Master of Nonprofit Management (MNM)

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The Hamline University master of nonprofit management (MNM) program gives working professionals the practical knowledge, tools, and skills they need to manage the complex challenges of the nonprofit sector. The MNM program is recognized as the premier master’s degree program in the region dedicated exclusively to management principles of practitioners and professionals in the discipline. The curriculum provides breadth and depth on managing nonprofit organizations with strong theory to practice orientation. The program also provides exceptional networking and career enhancing opportunities.

The MNM program is available at the Hamline University Saint Paul campus.

All students in the MNM program are required to complete forty-eight academic credits. This includes eight required core courses, three elective courses, and one final course (either Capstone Skills Development or Master’s Thesis).

The MNM program begins with a fundamentals course, which provides students with a sound foundation in the history, theory, and management standards of the nonprofit sector. Other courses (required and elective) provide working professionals with a base of knowledge in a variety of subjects, each necessary to build effective management skills.

MNM Degree Requirements (48 credits and 3.0 GPA):

7 Required Core Courses (28 credits)

1 Course (4 credits) - Choose from:

3 Elective Courses (12 credits)

Three elective courses must be chosen from among the School of Business graduate level courses.

1 Capstone Course (4 credits):

MNM 8492 - Capstone Skills Development for Nonprofits

Additional Requirements

Students are expected to arrive with paid or volunteer experience in the field and are generally employed in the sector while completing the program.

Course Substitution

Student requests for substitution of a required course or courses shall be forwarded to the Program Director whose decision on the request shall be final. No more than two (2) required courses may be substituted. In all instances of substitution of required courses, the student is required to register and successfully complete another course or courses whose total credits equal the number of credits represented by the substituted required course(s).

The only basis for requesting a substitution of a MNM required course shall be duplication of coursework already successfully completed in a different program at Hamline University or another institution. The student must include the syllabus or syllabi from the course(s) taken and an official transcript showing successful completion unless that transcript is already a part of the student’s application file. Under no condition may the course(s) used as a substitution have been completed more than seven (7) years prior to admission to the MNM program.

Time Limit

Generally, it will take students 2-3 years to complete the traditional MNM program; however, 7 years is the allowed maximum.

MNM Application Requirements

Completed application form (available online at: www.hamline.edu/graduate/admission/hsb.html)
Personal statement. A one-to two-page personal statement, typewritten and double-spaced, detailing:
- why you have chosen Hamline University,
- how the degree program will help you meet your career goals, and
- what nonprofit experience you currently have
Professional résumé or curriculum vitae.
Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate work. If your transcripts are in a language other than English, you must submit both the original and an official or a certified course by course English translation. The Hamline University School of Business reserves the right to require applicants to have their academic records evaluated by an academic credential evaluator.
Two letters of recommendation, written by people familiar with your academic and/or professional history, detailing your specific qualifications to pursue advanced study (letters from family members are unacceptable).
Writing sample. A sample of your academic or work-related writing, typewritten, at least three pages in length, written in the last two years, and written solely by you.

Sequential Graduate Degree Completion

Sequential Graduate Degree Completion

Graduates of the MBA, MPA, or MNM programs can return within 5 years of finishing their degree to complete a sequential degree with any of the other masters programs in the School of Business. They must complete the subsequent degree within 3 years of beginning work on the sequential degree. Students will be required to complete an additional 28-32 credits depending on degree sought. They may take additional electives if desired to gain greater depth in their second field.

MPA to MNM Sequential Degree Program Logistics* (28 credits): Students with an MPA returning to complete the MNM degree would follow the same degree completion requirements as if completing the dual degree. Review of their previous transcript will determine which 7 courses are required (6 core and 1 elective from the new field).

MBA to MNM Sequential Degree Program Logistics* (28 credits): Students with an MBA returning to complete an MNM will take the following courses:

i. GPA 8002 Fundamentals of Nonprofit Management

ii. GPA 8032 Financial Management for Nonprofits

iii. GPA 8062 Law for Nonprofits

iv. GPA 8110 Governance and Planning for Nonprofits

v. GPA 8362 Fundraising for Nonprofits

vi. GPA 8070 Research Methods

vii. GPA 8492 Capstone for Nonprofits

*Above logistics are based on current program structure and are subject to change as programs are revised.