ASU introduces online Bachelor of Science in nonprofit leadership and management
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Starting this fall, Arizona State University’s School of Community Resources and Development will offer an online Bachelor of Science in nonprofit leadership and management.
The new degree will join an online master’s degree and the current in-person bachelor’s degree in nonprofit leadership and management at ASU, which are both experiencing strong demand as job openings at nonprofits become more plentiful.
The online bachelor's degree is expected to appeal to a growing number of employees who are leaving for-profit jobs to explore careers in the nonprofit sector, said Assistant Teaching Professor Megan Pontes, interim program lead for the new degree.
“People increasingly want to shift to the nonprofit sector — people who may or may not already have a bachelor’s degree,” Pontes said. “These include former military members and nontraditional students.”
Want to know more?
Information about the degree and steps to apply for the program are available here.
The nonprofit sector’s expansion reflects an increased concern for community causes, particularly common among members of Generation Z, but also rising in other generations, she said.
“They’re about getting involved and making an impact,” said Pontes, who noted that, in Phoenix, interest in housing- and health-related fields has spiked in recent years.
Employment in U.S. nonprofits — defined as organizations that are tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code — rose 18.6% from 2007 to 2017 while for-profit jobs only increased 6.2%, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Two-thirds of nonprofit jobs are in health care and social assistance, the bureau reported.
A lack of qualified workers continues to challenge the nonprofit sector. A 2023 National Council of Nonprofits survey found nearly three out of four U.S. nonprofits surveyed reported job vacancies. More than half reported having more openings than before the COVID-19 pandemic, and almost three in 10 have longer waiting lists for services than before the pandemic.
Students pursuing the degree will learn how to tackle important societal challenges — from environmental sustainability and public health to community development and international relief — by blending leadership training, strategic management and hands-on learning, according to the program description.
“We will be preparing the next generation of nonprofit leaders, particularly here in the Valley,” Pontes said of the online bachelor’s degree program. “There is a need to prepare and help people see the possibilities of making an impact in their communities.”
The School of Community Resources and Development is part of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.
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