Bridgewater College to offer master’s degree, certificate in nonprofit management

New graduate programs in nonprofit management at Bridgewater College will help current and future leaders develop the skills necessary to lead sustainable nonprofit organizations.

In May 2025, Bridgewater’s Nolen School of Business and Professional Studies will offer a master’s in nonprofit management and a graduate certificate in nonprofit management. Both programs are pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges during fall 2024.

“These programs have grown out of Bridgewater College’s mission to prepare students to lead principled lives of purpose and consequence,” said Dr. Barbara Long, dean of the Nolen School of Business and Professional Studies. “The master of arts in nonprofit management and the certificate program are based on what nonprofits actually need and we will train our students to enter or move up in health care, education, arts administration or the nonprofit field of their choice.”

The master’s in nonprofit management (MNPM) includes 30 hours of coursework in areas critical to nonprofit organization such as financial management, human resources, marketing, fundraising and leadership. Students will complete a capstone project focused on a specific nonprofit industry that interests them or applies to their career goals. The MNPM is comprised of 10 courses and can be completed on a full-time basis in 12 months or on a part-time basis.

Students in the 12-credit hour certificate in nonprofit management (CNPM) will complete three required courses and one elective course on either a full-time or part-time basis. If desired, the CNPM coursework can also be used toward the completion of the MNPM. The CNPM is the first graduate certificate offered by Bridgewater College.

The curricula of both programs are designed following the recommendations of the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council, an international membership association of academic programs at accredited colleges and universities. Courses will be taught in-person or online.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nonprofit sector is expected to grow by 6.5 percent in the next 10 years, more than double the average growth rate of all businesses. Nonprofit businesses employ 12.5 million people annually in the U.S., and more than 50,000 nonprofit organizations operate in the Commonwealth.

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