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Master’s Concentration

Mission-Driven Operations and Management

A nonprofit organization can only accomplish its mission if its program operations and organizational management are efficient and effective. Staffing, performance evaluation, impact, and the human and financial resources must function smoothly for any organization to succeed. In this master’s degree concentration in Mission-Driven Operations and Management, you’ll learn how to examine an organization’s financial and operational goals and develop partnerships and community-based strategies that can further an organization’s impact — all through the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This program follows the graduate guidelines of the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC).

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At a Glance

Classes Begin
April 1

Term Length
10 Weeks

Master's Degree
Tuition
$38,688

Format
Evening or Online
Admission
No GRE or GMAT
Duration
As few as 18 months

Top-Ranked University

U.S. News & World Report Rankings

Brian Cicero

Talk to an Enrollment Manager

Free Application

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University College is committed to educational access, and given the difficult circumstances currently impacting millions of people, we are waiving application fees.

Skills You’ll Learn

Effectively plan and resource nonprofit and/or nongovernmental program development
Evaluate existing program design, funding structures, resource allocation, and impact
Ensure mission accomplishment and operational alignment

Curriculum

Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership with a concentration in Mission-Driven Operations and Management requires completion of 48 credit hours (12 courses).

All students are required to complete a zero-credit
Student Success Course.

5

Core Courses

4

Concentration
Courses

3

Elective Courses

Core Courses

Learn the scope of activity, historical development, and future direction of the industry. These courses provide a foundation that you'll draw on throughout your concentration and elective courses. The capstone serves as the culminating academic experience in which you'll explore a problem of practice in your field of study.

NFP 4010 Leading Nonprofit/Nongovernmental Organizations
NFP 4015 Healthy Nonprofit/Nongovernmental Organizations
NFP 4020 Legacy and Trends of Nonprofit Organizations and Civil Society
NFP 4905 Graduate Social Research Methods
NFP 4901 Capstone Project
OR  
NFP 4920 Portfolio Capstone
Concentration Courses

Focus on a specific professional area within the larger industry sector and master the skills needed to excel in that area.

NFP 4115 Leading Nonprofit Financial Health
NFP 4300 Operational Strategy and Structures
NFP 4305 Nonprofit Program and People Management
NFP 4230 Participatory Evaluation for Program and Community Impact
Elective Courses

Popular electives for students in the Nonprofit Leadership program include:

HRA 4140 Principles and Practice of Human Resources
ORL 4160 Integrating Personal and Organizational Success
ORL 4170 Developing Human Capital in Organizations
ORL 4190 Values-Driven Decision Making
MALS 4286 Social Media and Digital Marketing for Arts and Culture
COMM 4301 Brand Management Strategies
NFP 4310 Community Organizing, Voice and Empowerment
NFP 4320 Leading Volunteer Programs with a DEI Lens

Electives may be chosen from among all courses in the Nonprofit Leadership program. You may also select courses from other University College graduate programs with approval from the academic director.

Your academic advisor will help you select electives that align with your career and personal goals, and your advisor will obtain any necessary approvals from the academic director.

Featured Instructors

Sample Schedule

Plan out your schedule and determine your preferred timeline for completing your master's degree—finish in as few as 18 months or take up to five years.

Year 1 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
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Year 2 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
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Year 1 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Classes 1 2 1 2
Year 2 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Classes 1 2 1 2
Year 1 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Classes 1 1 1 1
Year 2 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Classes 1 1 1 1
Year 3 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Classes 1 1 1 1

Interested in a graduate certificate?

Explore our four and six course graduate certificates in Mission-Driven Operations and Management.

Take a Course Before You Apply

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We know how important it is to get started when you’re ready and that’s why you can enroll in a course before you officially apply.

Career Outcomes

Predicted outcomes for graduates of Mission-Driven Operations and Management

According to the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies, nonprofits are creating jobs three times faster than for-profits and is the third largest industry in the U.S.
A report done by the Philanthropy Outlook projects charity giving will grow 3.8% over the next year. This increase of funds will help community service agencies to create new positions.
The nonprofit industry is a diverse industry with employers based in large cities to rural areas. Nonprofit professionals can seek employment in healthcare, education, social services, arts and culture, and more.

Job Titles

Director of Operations
Program Director
Program Manager
Operations Managers
Business Manager

Nonprofit Services Director of Operations Salary: National Average

$50,000

(Glassdoor)

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Hear from Our Students

Theme: Job Satisfaction

Nonprofit Leadership

“Every single class taught me something that I didn’t know before. Every single class had the capacity for me to grow with other people—even online.” —Mario Burton, graduate.

Flexible Online Classes

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We understand the demands of balancing work, friends and family, and school can be challenging. That's why at University College, you can complete your program entirely online. Our online learning platform makes it easy to work anywhere at any time.

Online Experience5

Accreditation

 


Higher Learning Commission

University College programs maintain the highest level of accreditation offered by The Higher Learning Commission, one of the regional accrediting bodies recognized by the federal government. The University of Denver and all of its academic programs are regionally accredited by this commission, and regional accreditation is the highest standard for universities in the United States.

Take the Next Step

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