Programs by Campus

Indianapolis

Philanthropic Studies
School of Liberal Arts

Departmental E-mail: maphil [at] iupui [dot] edu

Departmental URL: www.philanthropy.iupui.edu

Curriculum

Curriculum
Courses
Faculty

Philanthropic Studies at Indiana University is interdisciplinary, interprofessional, and system wide. The field addresses volun­tary contributions of time and money, voluntary associations, and what has been called “the social history of the moral imagi­nation.” Areas of inquiry range from the history of philanthropy and philanthropy in literature to nonprofit management and legal issues. Undergraduate and graduate programs in various areas of philanthropic studies are available in the University Graduate School, the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and other schools at IUPUI and IU Bloomington.

New courses and degree programs develop rapidly. For up-to-date information, please contact the Philanthropic Studies Program (www.philanthropy.iupui.edu).

Degrees Offered

Master of Arts, Executive Master of Arts, Doctorate of Philosophy, Dual Master of Arts with MA in Economics, MA in History, MSN in Nursing, MS in Library and Information Sciences and MPA in Nonprofit Management.

Special Departmental Requirements
(See also general University Graduate School requirements.)

Master of Arts Degree

The Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies focuses on the history, culture, and values of philanthropy. Its objectives are to enable students to gain the knowledge and skills either to pursue further graduate study in relevant fields or to pursue careers in the independent sector or in related fields; to en­able students to investigate the broader theoretical issues of philanthropy and of their chosen areas of specialization from a variety of disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives; and to utilize the interdisciplinary base to maintain a thoroughgoing critical inquiry into the historical and cultural implications of philanthropy.

Admission Requirements

Requirements include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, a minimum 3.0 grade point average on a scale of 4.0, and a minimum 3.0 average in the student’s major field. In addition, students seeking admission to the program should demonstrate an appropriate level of achievement on the Graduate Record Examination (or comparable proficiency test) and must arrange for three letters of recommendation that speak to the applicant’s academic and personal qualifica­tions to be addressed to the M.A. program Admissions Commit­tee.

Applicants who do not meet all of the requirements listed above may be admitted to the program on a provisional basis, in which case their status will be reviewed after a fixed period of time to determine whether they may continue in the pro­gram.

Financial Aid

Several scholarships and research assistantships are available. Please contact the Philanthropic Studies Program for more information (www.philanthropy.iupui.edu).

Course Requirements

The M.A. in philanthropic studies requires a total of 36 credit hours: 21 required, 6 in electives, 6 more for a thesis or courses in lieu of thesis (at least one of which has to involve significant research), and 3 for a directed philanthropic studies intern­ship. A minimum of 18 credit hours in core and elective courses combined must be in the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, and not more than 9 credit hours may be taken in courses num­bered below 500. These 9 credits may come only from courses approved for University Graduate School credit. In addition, for the nonthesis option, at least one of the courses must have a major research component.

In order to earn the M.A. in philanthropic studies, students must maintain a 3.0 grade average on a scale of 4.0. Grades in courses counting for credit toward this degree may be no lower than C (2.0 on a scale of 4.0).

The 18 credits of core courses normally include

Philanthropic Studies P521 The Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (this course or SPEA V521 are required prerequisites before any other courses can be taken, please contact department for questions); History H509 Special Topics in European History (Topic: History of Philan­thropy in the West) or History H516 History of Philanthropy in the United States; Philosophy P542 The Ethics and Values of Philanthropy; PHST P555/SPEA V558 Fund Development for Nonprofit Organizations or SPEA V522 Human Resource Management in Nonprofit Organizations or SPEA V559 Principles of Social Entrepreneurship or SPEA V526 Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations or other content course that deals with Human and Financial resources for Philanthropy; Philanthropic Studies P523 Civil Society and Philanthropy, and Philanthropic Studies; P590 Internship in Philanthropic Studies. In addition, students will take either Economics E514 The Nonprofit Economy and Public Policy or Philanthropic Studies P535 The Law of Nonprofit Or­ganizations, and one comparative Philanthropy course to be se­lected from the following or other approved courses: Religious Studies R590 Religion and Philanthropy, Philanthropic Studies P530 Cross-Cultural Dimensions of Giving, and SPEA V524 Civil Society in Comparative Perspective.

Master of Arts Degree in Philanthropic Studies: Executive Format

Many students interested in the M.A. program are unable to at­tend on a traditional residential basis because of their distance from Indianapolis and ongoing job responsibilities.
A participant in the executive format master’s program can fin­ish the requirements for the degree by completing:

  • six intense one-week residential classes or regularly scheduled classes at IUPUI;
  • distance education and directed off-site course work; and
  • elective study at a qualified institution.

Each summer course requires one week of intense on-campus study and is preceded by a pre-residential period of approxi­mately six weeks in length which includes preparatory reading and assignments. Each session is followed by a post-residential period which includes evaluative experiences to be completed at home. During both the pre-residential and post-residential periods, faculty work with students by using the web, e-mail, fax, telephone, and postal service.

Degree requirements for the executive M.A. program are es­sentially the same as the requirements for the residential M.A. in philanthropic studies.  However, instead of Philanthropic Studies P523, students must take Philanthropic Studies P535 The Law of Nonprofit Organizations and Economics E514 The Nonprofit Economic and Public Policy.

Applicants for the executive program must meet the same ad­mission criteria as those applying for the residential program, with the addition of three to five years of work experience in the nonprofit sector being required in lieu of the GRE require­ment. Deadline dates for admission are January 15 for non–U.S. citizens and February 1 for U.S. citizens. Applications will be considered after the deadline until the cohort is full. Please contact the department for more information.

For more information, contact the Center on Philanthropy, (317) 274-4200 or www.philanthropy.iupui.edu.

Dual Degree Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies and Master of Arts in Economics

The dual master’s degree in philanthropic studies and econom­ics substantially benefits students intending to pursue a career in independent research, academia, or practice. Normally, those pursuing a career in research or academia continue in a Ph.D. program in economics, finance, accounting, manage­ment, marketing, or public policy. Very few doctoral programs include substantial content on philanthropy or nonprofit organizations. As such, the M.A. in philanthropic studies provides a broad interdisciplinary background that makes the future researcher sensitive to the institutional details, values, and history of the sector, thus leading to better research. For the future nonprofit manager or leader, economics provides the principles and methodologies to make informed decisions on the appreciative level, the policy level, and the managerial level.

Admission requirements for the dual degree program are iden­tical to those for each program separately. Separate applica­tion must be made to each of the two programs. Students are expected to take responsibility for learning about and meeting the admission requirements of each school individually, which may differ from each other in application documents required, minimal standards of criteria for admission, and deadline dates. Students must make plans early with advisors in both programs to identify (1) common courses and (2) thesis credit.

Study for the two degrees can be combined for a total of 51 credit hours rather than the 66 credit hours that would be re­quired if the two degrees were taken separately. Two of the re­quired core courses for the M.A. in economics may be selected as electives to meet the philanthropic studies requirement for two applied electives. One of the required philanthropic studies courses, Economics E514 The Nonprofit Economy and Public Policy, may be taken to meet 3 of the 12 credit hours of electives required in the economics program. A common thesis meets the requirements of both departments.  Further information regarding regulations governing advanced degree programs may be obtained from the respective depart­ments.

Dual Degree Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies and Master of Arts in History

The dual M.A. in history and philanthropic studies creates a unique opportunity to pursue critical inquiry into the historical, cultural, philosophical, and economic implications of voluntary action for the public good. Historians routinely study the role of nonprofit organizations, self-help groups, and philanthropic in­stitutions. This dual-degree program offers an interdisciplinary focus on the past, present, and future. This degree will be at­tractive to students wishing to pursue (1) careers that demand the skills and talents developed by cross-training in history and philanthropy or (2) doctoral programs that encourage new and creative approaches to the historical study of philanthropy, broadly defined.

Admission requirements for the dual degree program are identical to those for each program separately. A separate ap­plication must be made to each of the programs. Prospective students are expected to take responsibility for learning about and meeting the different admission requirements and dead­lines of each department. Students must make plans early with advisors in both programs to identify common courses and a thesis topic.

Study for these two degrees can be combined for a total of 51 credit hours (U.S. or European history concentrations) or 54 credit hours (public history) rather than the 66 or 72 credit hours that would be required if the two degrees were taken separately. For all concentrations, the required 700-level seminar for the M.A. in history may be selected as an elec­tive to meet the philanthropic studies requirement for one of two electives. The required philanthropic studies course H509 History of Philanthropy in the West or H511 History of Philan­thropy in the United States may be taken to meet the history requirement for a history elective. Required courses Philosophy P542 Ethics and Values of Philanthropy or PHST P555/SPEA V558 Fund Development for Nonprofit Organizations or SPEA V522 Human Resource Management in Nonprofit Organizations or SPEA V559 Principles of Social Entrepreneurship or SPEA V526 Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations or other content course that deals with Human and Financial resources for Philanthropy, may be taken to meet 3 of the 6 credits of outside electives that may be taken in the history program. For public history students, History H543 Practicum meets the requirement for PHST P590 Internship for the philanthropic studies program. A common thesis meets the requirements of both departments.  Further information regarding regulations governing advanced degree programs may be obtained from the respective depart­ments.

Dual Degree Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies and Master of Science in Nursing

While the M.S.N. with a major in nursing administration provides an essential background for the nurse executive, the addition of the M.A. in philanthropic studies adds an apprecia­tion of the philanthropic tradition and the skills to become accomplished developmental officers.

Admission requirements for the combined degree program are identical to those for each program separately. Separate application must be made to each of the two programs. Students are expected to take responsibility for learning about and meeting the admission requirements of each school individu­ally, which may differ from each other in application docu­ments required, minimal standards of criteria for admission, and deadline dates. Applicants should apply for the combined degree option before completing 21 credit hours in the M.S.N. in Nursing Administration Program and before completing the core requirements or 18 credit hours of the M.A. in philan­thropic studies. Students must make plans early with advisors in both programs to identify (1) common courses and (2) thesis credit.

Study for the two degrees can be combined for a total of 60 credit hours rather than the 78 credit hours that would be required if the two degrees were taken separately. Two of the required courses for the M.S.N. are used as electives to meet the Philanthropic Studies Program requirement of two elec­tives. The P590 Internship required for the M.A. will meet the administrative practicum requirement for the M.S.N. The M.A. thesis or approved doctoral-level courses, plus one additional approved course, fulfill the required M.S.N. focus concentra­tion. Students can choose between Nursing L671, or Economics E514 in the M.A. program may be taken to meet the SPEA H514 requirement in the M.S.N. program.
Further information regarding regulations governing advanced degree programs may be obtained from the respective departments.

Dual Degree Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies and Master of Science in Library and Information Sciences (SLIS)

Designed for the student seeking a management career with libraries and other nonprofit institutions. Content includes gaining expertise in management of special library programs, fund-raising and endowment management, capital project management and leadership in academic, corporate or large public libraries. The dual MLS–MA in Philanthropic Studies program requires completion of a minimum of 51 credit hours of graduate course work. Students must apply for admission to the master’s programs of both the School of Library and Information Science and the Philanthropic Studies Program at the IUPUI Graduate School and meet the admission criteria established for each. The two degrees must be awarded simultaneously.

Dual Degree Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies and Master of Public Affairs in Nonprofit Management

The continual blurring of sectors and the call for government devolution demand that advanced education for public manag­ers must address critical issues associated with the relation­ship between and the functions of nonprofit and government agencies. The combined degree in public affairs in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) and in the Philan­thropic Studies Program provides an education with breadth and depth. Students in this combined degree program have the opportunity to pursue critical inquiry into the “how” and the “why” of nonprofit management and philanthropy. As a result they are better prepared to be scholars and reflective practitio­ners.

Admission requirements for the combined degree program are identical to those for each program separately. Separate application must be made to each of the two programs, and students should take responsibility to learn about and meet the admission requirements of each school individually, which may differ from each other in application documents required, minimal standards of criteria for admission, and deadline dates. Applicants should apply for the combined degree option before completing the core requirements or 36 credit hours of the M.P.A. with a nonprofit management concentration and before completing the core requirements or 18 credit hours of the M.A. in philanthropic studies. Students must make plans early with advisors in both programs to identify (1) common courses and (2) thesis credit.

Study for the two degrees can be combined for a total of 60 credit hours (rather than the 84 credit hours that would be re­quired if the two degrees were taken separately). The dual de­gree curriculum requires 21 credit hours in SPEA core courses and 12 credit hours in Philanthropic Studies core courses. In ad­dition, students must take either SPEA V521 or PHST P521 (The Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector), SPEA V522 (Human Resource Management in Nonprofit Organizations), three nonprofit application courses, a comparative elective in Philanthropic Studies, an additional elective approved by their advisor, and a directed Philanthropic Studies internship. Students may fulfill their philanthropic studies thesis requirement with their SPEA capstone, but must then take another Philanthropic Studies elective, approved by their advisor.  Further information regarding regulations governing advanced degree programs may be obtained from the respective depart­ments.

Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies

This program is designed to prepare future scholars and leaders in the world of philanthropy, higher education, and nonprofit organizations. It is intended for students who are seeking a traditional doctoral degree, not a professional degree. The Ph.D. will prepare students for academic positions as well as for research and leadership positions in a wide variety of nonprofit organizations.

Before admission to the Ph.D. program, students must com­plete a master’s degree in philanthropic studies or at least 30 credits of equivalent graduate course work. Equivalent work will be determined by the Admissions Committee, subject to applicable Indiana University rules. Examples include courses in nonprofit management, civil society, philanthropic history, eth­ics, religion, philanthropy, public administration, and business.

The minimum requirements for the Ph.D. in philanthropic stud­ies are 90 credit hours of advanced study, of which 30 credit hours may be transferred from a master’s degree or equivalent program that has covered the concepts of philanthropic studies as described in Indiana University’s M.A. in Philanthropic Stud­ies Program. The credit hours for the Ph.D. include the follow­ing categories: 12 credit hours of required Philanthropic Studies doctoral courses, 12 credit hours in a minor field, 9 credit hours of research methods, and 6 credit hours of electives. The remaining 21 credit hours are to be used as dissertation research credit taken in additional coursework that supports the dissertation research.

Ph.D. Minor in Philanthropic Studies

Ph.D. students in other departments may, with the consent of their committee, minor in philanthropic studies. The minor will enable the student to take an organized body of courses focus­ing on the history, culture, and values of philanthropy, defined broadly as “voluntary action for the public good.”

The minor requires 12 credit hours of course work to be taken from an approved list of courses, including either SPEA V521 or PHST P521 (The Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector), and passed with a grade of B (3.0) or higher in each course. With written approval from the Director of Graduate Programs in Philanthropic Studies, courses other than those listed may be accepted to fulfill degree requirements. No more than 6 credit hours of course work may be transferred from another univer­sity and applied toward this requirement, and such credit must be approved by the Director of Graduate Programs. Students must also successfully pass a question on Philanthropic Studies in their qualifying exams or equivalent tests required by their departments.

To arrange for a Philanthropic Studies minor, students should contact the Director of Graduate Programs in Philanthropic Studies, who will also recommend a member of the Philan­thropic Studies faculty to serve as a minor field advisor.

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