The Master of Science (MS) in Community Resources and Development with a specialization in Nonprofits and Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) at Arizona State University is a two-year program designed for individuals passionate about strengthening community organizations and addressing societal challenges. This program, ranked among the nation's best for graduate nonprofit management, will equip you with the skills to become an effective, professional agent of change in a globally expanding sector. You will develop critical and creative thinking abilities to tackle community issues and the challenges faced by organizations serving them, exploring topics across tourism, parks and recreation management, and sustainable community practices. This program is offered by the Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions and is located at the Downtown Phoenix campus. Please note that this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
The MS program requires either 30 credit hours with a thesis or 36 credit hours including an applied project. Both options include core courses, concentration-specific courses, and a culminating experience.
Applicants must satisfy requirements for both the Graduate College and Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. If your undergraduate academic work is not in related disciplines, you may need to complete an additional six credit hours of coursework, which can be taken alongside your master's degree classes. Only complete applications will be reviewed.
All students are required to pay certain fees, such as an athletics fee ($100), recreation fee ($28), student service facility fee ($100), student programs fee ($35), and health and wellness fee ($80). College and school-specific fees and a surcharge fee also apply. A complete list of fees is available on the ASU website.
You need a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) in the last 60 hours of your bachelor's degree or in an applicable master's degree. Proof of English proficiency is required if English is not your native language.
The program is designed to be completed in two years. It requires either 30 credit hours with a thesis or 36 credit hours including an applied project.
Tuition and fees vary based on residency status, and international students pay tuition and fees to ASU. An estimate can be obtained using the ASU Tuition Estimator. Various other fees, such as athletics and recreation fees, also apply.
The application deadline for Fall Admission with financial aid consideration is February 1, and for Spring Admission it is October 1. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but applying by these dates is recommended for those seeking aid.
Graduates can pursue careers in charitable associations, foundations, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private-sector businesses, gaining expertise in nonprofit leadership and management.
The New American University Scholarship is available for graduate students. If you previously held a scholarship at ASU as an undergraduate and completed your degree within a certain timeframe, remaining scholarship amounts may be applied to this program.