Public and Nonprofit Management
The Public and Nonprofit Management major is designed for students who are interested in broadening their understanding of organizations, and learning about the distinct practices, challenges and structures that one encounters when working with either public or not-for-profit entities.
Students pursuing this major take a blend of classes from both the Carlson School and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. As a result, our students are not only equipped to work directly for governments and nonprofits, but also to excel within a private enterprise setting where cross-sector relationships — both domestically and in emerging markets — are becoming increasingly important.
View a full 4-year catalog of program requirements and course descriptions.
Major Curriculum
This major must be completed along with another major in the Carlson School. The major is offered in conjunction with the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
MAJOR CORE CURRICULUM - 21 CREDITS
| Course | Credits | Title & Additional INformation |
|---|---|---|
| PA 3003 | 3 | Nonprofit and Public Financial Management |
| PA 4101 | 3 | Nonprofit Management and Governance |
| MGMT 4000 | 4 | Social Venturing in Action (prereq: senior status; only offered spring semester) |
PLUS 1 COURSE FROM THE FOLLOWING:
| Course | Credits | Title & Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| PA 3001 | 3 | Changing the World: Contemporary Public Policy |
| PA 3002 | 3 | Basic Methods of Policy Analysis |
| PA 3990 | 3 | General Topics in Public Policy |
| PA 4144 | 3 | Social Entrepreneurship (prereq: instructor consent) (previously PA 4190) |
| LEAD 4481 (abroad) | 3 | Leadership and Social Change in Ireland |
| PA 5123 | 3 | Philanthropy in America: History Practice and Trends |
PLUS 8 CREDITS FROM THE FOLLOWING:
| Course | Credits | Title & Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| MGMT 3010 | 4 | Introduction to Entrepreneurship |
| MGMT 4008 | 4 | Entrepreneurial Management (prereq: MGMT 3010 or concurrent) |
| MGMT 4040 | 4 | Negotiation Strategies |
| MGMT 4050 | 2 | Management of Innovation and Change (prereq: MGMT 3001 or 3010) |
| MGMT 4018 | 2 | Philanthropy & Fundraising Strategy |
| MGMT 4170W | 4 | New Business Feasibility & Planning (MGMT 3010) |
| PA 5920 | 1.5 | Skills Workshop: Effective Grant Writing in Public Affairs (prereq: instructor consent) |
| GCC 3003 | 3 | Grand Challenge: Seeking Solutions to Global Health Issues |
| GCC 3005 | 3 | Grand Challenge: Global Venture Design: What Impact Will You Make? |
| GCC 3011 | 3 | Grand Challenge: Pathways to Renewable Energy (prereq: must be sophomore, junior or senior) |
| GCC 3014 | 3 | Grand Challenge: The Future of Work and Life in the 21st Century |
Please note that all classes are not offered every semester. Please check the class schedule on One Stop for details.
Career
Public and Nonprofit Management:
A career in public and nonprofit management focuses on learning how to manage business concerns of nonprofits including board development, facility administration, grant writing, personnel administration, program planning, service delivery, volunteer utilization, and public relations for not-for-profit organizations. Unique challenges include finding creative ways to generate operating finances, attracting high caliber professionals and volunteers without the lure of big money, maintaining goodwill, and finding meaningful evaluation tools with which to measure success and indicate areas for improvement.
Typical Careers for Public and Nonprofit Management Majors:
- Executive Director
- Development Officer
- Operations/Programs Manager
- Financial Analyst
- Director of Marketing and Communications
- Volunteer Engagement Manager
- Social Entrepreneur
- Non-Market Strategy Consultant
Organizations that Hire Public/Nonprofit Majors:
- Non-profits such as St. Paul Children's Hospital, Second Harvest/Heartland, Lutheran Social Services, American Red Cross, National Marrow Donor Program, and United Way
- Environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club and Nature Conservancy
- Private foundations such as McKnight, Bush, Cargill and Carl & Eloise Pohlad
- Corporate philanthropic foundations such as Travelers, Best Buy, Children's, and many others
- Banking institutions focused on economic opportunity
- Federal, state and local governments
- International NGO’s
- Socially responsible businesses
- Consulting firms
