Master of Nonprofit Management (MNM)

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 to preparing the next generation of executive directors and senior staff for nonprofit organizations. 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 and in a blended format.

All students in the MNM program are required to complete forty-eight academic credits. This includes seven required core courses, four elective courses, and one capstone course.

The MNM program begins with a leadership course and additional courses (required and elective) provide working professionals with a base of knowledge in a variety of subjects, each necessary to build effective management skills. Students completing the MNM program should expect to meet the following learning objectives:

Students will gain leadership skills and awareness in preparation to lead organizations.
Students will demonstrate effective critical reasoning and analytical skills in examining societal issues.
Students will speak and write effectively in a variety of professional settings and formats.
Students will be able to recognize and define root causes and important context for organizational and societal issues across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.

MNM Degree Requirements (48 credits and 2.8 GPA)

Core Courses (32 credits):

Elective Courses (16 credits):

Four elective courses (for a total of 16 credits) must be chosen from among the School of Business master’s level courses. Optionally, students may complete a concentration as part of the elective requirement. Concentration options and requirements are listed below.

School of Business Concentrations

There are four concentrations available to students in the MBA, MPA and MNM programs. Students earn concentrations by completing 12 credits of elective coursework within the same subject area. Each allows a student to focus more deeply on one area of interest. Concentrations include business analytics, leadership and change management, nonprofit management, and a customized concentration.

Business Analytics Concentration

Choose any three courses from the MSBA program. Note: some courses have prerequisites which may impact options students can select.

Leadership and Change Management

Choose any three of the following courses.

MBA 8010 - Negotiation
MBA 8011 - Leading Through Change
MBA 8012 - Perspectives on Conflict and Change
MBA 8060 - Project Management
MBA 8098 - Special Topics, when the topic is leadership-focused
MNM 8110 - Governance and Planning in Nonprofit Organizations

Nonprofit Management (for MBA and MPA students only)

Choose any three of the following courses.

MNM 8030 - Financial Management of Nonprofit Organizations
MNM 8035 - Fundraising for Nonprofits
MNM 8110 - Governance and Planning in Nonprofit Organizations
MNM 8098 - Special Topics

Customized Concentration

This option is for students who are motivated to study a topic relevant to their degree program in-depth. Customized concentrations require 12 credits of graduate elective coursework and may be comprised of graduate courses at Hamline University and approved transfer courses. Customized Concentration applications must be approved by the Graduate Curriculum and Assessment Committee.

Sample concentration options might include Marketing, Finance, Business Communications, and so forth. Students who want to pursue this option should contact the Graduate Programs Director for an application form.

Course Substitution or Waiver

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 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 an 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 years prior to admission to the MNM program.

Time Limit

Generally, students take two to three years to complete the traditional MNM program; however, seven years is the allowed maximum.