Management Specialization | Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis
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Management Specialization


This specialization prepares students for leadership in human service, governmental and non-profit organizations.

Within two to three years of graduation, most social workers take on some management responsibilities, such as supervision, budget management, program planning or committee work. Others actively seek mid- or senior management roles in areas such as volunteer management, program planning and evaluation, community relations, fundraising, foundation work or corporate social responsibility.

Faculty who teach our management courses are highly skilled, experienced human service CEOs and senior executives who bring real-life experience to the classroom. Coursework teaches students to assess organizational performance and implement best practices, as well as train for financial management responsibilities, supervision of employees and volunteers, fundraising and grant writing.

Marketable skills gained within this specialization enhance the future career and financial advancement opportunities for alumni. Graduates find employment within a variety of nonprofit, governmental and for-profit organizations providing social and human services.

Specialization Requirements: 9 Credits

  • Leading and Managing Employees, Volunteers and Teams (3 credits)
  • Leadership and Management of Human Service Organizations (3 credits)
  • Financial Management (3 credits)

Practicum

The Management specialization requires 120 hours of management tasks during the concentration practicum. Sample Management practicum sites include:

  • Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
  • Girl Scouts
  • Girls on the Run
  • Health Literacy Missouri
  • Jewish Federation of St. Louis
  • United Way of Greater St. Louis

Additional Resources

The Brown School’s Professional Development department offers a variety of Intensive Training Institutes and workshops focused on management skills, which students can pursue at nominal fee.


Barry Rosenberg

Specialization Chair

Barry Rosenberg joined the Brown School as a professor of practice, following a 37-year career of successful nonprofit management in the Jewish community, most recently as the CEO of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. He has also led numerous workshops locally, nationally and internationally about nonprofit governance, leadership, volunteer-professional relations and fundraising.

Evan Krauss

Featured Graduate

“At the Brown School you learn real-world, and often real-time, examples and strategies from faculty who are active leaders in the field. I was provided with an engaging and applicable education that equipped me for an array of opportunities and challenges throughout my career. Our communities need more social workers with management competencies to tackle our world’s most persisting and emerging issues.”



—Evan M. Krauss, MSW ’09, Director, East Side Aligned, United Way of Greater St. Louis