP 9381 Public Budgeting Theory and Research
• PMAP 9221 Seminar in Nonprofit Research

Master’s Courses:

• PMAP 8151 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
• PMAP 8161 Public Budgeting and Finance
• PMAP 8171 Public Management Systems and Strategies
• PMAP 8201 International NGOs
• PMAP 8203 Nonprofit Advocacy, Law, and Policy
• PMAP 8210 Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector
• PMAP 8213 Nonprofit Financial Resources
• PMAP 8223 Nonprofit Human Resources
• PMAP 8261 Nonprofit Financial Management
• PMAP 8351 Local Government Management

Program Summary

The mission of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is to prepare students to become leaders in public service careers as executives, managers, analysts, and policy specialists in government and nonprofit organizations.

The MPA degree requires 39 hours of graduate coursework, comprised of 24 credit hours of required courses, 12 credit hours in a concentration, and three credit hours of internship or practicum.

The degree’s Nonprofit Management concentration includes courses relevant to the work of the Nonprofit Studies Program.

Course Sequence

The Nonprofit Management Concentration within the Masters of Public Administration includes the following courses:

Required courses (9 hours):

• PMAP 8203 Nonprofit Advocacy, Law, and Policy
• PMAP 8213 Nonprofit Financial Resources
• PMAP 8223 Nonprofit Human Resources

Choose two courses (6 hours) from the following:

• PMAP 8010 Social Policy
• PMAP 8111 Public Service and Democracy
• PMAP 8161 Public Budgeting and Finance
• PMAP 8171 Management Systems and Strategies
• PMAP 8201 International NGOs
• PMAP 8232 Social Innovation and Enterprise
• PMAP 8251 Grant Writing and Management
• PMAP 8900 Public Service Capstone
• MBA 8145 Marketing Management or MK 8200 Marketing Research

Program Summary

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) is an interdisciplinary degree program designed to prepare students for work in the analysis, development, and evaluation of public policies.  In all levels of government and on a global scale, public needs and limited resources require public policy choices that are at once economically efficient, socially and technically effective, and politically responsive. Such choices confront policymakers in a broad range of critical issues, including health, education, economic development, public finance, social policy, nonprofit policy, and disaster policy.

The M.P.P. program is a late-afternoon/evening program with courses offered Monday-Thursday.  All courses are one-night-a-week classes, either in the 4:30-7:00 p.m. or 7:15-9:45 time slot.  Classes are all taught on the GSU downtown campus.  Students are welcome to enroll on a part-time or full-time basis based on their personal schedules and work demands.

The curriculum is a two-year course of study of 39 hours of graduate coursework, comprised of 21 credit hours of required core courses, 3-6 credit hours of coursework in analytical and financial methods, and 12-15 credit hours in a defined concentration or an individualized concentration that must be approved by the program director.

Course Sequence

The Nonprofit Policy Concentration within the Masters of Public Policy includes the following courses:

Required Courses (9)

• PMAP 8210 Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector
• PMAP 8203 Nonprofit Advocacy, Law, and Policy
• PMAP 8261 Nonprofit Financial Management

Concentration Electives (3-6)

• PMAP 8201 International Nonprofit Governmental Organizations
• PMAP 8213 Nonprofit Financial Resources
• PMAP 8223 Nonprofit Human Resources
• PMAP 8232 Social Innovation and Enterprise
• PMAP 8251 Grant Writing and Management
• PMAP 8941 Internship

Program Summary

The Graduate Certificate program in Nonprofit Management and Social Enterprise covers skills in management, economic decision making, marketing, fundraising, and financial management that graduates can use in any part of the nonprofit sector: social service provision, education, health, the arts, the environment, international relief, or religion.

This certificate is designed to serve the needs of several different groups of professionals:

• Those already in the nonprofit sector who seek to improve skills in areas not addressed in on-the-job training, such as strategic management, leadership, and managerial economics.
• Those who are moving from government or the private sector into the nonprofit organizations who need the skills and credentials appropriate for such a switch.
• Those who are pursuing non-AYSPS graduate degrees, but who desire training in nonprofit management skills.

Course Sequence

Required Course (3) – select one of the following courses:

• PMAP 8210 Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector
• PMAP 8232 Social Enterprise

Approved Electives (6) – select two of the following courses:

• PMAP 8210 Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector
• PMAP 8213 Financing and Resource Development for Nonprofit Orgs
• PMAP 8261 Nonprofit Financial Management
• PMAP 8223 Nonprofit Human Resources
• PMAP 8232 Social Innovation and Enterprise

Elective (3) – select one of the following courses:

• PMAP 8010 Social Policy
• PMAP 8111 Public Management and Democracy
• PMAP 8201 International Development and Assistance NGOs
• PMAP 8203 Nonprofit Advocacy, Law, and Policy
• PMAP 8251 Grant Writing and Management
• PMAP 8900 Capstone: Advanced Projects for Public & Nonprofit Organizations
• Other approved electives (with consent of Master’s Program Director)
  • Advisement is required for the selection of the elective courses

Program Summary

The nonprofit leadership minor allows students to learn about the important role of nonprofit organizations in addressing social issues and interests in a democratic society and participating in the formulation and implementation of public policy. Through this minor, students will become aware of the many and diverse career opportunities in the nonprofit sector, in areas such as the arts, social services, education, health care, the environment, policy advocacy, and international relief and development, and they will learn the skills, knowledge and challenges of leadership in this sector. This minor will prepare students for entry level jobs in nonprofit management and for graduate study in nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, and related fields.

The minor in Nonprofit Leadership requires 15 hours of coursework, which must include 3 credit hours of required courses and 12 additional credit hours from a list of pre-approved courses. Students are strongly encouraged to complete PMAP 4941 (Internship) as part of their minor.

Course Sequence

Required (3 hours):
PMAP 3210 Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector

Select four courses from the following (12 hours):
PMAP 3031 Policy Leadership
PMAP 3213 Nonprofit Financial Resources
PMAP 3231 Nonprofit Management and Leadership
PMAP 3411 Contemporary Planning
PMAP 3801 Public Administration and Politics
PMAP 4211 Human Resource Management Systems in Public & Nonprofit Orgs
PMAP 4411 Introduction to the Law for Public & Nonprofit Managers
PMAP 4451 Economic Development Policy and Planning
PMAP 4941 Internship