Is Nonprofit Management the right grad degree for you? Part One: What makes it distinct?

This week the Idealist Grad Fairs launch in New York City and Washington, DC. What will you study in grad school? With a plethora of graduate disciplines available to you—MBA, MPA, Social Work—you may be wondering, why should I go for a specialized degree in nonprofit management? When you enroll in a nonprofit management grad program, you gain the skills and knowledge specific to and necessary for leadership in this growing and dynamic sector. Furthermore, your classmates will be very likely to share your interest in and knowledge of mission-based social and environmental work. Your studies will emphasize nonprofit concerns, case studies, leadership, and examples as a default. In this episode of the grad schools podcast, Amy Potthast speaks with admissions officers Edward Grice, Chris Nicholson, and Rebecca Zirm on the advantages of a degree in nonprofit management. In the first segment of the show, Idealist’s Amy Potthast learn what makes a degree in nonprofit management distinct. It is a very narrowly focused degree, mostly geared towards professionals already in the sector or career changers, and it prepares students for senior leadership positions in the sector. Edward Grice is the Associate Dean of the MBA program in nonprofit management at the American Jewish University. Chris Nicholson is the Director of Graduate Admissions at North Park University in Chicago, home of the Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management. And Rebecca Zirm is the Director of Recruitment at the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organization and Case Western Reserve University. Learn more! Idealist Grad Fairs feature nonprofit management, public affairs, social work and other public service degrees — and they’re touring the country all fall. See the schedule and sign up here on Idealist.org. Idealist Grad School Resource Center features an overview of the nonprofit management degree, among others. Seton Hall’s Nonprofit Management resources include a great overview of nonprofit education and a listing of grad programs.