Graduate Courses
- PHST-P 501 The Philanthropic Tradition (3 cr.) This interdisciplinary course examines the core values of philanthropy and the principal patterns of philanthropic behavior and organization with particular emphasis on the Western tradition and its American adaptation.
- PHST-P 502 The Philanthropic Tradition II (3 cr.)
This course complements PHST-P501. This course emphasizes the challenges facing the philanthropic traditions and philanthropic institutions along with an introduction to some of the issues that face philanthropic leaders and nonprofit directors.
- PHST-P 515 History of Philanthropy (3 cr.) This interdisciplinary course examines traditions of giving and receiving charity and philanthropy in the modern era. It takes a comparative approach to giving including different historical contexts and traditions. Among the topics covered will be donor motivations, definitions of need, identity formation, and philanthropy, politics and social change.
- PHST-P 521 The Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.)
This course is an introduction to the size, scope, and function of the nonprofit sector and the role of voluntary action in the United States. It provides a broad overview of the historical origins of the U.S. nonprofit and voluntary sector, as well as the religious, political, economic and social rationales for its existence. The course also examines perspectives on why people organize, donate to, and volunteer for nonprofit organizations. The primary goal of this course is to help students become “philanthropically literate”—that is, familiar with the critical and foundational theories, concepts, issues, readings and terminologies of the field of philanthropic studies—in preparation for continued study in future courses.
- PHST-P 523 Civil Society and Philanthropy (3 cr.) The course explores the relationship of civil society to the state, how the nonprofit sector affects the state, and how the state regulates the sector. A continuing theme will be how and whether the state and philanthropic institutions make investments in strengthening civil society.
- PHST-P 524 Civil Society in Comparative Perspective (3 cr.)
An exploration of state-society relationships in a variety of regimes and time periods. Focuses on ways regimes' policies affect the existence and organizations that stand between the individual and the state and how nonprofit organizations shape the policy agenda of a regime.
- PHST-P 527 Rross Cultural Dimensions of Philanthropy (3 cr.)
Examines cross-cultural research on philanthropy and pursues critical inquiry into the historical and cultural implications of philanthropy. The course focuses on the diverse systems of giving and serving within philanthropic traditions in the United States and around the world.
- PHST-P 530 Topics in Philanthropic Studies (3 cr.) In-depth study of selected topics and issues in philanthropic studies. Specific topics vary by semester. Course may be repeated once for credit with a different course topic.
- PHST-P 535 Law of Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.) This seminar examines aspects of the legal regulation of nonprofit organizations. Topics include the formation, operation, and governance of nonprofit organizations, duties and liability of officers and directors, charitable solicitation, tax-exempt status for public benefit and mutual benefit organizations, charitable contributions, lobbying, and other related topics.
- PHST-P 555 Readings in Philanthropic Studies (1-4 cr.) P: Permission of the Director. A tutorial course involving in-depth study and analysis of a specific topic in philanthropic studies, by arrangement with the instructor.
- PHST-P 557 Grant Making and the Role of Foundations (3 cr.)
This course explores questions of legitimacy, effectiveness, and acountability among U.S. philanthropic foundations. Students will expore the role of foundations in society, how roles are successfully fulfilled, how role fulfillment is measured and what current trends in foundation philanthropy might mean for the future of local and global philanthropy.
- PHST-P 558 Principles and Practices of Fundraising (3 cr.)
This course covers salient aspects of fundraising by nonprofit organizations - its core values, preparing a case, techniques and strategies, assessing sources of support, engagement of human resources, and process management. The course addresses theory to undergird practice, examination of current practice and practice standards, and ethical problems in fundraising.
- PHST-P 590 Internship in Philanthropic Studies (3 cr.) A course for the advanced student of philanthropy. Students work 10 hours per week for a voluntary association, applying knowledge gained in earlier courses to practical situations. Requirements generally include a journal and a substantial paper.
- PHST-P 602 Qualitative Methods for Third Sector Research (3 cr.) This course examines the organization, design, and execution of multi-method, qualitative research with a special emphasis on third sector contexts. Specific tools for research, such as observation, interview, case study design, and document analysis will be examined through course readings, discussion, and the conduct of student projects.
- PHST-P 660 Ethical, Moral, and Religious Aspects of Philanthropy (3 cr.) This doctoral seminar focuses on the major ethical and moral texts that explain and justify philanthropy. Emphasis is placed on the philosophy of philanthropy in comparative perspective, world traditions of social and religious conditions, and moral issues raised in philanthropic practice.
- PHST-P 662 Historical and Cultural Perspectives of Philanthropy (3 cr.) This doctoral seminar focuses on the history of Philanthropy from earliest to contemporary times. Cross-cultural perspectives are considered as socially and historically conditioned. Ethnic and gender philanthropy are examined across geographic, cultural, and chronological periods.
- PHST-P 664 Philanthropy and Nonprofit Organizations in Society (3 cr.) Social, psychological, political, and economic theories are used to explain philanthropy and the practice of philanthropy through organizations in society. Major theoretical concepts such as contract failure, social origins theory, voluntary failure, and serial reciprocity presented along with others.
- PHST-P 665 Nonprofits and Philanthropy in Society II (3 cr.)
This course complements PHST-P664. Topics covered in this course include organization theory, networks, nonprofit/for-profit relationships, nonprofit revenues, social enterprise, social capital, civil society, advocacy and social movements, non-governmental organizations (NGO's) and cross-national or international NGO's, nonprofit governance, and public policies affecting philanthropy and nonprofit organizations.
- PHST-P 690 Research in Philanthropic Studies (1-3 cr.) P: One semester of M.A. course work. Students will research specialized topics related to philanthropic studies agreed upon with the instructor from and in their chosen disciplinary perspective. In some instances, team research may be carried out. The course may be repeated once with approval by the chair of philanthropic studies.
- PHST-P 790 Research Seminar in Philanthropic Studies (3 cr.) This doctoral seminar examines epistemological issues and tools, synthesizes the ways of knowing, and assesses forces that affect the conduct and use of knowledge in philanthropic studies. Multiple disciplinary perspectives and contemporary theoretical foundations of philanthropic studies are used to design and critique potential dissertation projects.