Master of Arts Nonprofit Leadership

Tuition: $565/credit*

* Tuition rates are for the 2021-22 academic year. Additional fees and costs for course materials may apply. Total program cost and completion time varies depending on transfer credits and individual program plans. Tuition rates are subject to change.

Designed for 4-year degree holders interested in executive roles in the nonprofit sector, the program features an online synchronous structure, allowing the maximum amount of flexibility for students already engaging in nonprofit work.

The Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership program is designed to serve current nonprofit professionals and recent college graduates interested in leading a nonprofit agency.

Guided by the School of Arts and Letters and the Stender School of Business and Technology, this program will prepare students with theoretical, practical and experiential knowledge allowing you to lead nonprofit organizations.

Sample Curriculum

• Proseminar in Nonprofit Leadership
• Fundraising and Financial Management
• Human Resources Management and Board Governance
• Writing for Nonprofit Leadership
• Promoting and Marketing Nonprofit Organizations
• Capstone experience

Capstone

The Capstone experience brings together a cohort of students in their final term for individualized yet shared learning processes. Each person will engage in a practicum experience at a nonprofit with a mentor from the community, while meeting regularly in an accompanying seminar setting with a faculty member and their peers, where they can process, analyze, and integrate their learning experiences together with the cohort and pursue a thesis-level project. The project will benefit the sponsoring organization while preparing the student for their future. Students currently working for a nonprofit are encouraged, but not required, to base the capstone in that nonprofit. The capstone options include:

• Conduct original research and compose an academic paper for publication
• Prepare a final report for the organization sponsoring the capstone project consistent with expectations of a professional consultant
• Group practicum: Apply theory to practice through a small group project with your peers; suitable for presentation as poster session at a state or regional conference, or for publication

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 15% increase in public/nonprofit sector (social and community service managers) jobs from 2020-2030. In Minnesota, the number of employees working in nonprofit organizations exceeds for-profit companies. And the number of nonprofit organizations continues to grow in Minnesota, with the healthcare sector taking the lead.

Visit our admissions page for information about transcripts, online application, international admissions and financing.

Application Deadlines

Fall: July 15 preferred, final-Aug. 15
Spring: Jan. 4
Summer: May 4

Eligibility

New Students

• BA/BS degree from an accredited college or university
• Cumulative GPA of 2.8
• Preferred 2-3 years of professional experience
• Note: Meeting minimum entrance requirements does not guarantee admission

Returning Students

A returning student is a student who was admitted and enrolled in a program at St. Scholastica but has been absent from the program for at least three continuous semesters, including summer. To return to the same program at St. Scholastica, a returning student must be in good academic standing and must apply for readmission to the College.

Prerequisites

• No GMAT or GRE required
• No prerequisite coursework is required, however, students who enter the MNPL program should demonstrate strong writing and quantitative thinking skills