5.12.2008 - 11:13am ET

(CSRwire) MINNEAPOLIS, May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Nonprofit organizations now employ a sizable and increasing share of the nation's workforce, and Walden University, one of the largest online providers of graduate degrees, is offering an M.S. in Nonprofit Management and Leadership to prepare students to advance their careers in this important high-growth sector. Students in the program will have the opportunity to gain the management and organizational skills needed to lead diverse and complex nonprofit organizations and serve as social change agents in local and global communities.

"Professionals in the nonprofit sector have a wide-reaching impact in their communities, directly influence the course of society, and touch the lives of others. Students in the M.S. in Nonprofit Management and Leadership program can enhance their ability to create positive social change -- a key component of Walden's mission for 38 years," said Dr. Mark Gordon, who directs the program at Walden.

The program's curriculum focuses on understanding and applying concepts, principles, and processes related to leading and managing nonprofit organizations in the United States and abroad. Students learn to use appropriate statistics, methodologies, and program evaluation; apply concepts, principles, and processes related to budget, finance, and resource development; employ strategic planning related to marketing, public relations, and communication; and craft strategies for acquiring, managing, developing, and retaining volunteers and board members. The final capstone project builds on coursework and provides real-world experience that can immediately be applied to students' nonprofit organizations.

The nonprofit sector is adding both paid jobs and volunteer workers at a much higher rate than the rest of the economy. The Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action estimates that by 2010, employment in the nonprofit sector will reach 15 million.

Also, according to a March 3, 2008, article in the Washington Post, many experts believe the nonprofit sector is facing an unexpected crisis in leadership, due largely to job attrition and an aging workforce. This crisis further contributes to the increased demand for qualified nonprofit managers.

Walden University, an accredited online institution, provides students with the support they need to succeed in their studies, including access to academic advisors, tutors, a Writing Center, university librarians, and a range of other student support services.

For more information, call an enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336 or visit www.WaldenU.edu.

About Walden University

Since 1970, Walden University has offered working professionals the opportunity to earn advanced degrees through distance learning. Today, this comprehensive, accredited online university offers master's and doctoral degrees in education, psychology, management, public policy and administration, and health and human services, as well as master's programs in engineering and IT and bachelor's programs in business, psychology, and child development. Walden University is a member of Laureate International Universities, a leading global network of accredited campus-based and online universities. For more information, visit www.WaldenU.edu.

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, http://www.ncahlc.org;
1-312-263-0456.

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