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Foundations of Public Policy
This foundational course introduces students to the major theories and developments in public policy & administration. Emphasis is given to understanding the values of public institutions and the role of ethics in leading public-sector organizations.

Organizational Leadership
This course presents an overview of leadership concepts and theories with an emphasis on their applications within organizations. Special emphasis will be given to motivation, leadership styles, work environment, teamwork, and social behavior on decision-making, communication and leadership effectiveness within organizations.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
This course focuses on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace with attention to a critical analysis of the systemic realities shaping these areas. Emphasis is placed on understanding the individual and organizational needs related to sustainable diversity, equity, and inclusion work.

Research Methods
An examination of research methods available for data-driven decision making within organizations. Focus is placed on the systematic process of collecting, analyzing and interpreting data to answer a specific organizational issue. The course will also introduce students to basic descriptive and inferential statistical tools.

Organizational Behavior
The study of the behavior of individuals and teams within public organizations based on current theory. Emphasis is given to understanding, predicting, motivating and changing work-related behaviors in organizations. Key topics include organizational structure, understanding culture, power, diversity, leadership and communication within the organization.

Financial Management
A study of the key accounting and finance principles that provide leaders with a better understanding of the financial aspects of organizations. Topics include interpretation and analysis of financial statements, budgeting, time value of money and financial planning.

Nonprofit Strategic Leadership
This course explores the theories and practice of nonprofit leadership. Topics include strategies for improved leadership within a team-based context, managing interpersonal conflict, and effective mission-based strategy.

Marketing & Outreach
This course focuses on marketing strategies and principles necessary for nonprofit growth in today’s economy. Emphasis will be placed on developing a marketing strategy, brand development, collaborative partnerships and digital communications

Human Resource Management
A survey course that examines the concepts and practices of human resource management. Topics include recruitment, training and development, compensation, managing volunteers, and employee relations.

Advancement & Fundraising
This course covers the principles and best practices of fundraising including fundraising strategy and sources of funds. It will also consider the importance of donor relations, confidentiality, and legal and ethical considerations in fundraising.

Governance: Boards & Structures
This course discusses the elements of board governance in nonprofit organizations and the structures of these types of organizations. This includes understanding the roles of the board, executive director, and other staff, along with an examination of the ways in which organizational structure shapes these roles.

Capstone: Assessment, Planning, & Change Management
This course is the capstone for the program and provides an emphasis on experiential learning within an organization. The focus of the class will center on a project connected to an organizational need related to assessment, planning, and change management. Pre-requisites: all other courses in the program except for Governance: Boards & Structures.

Biblical Theology of Justice
This course will aid students in constructing and enacting a biblical theology of public justice by critically examining various hermeneutical approaches to Scripture, engaging the Bible’s vision of God’s justice in the Old and New Testaments, and discerning how this vision relates to Christian embodiment of justice in contemporary culture.

Biblical, Theological, and Historical Foundations of Justice
This course will aid students in constructing and enacting a theology of public justice by integrating sound biblical exegesis, theology that is grounded in the historic Christian tradition, and appropriating insights from contemporary justice movements.

Cultural Intelligence
This course is designed to give leaders an introductory grasp of cultural intelligence, a person’s ability to adapt successfully to different national, organizational, and professional cultures. Literature from the fields of anthropology and sociology are used as well as studying cultural engagement in light of the biblical narrative, as a way to develop missional communities of incarnational ministry.

Contemporary Issues in Social Justice
Meaningful responses to human suffering are grounded in acknowledging the inherent complexity and enduring presence of injustice along with understanding the ways in which injustice shapes individuals and communities. Students will engage in reading, reflection, and discussion to develop a broader understanding of a variety of contemporary social justice issues including, racial justice, immigration, gender, poverty, healthcare, and disability. This course serves as an introduction to the Systems, Structure & Social Justice course by paving the way for students to better understand the significant role that systems and structures play in forming and sustaining injustice.

Systems, Structures & Social Justice
Using perspectives from contemporary social justice theory, students will look at what it means to be leaders who champion just systems and practices in various contexts. This course asks students to address such questions as: What does it mean to lead justly and to advocate for justice? How do systems and structures foster and sustain injustice? How are systems of injustice dismantled and more just systems constructed? How might nonprofit organizations effectively collaborate with other stakeholders in the work of creating a more just society and world? A range of social justice perspectives and theory will present the primary models that have been discussed over the past half-century. Using a problem-based learning approach, students will examine current issues in greater depth and develop a response based on current research and best practice.

Social Justice Capstone
This course is the capstone for the program and provides an emphasis on experiential learning within an organization. The focus of the class will center on applying theories and principles for social justice within an organizational context. Pre-requisites: all other courses in the program except for Systems, Structures & Social Justice.