Requirements for Admission
Curriculum
Courses
Admission Criteria
Expected Costs
Financial Aid
Application Deadlines
Graduate Record Examination
Application Information

The Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies at Indiana University is the first masters degree program in the United States to focus on the history, culture, and values of philanthropy. While other programs focus on the "how" of nonprofit management, this program focuses on the "why" - the social, cultural, political, and economic roles played by philanthropy and nonprofit organizations in both contemporary and historical settings.

Our program enables you to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue further graduate study in relevant fields or to enter the field as a nonprofit professional. Investigate the broader theoretical issues of philanthropy and your area of specialization from a variety of disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives.

Curriculum

The M.A. in Philanthropic Studies is a 36-credit-hour graduate program that includes 24 hours of course work central to the study of philanthropy, 6 hours of elective courses and six hours of thesis work or courses in lieu of thesis. The Philanthropic Studies Program is part of the IUPUI School of Liberal Arts.

Courses

Required core courses (18 credits)
The 18 credits of core courses will normally include those listed below:

• The Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector PHST P521 3 credits
• Civil Society and Philanthropy
  PHST P523, 3 credits
• History of Philanthropy in the West HIST H509, 3 credits OR History of American Philanthropy HIST H516, 3 credits
• Human and Financial Resources for Philanthropy PHST P512, 3 credits
• Ethics and Values of Philanthropy
  PHIL P542, 3 credits
• Internship in Philanthropic Studies
  PHST P590, 3 credits

Comparative course - take one (3 credits)

• Cross-Cultural Dimensions of Philanthropy
  PHST P530, 3 credits
• Civil Society in Comparative Perspective
  SPEA V524/P530, 3 credits
• Religion and Philanthropy
  REL R590,3 credits

Policy course - take one (3 credits)

• The Nonprofit Economy and Public Policy
  ECON E514, 3 credits
• Law of Nonprofit Organizations
  PHST P535, 3 credits

Electives (6 credits)
Thesis or two additional approved graduate courses (6 credits) in lieu of thesis.

Requirements for Admission

The Philanthropic Studies Program is part of the School of Liberal Arts at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Requirements include a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, minimum 3.0 grade point average on a scale of 4, and a minimum 3.0 average in your major field. In addition, you should demonstrate an appropriate level of achievement on the Graduate Record Examination (or comparable proficiency test) and send three letters of recommendation to the M.A. Program Admissions Committee.

If you do not meet all of the requirements listed above, you may be admitted to the program on a conditional basis and will be reviewed after a fixed period of time to determine whether you may continue in the program.

Please send updated resume to , Student Services Coordinator.

Admission Criteria

• Prior Academic Work

  A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is required with a minimum of a 3.0 overall grade point average (on a scale of 4.0), and a minimum of a 3.0 average in your major field. Applicants with a grade point average below 3.0 may be considered for conditional admission.

• Results of the Graduate Record Examination General Test

  Applicants are expected to demonstrate an appropriate level of proficiency on the GRE or a comparable proficiency test (i.e., GMAT, LSAT). Results from the Graduate Record Examination taken within the past five years are required. The Graduate School of Indiana University has established the minimum criteria for GRE scores to be greater than 1000 (Verbal and Math combined).

  Note: Applicants whose academic records fail to satisfy the GRE standards may be admitted to the program on a conditional basis, in which case their status will be reviewed after a fixed period of time to determine whether they may continue in the program.

• Recommendations

  Preference will be given to those candidates who can demonstrate ability to successfully perform academic work. In selecting your recommenders, try to select those people who can best speak to indications of your ability to successfully do academic work. If a recommender is not in an academic environment, encourage him/her to assess your knowledge, skills, and abilities as they relate to your ability to do academic work.

• Essay

  Preference will be given to those candidates whose goals and interests, broadly speaking, match those of the Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies and its curriculum.

Expected Costs

Fees for the 2009-2010 academic year are $819.60 per credit hour for out-of-state students and $272.30 per credit hour for Indiana residents. Rates are subject to change by the Indiana University Board of Trustees.

Financial Aid

A number of fellowships, assistantships, and scholarships are available to graduate students in Philanthropic Studies. Complete applications must be submitted by February 1 for scholarship consideration.

Application Deadlines

Those students who are not U.S. citizens must submit their application materials no later than January 1. Students seeking financial aid must apply by February 1. The priority deadline for all others is April 1, but the Center will accept applications until July 15 if space is available.
The deadline for Spring admission is November 15. International applicants must apply by October 15.

Graduate Record Examination

Applicants should demonstrate an appropriate level of proficiency on the GRE. An official report of the results is required for admission. Computer-Based Testing is conducted year-round by appointment through designated test centers. Information on the GRE is generally available at a local college or university, or by calling Educational Testing Service at (800) GRE-CALL.

Application Information

Questions about the Center on Philanthropy and its other academic programs can be directed to:

The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University
550 West North Street, Suite 301
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3162
Telephone: 317-274-4200
Fax: 317-684-8900
Email: maphil@iupui.edu

Apply online now!

Instructions for applying online can be found here.

Apply online at the Indiana University Graduate School.

Philanthropic Studies Program

There has never been a more dynamic time in the history of philanthropy, and the "third sector" is playing a greater role in society than ever before. Indiana University's philanthropic studies program will develop a new generation of informed and committed leaders who will truly impact social action in the 21st century.
Established in 1987, the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy is the nation's most comprehensive academic resource dedicated to education, research and public service in philanthropy. We promote the study of philanthropy and the philanthropic tradition across academic discipline lines in both liberal arts and professional education. Our priority is to understand the role of philanthropy in society and to contribute to the knowledge base of the field.