Master of Public Administration

Not-for-Profit Management Track

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This track is appropriate for persons who wish to do any of the following jobs:

  • Serve in a senior administrative position in a not-for-profit agency
  • Serve as a planner, budget analyst or evaluator of a not-for-profit agency

This track is appropriate for persons who wish to direct, manage or start a not-for-profit organization. Students in the Not-for-profit Management track must complete eight required core courses, choose three pre-approved not-for-profit management-related courses and select two elective courses that are chosen with the approval of the MPA Director.

All Not-for-Profit Management track students must complete six credit hours of internship experience that involves full-time service in an approved not-for-profit agency.

Courses Required

  • MPA core courses listed on Academics page
  • 9 hours of required courses
    • PA 5270: Not-for-Profit Organizations
    • PA 5271: Grants Strategies and Preparation
    • PA 5665: Public Management
  • 6 hours of graduate courses in consultation with the MPA Director, including 3 hours of graduate elective coursework from outside the program.
  • 6 hours of internship PA 5900: Internship in Public Administration

Meet the Not-for-Profit Faculty

Recent Not-for-Profit Internship Placements

  • Appalachian Regional Healthcare Foundation
  • Manatee Children's Services
  • New River Conservencey
  • OASIS
  • Seeds of Change Appalachia-Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture
  • Western Youth Network
  • Women's Fund of the Blue Ridge

Recent Not-for-Profit Alumni

  • Early Childhood Services Coordinator, The Children's Resource Center (Hickory)
  • Executive Director of Nonprofit Leadership Development and Professional Coaching, Samaritan's Purse (Boone)
  • Housing Coordinator, OASIS Inc (Boone)
  • Manager, ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals) (New York City)
  • Parent Educator, Exceptional Children's Assistance Center (Asheville)
  • System of Care Coordinator, Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare (Dobson)
  • Volunteer Education Analyst, State Employees' Credit Union (Raleigh)
  • Workplace Policy Researcher, The National Partnership for Women & Families (Washington, D.C.)

State Nonprofit Professional Associations/Groups

"The MPA was perfect for me because it provided the skills and knowledge to be successful in a public/non-profit environment. Furthermore, the MPA at App State allowed me the flexibility to take some courses outside of the program that helped me gain a deeper understanding of the world I wanted to pursue a career in." — MPA Alum