Nonprofit studies

Nonprofit studies or nonprofit management is a multidisciplinary field of teaching and research that focuses on practices of the nonprofit sector and can date back to the 1920s. This area of inquiry examines the management and effectiveness of the nonprofit sector, and has sub-areas of research including business administration, public administration, marketing, communication, economics, human resources, philanthropy, ethics, law, political science, information technology, social entrepreneurship, grant writing, policy, fundraising, advocacy, volunteerism, data research, and civic engagement. A variety of higher education institutions and research organizations are dedicated to the teaching and research of issues related to the nonprofit sector. Degrees related to nonprofit studies are offered at undergraduate, graduate and doctorate levels. Additionally, individual courses within related disciplines - e.g. Business Administration, Communication Studies, Sociology, Public Policy, Political Science -examine nonprofit studies in a variety of contexts. Some of these courses can be combined to create a specialized master’s degree program know as the Master of Nonprofit Management. Nonprofit studies may also refer to studies of the voluntary sector, third sector, nongovernmental organizations, or civil society. Expert professors with experience in the nonprofit sector provide effective learning material for students in nonprofit studies. These professors have gained credible knowledge from working in, and doing research on nonprofit organizations. Other professors in nonprofit studies tend to also be a part of sociology, psychology, or public administration departments. Curriculum in nonprofit studies programs vary from program to program with a heavy emphasis in management above other content areas mentioned above.