Arizona State University Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions 12 courses 42 total credits
ASU ranks No. 5 for best graduate nonprofit management program by U.S. News & World Report, 2025. The Master of Public Administration is a professional degree program that prepares you for public service at all levels of government as well as in the nonprofit and private sectors. The program consists of a core curriculum emphasizing managerial and analytic skills required for work in a wide variety of careers that serve the public good. The MPA program can be completed full time or part time. The nonprofit administration concentration builds on the core program through the application of administrative and leadership principles to train you as a professional who chooses a career in the nonprofit sector. You focus on the managerial aspects of running nonprofit organizations that solve specific challenges in communities around the world and that provide necessary services not available through traditional markets or government providers. You gain important skills you need in order to succeed, including financial management, volunteer management, fundraising, strategic planning and experience working with boards of directors.
| Required Core | 27 credits |
| Concentration | 9 credits |
| Electives or Research | 3 credits |
| Culminating Experience | 3 credits |
| Total Credits | 42 credits |
Required Core
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PAF 501 | Public Service Research I | 3 |
| PAF 502 | Public Service Research II | 3 |
| PAF 503 | Public Affairs | 3 |
| PAF 504 | Microeconomics of Public Policy I | 3 |
| PAF 505 | Public Policy Analysis | 3 |
| PAF 506 | Public Budgeting and Finance | 3 |
| PAF 507 | Public Human Resource Management | 3 |
| PAF 508 | Organization Behavior | 3 |
| PAF 574 | Diversity, Ethics and Leading Public Change | 3 |
| Total Required Core | 27 credits | |
Concentration
other approved course (3)
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NLM 510 | The Nonprofit Sector | 3 |
| NLM 520 | Financial and Resource Management | 3 |
| Total Concentration | 9 credits | |
Electives or Research
Culminating Experience
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PAF 509 | Public Affairs Capstone | 3 |
| Total Culminating Experience | 3 credits | |
Additional Curriculum Information
Students should see the academic unit for a complete list of approved electives as well as the list of courses that may fulfill the concentration requirement. Approved elective credit hours may include courses offered by the school or other academic units in the university.
Click a course code or title to read the full course description.
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