Colleges and Schools
Course Descriptions
NPMG 6115 Foundations for Graduate Study (1 cr.)
This course introduces students to Walden University and to the requirements for successful participation in an online curriculum. It provides a foundation for academic and professional success as a scholar-practitioner and social-change agent. Topics include the relation of mission and vision to professional goals; development of the program of study and professional development plan; strategies for online success; introduction to the online library; and introduction to critical thinking, professional writing, and academic integrity. Course assignments focus on practical application of writing and critical-thinking skills and promote professional and academic excellence.
NPMG 6405 Ethics and Social Justice (5 Credits)
Ethics is a foundational element of leadership. Leaders face increasingly complex social and political challenges as they seek to meet the needs of diverse constituents. This course explores ethics and social justice related to economic disparity, power and privilege. Students use demographic data, current social trends and themes to understand, analyze, and address ethical and social-justice issues that impact service delivery in a global community.
NPMG 6420 Organizational Leadership and Management (5 cr.)
Public and nonprofit leaders require a deep understanding of their roles as leaders and managers of diverse and complex organizations. This course examines the distinction between leadership and management, organizational culture, change management, systems theories, and organizational development from a theoretical and applied perspective. Students apply principles to public, private, and nonprofit organizational settings.
NPMG 6435 Human Resource Management: Building a Capable Workforce (5 cr.)
The acquisition, development, and retention of talent are critical element of the success of any organization. This course examines theories, approaches, and systems related to the acquisition, management, development, and retention of people in government and nonprofit organizations. Students explore topics including legal and ethical considerations, diversity, performance management, the establishment and implementation of policy, technology, and conflict management through the use of case studies. Students apply principles learned in this course to situations encountered in public, private, and nonprofit organizations.
NPMG 6465 Strategic Planning: Collaboration, Cooperation, and Coordination (5 cr.)
In an increasingly complex world, leaders and managers in public, private, and nonprofit organizations need to be strategic in planning and creating effective, collaborative programs and services. This course explores the role and process of strategic planning with an emphasis on collaboration, cooperation and coordination within and among organizations. Students will apply these concepts to real-life situations and organizations.
NPMG 6480 Applied Research and Evaluation Methods (5 cr.)
Organizational credibility, community trust, and fundraising are increasingly dependent upon demonstration of program effectiveness and success. This course introduces research and evaluation methods in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Students examine the strengths, limitations, and threats to validity; models, metrics, and tools used to evaluate programs and policies; and legal and ethical issues associated with research and evaluation methods. Students identify a topic for research, write a literature review, and select procedures for data collection and analysis, leading to the completion of a research proposal.
NPMG 6200 Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector (5 cr.)
Nonprofit organizations serve as the foundation for many social change efforts. This course explores the history, foundations, and types of nonprofit organizations and the diverse political, social, and economic contexts within which they exist. Students examine and apply marketing, public relations, and communication concepts and strategies to case studies and contemporary situations. Ethical, legal, and global lenses are applied to the study of the nonprofit sector. Students develop a concept paper guiding the development of a nonprofit organization.
NPMG 6431 Finance and Budgeting for the Nonprofit Sector (5 cr.)
Sound financial practices are crucial to managing scarce funds in both the public and nonprofit operations. This course examines finance and budgeting concepts, policies, and practices related to organizations as well as the fiscal climate within which they operate. Students gain an understanding of theories underlying major fiscal policy debates; read, analyze, and construct budgets; and read and analyze financial statements and reports. Other topics include the use of dashboards for financial reporting, auditing practices, tax systems, financial management, budgetary reform, and financial technology systems specific to the nonprofit sector. Students apply what they learn to developing a budget and financial plan for a nonprofit organization.
NPMG 6451 Board Governance and Volunteer Management (5 cr.)
Volunteers are the “lifeblood” of many nonprofit organizations. Each of these organizations relies heavily on their volunteer board of directors to govern and guide them toward their mission. The success of nonprofit organizations is largely dependent on the effective management of program volunteers and board members. This course explores the volunteer management process (volunteer recruitment, orientation, training, supervision, and evaluation) with an emphasis on creating and maintaining an effective board of directors.. Students design a board development or volunteer management plan based on the concept paper developed in the Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector course.
NPMG 6461 Resource Development (5 cr.)
All nonprofit organizations require financial resources. Obtaining philanthropic financial support is essential to program delivery and stability. Students explore the concepts of philanthropy and development, identification of funding sources, donor/prospect cultivation and education, and solicitation and appreciation strategies. An emphasis is placed on creating an organizational philanthropic culture based on ethics and donor relationships. Students create a resource development plan for the organization designed in the Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector course.
NPMG 6910 Capstone Seminar (5 cr.)
The course provides students with an opportunity to integrate learning from courses in the program in a capstone project: an applied project with a written paper or a research paper. The capstone may focus on governance, policy, or leadership and management in either the public or nonprofit sectors or take a cross-sector comparative perspective.
