Executive Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies
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. The executive master's degree enables practitioners with three to five years of work experience in the nonprofit sector to complete the M.A. in Philanthropic Studies in three years. The GRE is waived in lieu of this working experience.
Executive Program, Three-Year Plan
A participant in the executive format master's program can earn the 36-credit-hour requirements for the degree in three years 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.
Executive program students may satisfy elective requirements with nonprofit management online courses.
Summer Residential Study: Six Courses
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, email, fax, and telephone.
Course Offerings-Summer Residential Study
Most students take two of the following courses each summer:
These core courses are alternated every summer, except for P521, which is offered every summer to new students. Most students take two courses each summer.
- PHST P521 The Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector
- PHST P524 Civil Society in Comparative Perspective
- PHIL P542 Ethics and Values of Philanthropy
- ECON E514 Nonprofit Economy and Public Policy
- PHST P535 Law of Nonprofit Organizations
- PHST P515 History of Philanthropy
Directed Off-Site Study
Directed off-site study requires completing several non-residential learning experiences which total nine credit hours and include the following:
- PHST P590 Internship in Philanthropic Studies
- PHST P600 Thesis or two higher level courses in lieu of thesis
And the following courses:
- PHST P555/SPEA V558 Principles and Techniques of Fundraising
- PHST P557 Grant Making and the Role of Foundation
Fall and spring terms are generally used to complete the directed off-site study courses and electives.
Transfer Study (two electives)
With prior approval, two elective courses at the graduate level (for a maximum of eight credit hours) may be transferred from an accredited institution to Indiana University. While certain requirements do apply to transfer credits, this option allows a student the flexibility to study in his or her community and be exposed to related course work at other institutions.
Last Updated: July 2015