Resource Articles
MS in Nonprofit Management and Leadership
Local Government Management for Sustainable Communities
Request Information
Next start dates
- Course-Based Courses with a set schedule January 09, 2023
Transfer Credits
- Up to 23 Credits
Explore our MS in Nonprofit Management and Leadership Local Government Management for Sustainable Communities specialization
Within the Local Government Management for Sustainable Communities specialization, you will discuss what sustainability and livability mean and explore a wide range of tools, strategies, and skills you can use to create sustainable communities that are more environmentally sound, economically prosperous, and socially equitable. You will also examine planning processes, approaches, and policies that can help you address a variety of complex and interrelated issues involving multiple stakeholders.
Program Savings
Speak with an Enrollment Specialist to learn about our current tuition savings.
Get Started Now
Curriculum
Minimum Degree Requirements
- 63 quarter credits
- Foundation course (3 cr.)
- Core courses (40 cr.)
- Specialization courses (15 cr.)
- Capstone course (5 cr.)
This sequence represents the minimum time to completion. Time to completion will vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 855-646-5286.
Courses
| Course Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
The courses must be taken in the prescribed sequence below. |
||
| NPMG 6116 |
Foundations of Graduate Study
This course introduces students to graduate-level expectations and protocols for scholarly research and academic writing. Reflecting Walden's mission and vision of promoting positive social change, this course helps students build a foundation for success as scholar-practitioners and social change agents. Course assignments focus upon students' professional goals, strategies for online student success, research skills, and academic integrity. Assignments are designed to build critical thinking skills and provide opportunities to apply academic lessons to real-world practice. Students are encouraged to take advantage of Walden's wealth of student support systems, especially the Walden Library and the Writing Center. |
(3 cr.) |
| NPMG 6200 |
Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector
Nonprofit (NPO) and non-government (NGO) organizations can serve to affect people and communities through positive social change. NPO and NGO leaders require a fundamental understanding of the nonprofit sector, including related ethical, legal, financial, and global perspectives. Through the lens of the NPO and NGO leadership, students in this course explore social entrepreneurship, marketing, communication, and governance. Gaining practical insight, students also apply theories presented in the course either to build a business plan for a new NPO/NGO or to evaluate an existing one. Prerequisites
|
(5 cr.) |
| NPMG 6405 |
Ethics and Social Justice
Ethics is a foundational element of leadership. In this course, students examine the philosophy of ethics as well as responsibility and social justice—basic tenets of public service. Students explore the complex social, political, and related ethical challenges leaders face as they seek to meet the needs of diverse constituents. They examine ethics and social justice related to economic disparity, power, and privilege. Students also assess demographic data and current social trends and themes to understand, analyze, and address ethical and social justice issues that impact service delivery in a global community. Applying concepts presented in the course, students engage in an in-depth assessment of an emerging or persistent ethical or social justice issue, through which they demonstrate their ability to make recommendations for improvement or change. Prerequisites
|
(5 cr.) |
| NPMG 6420 |
Organizational Management and Leadership
Public and nonprofit leaders in all areas of public administration require a thorough understanding of the expectations of their roles as leaders and managers of diverse and complex organizations. Students use theoretical and applied perspectives from which they study the intricacies of these roles, including the distinction between leadership and management, organizational culture, change management, systems theories, and organizational development. Students gain a practical understanding of these topics through the application of principles and concepts to public, private, and nonprofit organizational settings. Prerequisites
|
(5 cr.) |
| NPMG 6435 |
Human Resource Management: Building a Capable Workforce
The acquisition, development, and retention of talent are critical elements in the success of any organization. In this course, students examine theories, approaches, and systems related to hiring, managing, training, and retaining employees in government and nonprofit organizations. Through the use of case studies, students explore topics that include legal and ethical considerations, diversity, performance management, the establishment and implementation of policy, technology, and conflict management. Students apply principles and concepts learned in this course to real-world situations encountered in public, private, and nonprofit organizations. |
(5 cr.) |
| NPMG 6451 |
Board Governance and Volunteer Management
The success of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) is largely dependent on the effective management of program volunteers and board members—individuals who often serve as the lifeblood of NPOs. Students in this course explore the volunteer management process, including volunteer recruitment, orientation, training, supervision, and evaluation. They focus on methods that organizations use to create and maintain an effective Board of Directors to ensure that the board governs and guides the organization toward their mission. Students design a board development or volunteer management plan based on processes presented in the course and fundamental concepts acquired earlier in the program. |
(5 cr.) |
| NPMG 6465 |
Strategic Planning: Collaboration, Cooperation, and Coordination
In an increasingly complex world, leaders and managers in public and nonprofit organizations plan strategies to fulfill the organizational mission and enhance stakeholder satisfaction. Students in this course explore the role and process of strategic planning, including collaboration, cooperation, and coordination. They also examine the benefits, challenges, and pitfalls of strategic planning, in addition to the impact of globalization. Students apply these concepts to real-life scenarios and develop a strategic plan for a nonprofit or public organization. |
(5 cr.) |
| NPMG 6480 |
Evidence-Based Evaluation Methods
Nonprofit and public/government organizations need to be able to show positive evidence related to their mission and ability to effect social change to remain viable. By developing performance improvement evaluation plans that are structured with metrics, leaders can disseminate an organization's progress to build stakeholder engagement and collaboration. Students in this course will be introduced to a critical appraisal of levels of evidence, performance improvement and evaluation methods, and the importance of dissemination of organizational outcomes to help contribute to a positive future for social change. Prerequisites
|
(5 cr.) |
| NPMG 6461 |
Resource Development
All nonprofit organizations require financial resources. Obtaining philanthropic financial support is essential to program delivery and stability. Students in this course explore the concepts of philanthropy and development, identification of funding sources, donor/prospect cultivation and education, and solicitation and appreciation strategies. They focus on processes and strategies for creating an organizational philanthropic culture based on ethics and donor relationships. Using these strategies and other concepts presented in the course, students create a resource development plan for a nonprofit organization. |
(5 cr.) |
| NPMG 6820 |
Elements of Sustainable and Livable Communities
Creating and maintaining sustainable and livable communities require leaders who understand the connections between the natural, built, and social environments, and those who can address these connections in a holistic and integrated fashion. Students in this course examine concepts of sustainability and livability and explore popular approaches to creating and maintaining communities that are more environmentally sound, economically prosperous, and socially equitable. They also focus on strategies to halt urban sprawl and to promote alternative modes of transportation. Students define and explore these concepts through case studies and examples drawn from local communities. |
(5 cr.) |
| NPMG 6821 |
Tools for Sustainable Community Development
Effective community leaders must be familiar with a wide range of tools, strategies, and skills to create sustainable communities. In this course, students examine these elements to learn how leaders build capacity for community change; assess community needs and resources; create community visions; promote stakeholder interest and participation; analyze community problems; and carry out practices and interventions to improve sustainability in communities. They also explore sustainability frameworks and models and apply these and other concepts presented in the course to develop a proposal for sustainable community development, focusing on community assessment, stakeholder involvement, and development planning. Prerequisites
|
(5 cr.) |
| NPMG 6822 |
Current Issues in Regional and Local Public Policy
Public decision-makers must understand and address a variety of complex and interrelated issues, such as land use and transportation, energy and environment, housing and schools, and regional economic development. In this course, students learn how leaders attend to these issues in light of existing policies and contemporary social, economic, political, demographic, and technological trends. Students explore and discuss planning processes, tools, approaches, strategies, and policies used to create sustainable and livable communities through collaborative processes involving multiple stakeholders. Through the development of a policy-option written assignment, students assess critical issues and identify problem-solving strategies. Prerequisites
|
(5 cr.) |
| NPMG 6910 |
Capstone
In this course, students have the opportunity to reflect on and demonstrate integration, synthesis, evaluation and application of the knowledge, skills, and abilities developed over the course of the Master of Public Administration or Nonprofit Management and Leadership programs. Students complete a capstone paper designed to maximize the application of concepts and skills learned during their program of study, with particular emphasis on the knowledge base and literature of public administration, public policy, and/or non-profit management and leadership. The capstone paper documents the results of a literature review addressing a research question related to a specific public policy or nonprofit management issue. The course also challenges students to reflect on how this program has and will, impact their personal, scholarly, professional, and positive social change agent growth. Prerequisites
|
(5 cr.) |
| VIEW ALL COURSES | ||
Tuition and Fees
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 63 quarter credit hours | $507 per quarter hour | $31,941 |
| Technology Fee | Per quarter | $165 | $1,155 |
| $33,096* |
Effective February 27, 2023
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 63 quarter credit hours | $530 per quarter hour | $33,390 |
| Technology Fee | Per quarter | $170 | $1,020 |
| $34,410* |
*Tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Tuition and time to complete may be reduced if transfer credits are accepted, or if you receive grants, scholarships or other tuition reductions. Walden may accept up to 30 transfer credits. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 855-646-5286.
Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost between $1,000 and $1,400.
Paying for Your Education
Our Enrollment Specialists can help you outline a plan and find resources for funding your education.
Learn moreProgram Savings
Speak with an Enrollment Specialist to learn about our current tuition savings.
Get Started Now
Admission Requirements
Program Admission Considerations: A bachelor's degree or higher.
General Admission Requirements: Completed online application and transcripts. Please note that the materials you are required to submit may vary depending on the academic program to which you apply. More information for international applicants.
Testimonials
Any time I hear another working professional talking about going back to school, I always bring up my experience at Walden.
Melissa Bellanceau MS in Nonprofit Management and Leadership Graduate
I would not have been able to obtain my master’s or work on my doctoral degree without the flexibility of Walden’s online programs.
Kelley L. Malcolm MS in Nonprofit Management and Leadership Graduate
Walden not only has changed my world, but the world of those around me.
Andrea Baer MS in Nonprofit Management and Leadership Graduate
Resource Articles
The Face of Volunteerism in America: What Nonprofit Managers Should Know
Resource Articles
How to Use Technology to Promote Social Change
Questions about our MS in Nonprofit Management and Leadership?
Talk to your personal Enrollment Specialist for more information today.
- Please use our if you live outside of the U.S.
Have a Question?
Chat with a MS in Nonprofit Management and Leadership - Local Government Management for Sustainable Communities Enrollment Specialist.
Chat Now