The course development process for an integrated nonprofit management course concentration: business competencies needed for nonprofit careers

Abstract

The paper describes an integrated, interdisciplinary nonprofit management three-course concentration developed for an undergraduate public service major at a small, private college. We describe the course development process and implementation issues pertinent to nonprofit management education that include where to house programs, faculty issues, interdisciplinary teaching, students' needs and experiential learning. Our course objectives aimed to develop business competencies from accounting, finance, management and marketing in the context of nonprofit organizations for students with no prior business knowledge. The paper concludes with a description of our three courses.

Issues Related to Accounting Education for NFPs in the U.S.

“…4 ( [16]) regards students as a category of users of financial statements, although this may differ from the way other countries think of students. [17] explains curriculum design for the general management of NFPs course at Providence College. [17] Was published in an accounting journal and refers to accounting quite a bit.…”

“…[17] explains curriculum design for the general management of NFPs course at Providence College. [17] Was published in an accounting journal and refers to accounting quite a bit. When Providence College committed to this curriculum design, the university was aware that managers of NFPs have a lot of confidence in their financial management skills and want to acquire fundraising skills.…”

“…However, remarks on MPA education in [18] were related to governmental accounting rather than accounting for NFPs, because [18] was published in a journal of governmental accounting. Even though the title of this symposium was "The Evolution of Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting Education," there was only one article from the symposium dealing with NPAs, and the article was [17]. This symposium did not have a strong focus on accounting education for NFPs as compared to special issues related to governmental and not-for-profit accounting education.…”