Concentration in Public and Nonprofit Management and Leadership in our Master’s Degree Program

The predesigned concentration in Public and Nonprofit Management and Leadership in our master’s degree program prepares students to meet the challenges of leading and managing in and beyond public and nonprofit organizations. Courses in this predesigned Public and Nonprofit Management and Leadership concentration explore a broad range of leadership and management issues, such as strategy formulation, governance, performance measurement, financial management, state and local finance, budgeting, human resources, organization change, policy implementation, and cross-sector collaborations.

Public and Nonprofit Management and Leadership in our Master’s Degree Program in the Public Arena

Leaders and managers of public and nonprofit organizations face unique challenges and mandates. In addition to supervising the daily operations of organizations large and small, they must cope with funding constraints; work closely with government, private, and public sector constituents; and, often answer to volunteer boards of directors. The predesigned concentration in Public and Nonprofit Management and Leadership in our master’s degree program trains students to navigate these issues through collaborative engagement with public and private partners.

Research and Outreach

Public and Nonprofit Management includes two centers: Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center and the Center for Integrative Leadership. These centers allow students research and outreach opportunities. Public and Nonprofit Management is also home to the mid-career Masters of Public Affairs degree program, the graduate Nonprofit Management Certificate, the graduate Public Affairs Leadership Certificate, the undergraduate Leadership minor, and the undergraduate Public and Nonprofit Management major and minor thorough the Carlson School of Management.

Suggested Concentration Courses (9 credit minimum)

PA 5101 — Management and Governance of Nonprofit Organizations (3)

PA 5102 — Organizational Performance and Change (3)

PA 5103 — Leadership & Change in an Innovation Society (3)

PA 5104 — Strategic Human Resource Management (3)

PA 5105 — Integrative Leadership Seminar (2)

PA 5106 — Foundations of Ethical Practice in Public Affairs (1)

PA 5111 — Financial Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3)

PA 5112 — Public Budgeting (3)

PA 5113 — State and Local Public Finance (3)

PA 5122 — Law and Public Affairs (3)

PA 5123 — Philanthropy in America: History, Practice, and Trends (3)

PA 5190 — Topics in Public and Nonprofit Leadership and Management:        

Public and Nonprofit Information Technology (3)

Government, Ethics, and the Public Will (3)

Contemporary Issues in Philanthropy (3)

Social Entrepreneurship (2)

Managing Conflicts (3)

Public Service Redesign (1.5)

PA 5251 — Strategic Planning and Management (3)

PA 5253 — Designing Planning and Participation Processes (3)

PA 5311 — Program Evaluation (3)

PA 5405 — Public Policy Implementation (3)

PA 5431 — Public Policies on Work and Pay (3)

PA 5920 — Skills Courses:

Action-Oriented Strategy Mapping (1)

Board Services Practicum (1)

Assessing Leadership Capacity (1)

Group Process Facilitation (1)

Grant Writing (1)

International Professional Affiliation Practicum (2)

PA 8190 — Adv. Topics in Public and Nonprofit Leadership & Mgmt Variable

PA 8686 — Feminist Organizations (3)

* Not all courses on this list are offered every year. Some courses may have prerequisites. Students may select other courses for this concentration in consultation with their faculty and professional advisor.

Organizing Concentration Courses and Experiences

Several suggested themes are available for tying coursework, internships, and capstones or professional papers together into a coherent primary concentration. Four suggested themes are identified below, along with course examples.  Students should also consult with their faculty advisor in developing a cohesive plan to meet their particular academic and professional goals. 

General Management

PA 5102 — Organizational Performance and Change

PA 5103 — Leadership and Change in an Innovation Society

PA 5104 — Strategic Human Resource Management

PA 5105 — Integrative Leadership Seminar

PA 5111 — Financial Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations

PA 5122 — Law and Public Affairs

PA 5190 — Managing Conflicts

PA 5190 — Public and Nonprofit Information Technology Issues

PA 5190 — Public Service Redesign

PA 5251 — Strategic Planning and Management

PA 5311 — Program Evaluation

PA 5405 — Public Policy Implementation

Relevant Internship

Relevant Capstone or Professional Paper

Budget Analysis and Evaluation

PA 5111 — Financial Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations

PA 5112 — Public Budgeting

PA 5113 — State and Local Public Finance

PA 5190 — Public Service Redesign (offered Spring 2013)

PA 5251 — Strategic Planning and Management

PA 5311 — Program Evaluation

PA 5405 — Public Policy Implementation

Relevant Internship

Relevant Capstone or Professional Paper

Nonprofit Management

PA 5101 — Management and Governance of Nonprofit Organizations

PA 5104 — Strategic Human Resource Management

PA 5111 — Financial Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations

PA 5123 — Philanthropy in America: History, Practice, and Trends

PA 5190 — Board Services Practicum

PA 5251 — Strategic Planning and Management

PA 5405 — Public Policy Implementation

PA 5920 — Grant Writing

Relevant Internship

Relevant Capstone or Professional Paper

Public Management

PA 5104 — Strategic Human Resource Management

PA 5111 — Financial Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations

PA 5122 — Law and Public Affairs

PA 5190 — Public and Nonprofit Information Technology Issues

PA 5190 — Public Service Redesign (offered Spring 2013)

PA 5251 — Strategic Planning and Management

PA 5311 — Program Evaluation

PA 5405 — Public Policy Implementation

Relevant Internship

Relevant Capstone or Professional Paper

Affiliated faculty

Laura Bloomberg, director, Center for Integrative Leadership

Kim Borton, director, Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center

Bob Bruinicks, professor and former U of MN President

John Bryson, professor and former associate dean

Barbara Crosby, associate professor

Jay Kiedrowski, senior fellow and concentration head

Kathryn Quick, assistant professor

Jodi Sandfort, associate professor and Public and Nonprofit Leadership and Management Chair (on leave 2012-13)

Joe Soss, professor

Melissa Stone, professor and former Public and Nonprofit Leadership and Management Chair (on leave 2011-12)

Zhirong (Jerry) Zhao, assistant professor

Adjunct faculty

Kate Barr, executive director, Nonprofit Assistance Fund

Terri Barreiro, consultant

Julia Classen, consultant

Michael Wirth-Davis, executive director, Goodwill/Easter Seals

John Gunyou, city manager, City of Minnetonka

Allison Rojas, consultant

Jay Kiedrowski, Concentration Head
Humphrey Center, Room 248
612-626-5026 kiedr003@umn.edu