The objective of the Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management is to prepare students by education, outlook, and commitment for leadership positions in nonprofit organizations. The course of study is designed to develop the skills necessary to manage, lead, and conduct effective organizational change. Not-for-profit is an organizational form that includes such diverse activities as: Community development organizations, foster care facilities, employment and training centers, arts and cultural associations, affordable housing, education, sports and recreation activities, environmental protection, health and hospitals, and other public services.

Opportunities for nonprofit managers with specialized skills have expanded sharply. Currently, approximately 8% of the U.S. total employment is in the nonprofit sector. This was more than the number employed in construction, transportation and communication, finance, insurance, real estate or agriculture.

PPPM has one of the most comprehensive nonprofit curricular programs in the nation. Our faculty has a wealth of experience working with and for nonprofit organizations, and conducting research on the nonprofit sector. We offer a cohesive curriculum in the important facets of nonprofit management, including the following specialized courses:

• Strategic Planning
• Graduate Seminar in Philanthropy
• Project Management
• Nonprofit Board Governance, and many other courses. 
  

Students may also receive elective credits for a content-relevant course offered elsewhere on campus, in departments such as Education, Arts and Administration, Historic Preservation, Environmental Studies, International Studies, Museum Studies, Business, Journalism, and others. For authorization to receive Certificate credits for a course taken outside the PPPM Department, or for other information about the Certificate, please contact the program director: Professor Renee Irvin (rirvin@uoregon.edu) or by telephone (541-346-2155).

Currently, students in either the MPA or MCRP programs can take these courses to meet their concentration area requirements. In addition, students can choose to complete an internship with a nonprofit organization and write their masters project on a research topic pertaining to nonprofits. PPPM also routinely offers other courses relevant to students interested in nonprofit management, such as Program Evaluation, and Planning and Social Change.

UO graduate students from any department may apply to the Certificate program to obtain the Certificate as an important add-on to their main graduate degree. The Certificate program is also available as a stand-alone program for students not pursuing another graduate degree.

Required courses in the Certificate program are offered annually, usually once per week, 4:00pm to 6:50pm (with the exception of the one-credit classes), to accommodate professional schedules. 24 credits are required for completion of the Certificate. In addition to the 14 required credits, students wishing to complete the Certificate must complete an internship and four elective credits, OR take ten credits of nonprofit-relevant elective courses, which are described below. Students who have no significant work experience in the nonprofit sector are strongly recommended to complete an internship by enrolling in six credits of PPPM 604 (Internship).

This page updated July 30, 2008
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