M.B.A. in Nonprofit Management

Degree Outcomes

The M.B.A. in Nonprofit Management provides nonprofit professionals a cohort program combining the best managerial and leadership skills taught in our traditional M.B.A. with the specialized content necessary to successfully manage nonprofit organizations. The program gives students the skills, knowledge, and perspectives necessary to generate value in the nonprofit sector and to help nonprofits meet the current management and leadership challenges of the 21st century.

Learning Goals and Objectives for the M.B.A. in Nonprofit Management

Students who successfully complete all requirements for a Master of Business Administration in Nonprofit Management will achieve the following goals and outcomes.

1. Students will have business knowledge:
   
   1. Students will develop business knowledge unique to the nonprofit sector.
2. Students will have communication skills:
   1. Students will compose strategic proposals for nonprofit organizations.
3. Students will have leadership skills:
   1. Students will organize themselves and others to achieve a nonprofit organization’s stated goals.
4. Students will be ethically and socially responsible:
   1. Students will explain ethical dilemmas when making managerial decisions.
   2. Students will prescribe solutions to business problems that benefit society.

Admission Requirements

1. Statement of Goals
2. Current resume (minimum of two years of work experience is strongly encouraged)
3. Two recommendation letters
4. Official transcripts (from all previously attended academic institutions)
5. A bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university recognized by the University of Portland
6. International Applicants: All foreign degrees will be evaluated by International Student Services prior to an admission decision
7. Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a scale of 4.0)
8. Optional: Official GMAT (minimum score of 550 or higher) or GRE (minimum score equivalent to a GMAT score of 550)
9. International Applicants: an official score from the TOEFL (minimum score of 88), IELTS (minimum score of 7.0), or Duolingo (minimum score of 110) exam is required.
10. International Applicants: Proof of financial support will be required to attend the University of Portland, but is not required for application review

It is strongly recommended that applicants have two to three years of professional experience after their bachelor’s degree to fully benefit from the program. 

Honors Pledge

The faculty of the Pamplin School of Business encourages students to acknowledge the ethical components of teaching and learning; essential factors in fulfilling the University’s mission in the classroom. Students are asked to reflect upon the core value of academic integrity and make this an integral part of their work at the University. Students are asked to sign an honors pledge and attach it to all submitted course work to affirm the integrity of their scholarship to all concerned.

Cohort Program

The M.B.A. in Nonprofit Management is a cohort program; in which a small group of students take the program together in lockstep. Thus, the entire group shares the same classroom and curricular experience. A cohort gives the student the opportunity to work with similar professionals and to connect and share an experience with them that transcends the classroom. By working together in a cohort, students build a network of adult learners who share a commitment to the nonprofit field. In certain classes, the M.B.A. cohort will also be blended with students in our traditional M.B.A. program.

Degree Requirements

The M.B.A. in Nonprofit Management requires students to take six consecutive semesters of classwork with six credit hours (two classes) offered each semester. A total of 36 credit hours will be completed before graduation and students will receive an M.B.A. degree.

Nonprofit Core Classes — 18 credit hours

The nonprofit core introduces students to courses specific in the nonprofit field including accounting for the nonprofit, management and social entrepreneurship, marketing for the nonprofit, financial management for the nonprofit, negotiations, and strategic fundraising.

BUS 509	Strategic Fundraising	3
BUS 514	Accounting and Financial Controls for the Nonprofit Organization	3
BUS 515	Social Venture Management	3
BUS 517	Marketing for the Nonprofit Organization	3
BUS 518	Financial Management for the Nonprofit Organization	3
BUS 523	Negotiation and Persuasion Strategies	3

MBA Core — 9 credit hours

BUS 500	Statistical and Quantitative Analysis	3
BUS 505	Introduction to Operations & Technology Management	3
BUS 510	Economics and Metrics for Sustainability	3

MBA Electives — 9 credit hours