Philanthropy, Advancement, and Development

As with other master's programs in higher education, a feature of this program is the interaction among students with different professional backgrounds and diverse career goals. Students have opportunities to work with other master's students in required courses as well as with doctoral students in cognate and elective courses. As students work together on assignments and discuss issues in and out of class, students come to appreciate and understand the multiple frames of reference that may be brought to bear on higher education decision-making.

The challenges that face higher education require that educators not only adapt to change but also engage in developing a vision of higher education for society. Our main goal for graduate training is to prepare individuals for leadership in shaping the future of higher education through generating and applying knowledge, advancing the role of higher education in supporting the public good, and improving institutional practice. This is accomplished through coursework and experiences designed to increase students' understanding of higher education as an academic area of inquiry and practice.

The challenges that face higher education require that educators not only adapt to change but also engage in developing a vision of higher education for society. Our main goal for graduate training is to prepare individuals for leadership in shaping the future of higher education through generating and applying knowledge, advancing the role of higher education in supporting the public good, and improving institutional practice. This is accomplished through coursework and experiences designed to increase students' understanding of higher education as an academic area of inquiry and practice.

This concentration is unique in several ways:

• The Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education has an established partnership with the U-M Office of University Development.
• Students benefit from the program's academic rigor set in the context of the university's renowned development initiatives.
• Graduates of this program can strengthen the field by integrating research findings into a more professional and informed approach to their practice.
• Students have opportunities to interact and collaborate with classmates who have different professional and personal backgrounds, as well as diverse career goals.
• Graduate study in this concentration considers broad issues that affect higher and postsecondary education as well as facets of institutional advancement such as governmental relations, marketing and communications, alumni relations, and development, including roles focused on the individual as well as institutional, corporate, and foundation relations. The contemporary and historical roles played by philanthropy in the culture and values of the U.S. are also examined.

This concentration might be of particular appeal to:

• Development officers interested in advancing their understanding of the higher education context
• Individuals interested in the field of development as a career option
• scholars interested in empirical study that will advance best practice considerations in the field of development

The following is an overview of the master of arts in higher education with a concentration in philanthropy, advancement and development in higher education requirements. This master's degree requires a minimum of 30 credits, including the following:

• Core curriculum (6 credits)
  • EDUC 561 Introduction to Higher Education, along with either
  • EDUC 764 Public Policy in Postsecondary Education, or
  • EDUC 761 Postsecondary Institutions as Complex Organizations

• Concentration courses (12 credits)
  • EDUC 669 Development and Advancement in Higher Education
  • EDUC 769 Philanthropy and Higher Education
  • An additional 6 credits suggested from but not limited to the following:
    • EDUC 761 Postsecondary Institutions as Complex Organizations
    • EDUC 763 Financial Management, Planning, and Budgeting in PSE
    • EDUC 764 Public Policy in Postsecondary Education
    • EDUC 768 Economics of Education
    • EDUC 872 State Government and Higher Education
    • EDUC 874 Higher Education and Law

• Cognates (6 credits)
  • 6 credits suggested from but not limited to the following courses:
    • Stephen M. Ross School of Business courses:
      • MO 501 Human Behavior and Organizations
      • MO 512 Bargaining and Influence Skills
      • MKT 501 Marketing Management
      • MKT 613 Consumer Behavior (MKT 501 prereq)
      • MKT 614 Social Marketing (MKT 501 prereq)
    • Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy courses:
      • PUBPOL 670 Nonprofit Marketing
      • PUBPOL 671 Policy and Management in the Nonprofit Sector
      • PUBPOL 679 Human Resources Management in the Nonprofit Sector
    • School of Social Work courses:
      • SOCWK Introduction to Community Organization, Management, and Policy Evaluation Practice
      • MHS 663 Grantgetting, Contracting, and Fundraising
    • School of Information courses:
      • SI 621 Ethics and Values: Dilemmas in the Use of Information Technology
      • SI 623 Outcome-based Evaluation of Programs and Services
      • SI 684 eCommunities: Analysis and Design of Online Interaction Environments

• Research Preparation (3 credits)
  • EDUC 695 Research and Education Practice or EDUC 793 Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Educational Research

• Two-semester administrative practicum (3 credits)
  • EDUC 777 Administrative PracticumThroughout their programs of study, students are encouraged to be involved in career-related professional practice. EDUC 777 is a special seminar designed for master's students to reflect upon the connections between out-of-the-classroom practice and in-classroom learning. This forum allows students to reflect upon their professional experiences and consider the implication for their field of practice as well as their own professional development and careers. (This concentration may also require a two-semester internship, based upon experience.)

Register as a prospective studentand obtain a UMID (University of Michigan ID) number. Having a UMID number will aid in the processing of your application. Complete the Rackham online application.Review the application checklist to ensure your submit a complete application. Please note the academic statement of purpose, personal statement of purpose, resume, and letters of recommendation must be submitted using the online application system. Hard copies will not be accepted.Submit your GRE scores. Test scores must be sent electronically to Rackham Graduate School (institution code: 1839) through Educational Testing Service (ETS).Submit your transcripts. All applicants are required to mail one set of transcripts (in their sealed institutional envelope) for all previous bachelor’s, master’s, professional, and doctoral degreesCheck your application status. Use the Wolverine Access system to verify your application information, check the status of your application, and update your email address, home address, and telephone number. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 560 TOEFL iBT® test: 84

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Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

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Scholarships

• Alumnae Council Scholarshipsare available to you when you're a second-year student. Note: You will find the scholarship listing under the section Scholarship Notification and Renewal (fourth listing from the top under the heading Scholarship Name).
• The International Institutelists numerous fellowships and awards for students interested in foreign languages and international studies.
• Levi L. Barbour Fellowship for Women from the OrientIn 1914 the bequest of Levi L. Barbour established a scholarship program at the University of Michigan for women of the highest academic and professional caliber from the area formerly known as the Orient (encompassing the lands extending from Turkey in the west to Japan and the Philippines in the east) to study modern science, medicine, mathematics and other academic disciplines and professions critical to the development of their native lands.
• Private ScholarshipsMany private scholarships for college students are offered each year by a variety of organizations. These scholarships can range in amount from small honorariums to thousands of dollars. To be considered, students must meet the eligibility criteria specified by the donor or sponsor and complete a scholarship application (if required). Please click on the following sites to learn more about scholarshipscollegescholarships.org or campusexplorer.com. Additionally, the Office of Financial Aid at the University of Michigan has a listing of their private scholarship awards.
• Rackham Graduate Schooladministers fellowships, grants, and scholarships for which you may be eligible.
• The Rackham Master's Awardis a competitive award open to newly admitted students in a Rackham graduate degree program; it provides three semesters of funding that includes tuition, two full semesters of fees and living expenses, and an academic year of health and dental insurance.
• The Center for the Education of Womenmay have funding for you if you've been out of school for eight months or longer.

Travel Grants

• Rackham Travel Grantshelp students defray traveling expenses incurred to present a poster or paper at a conference.

Research Support

• Rackham Research Grantsare designed to support students who need assistance to carry out research that advances their progress toward their degree. If you are a doctoral student, you may qualify twice for these funds, once before candidacy and once as a candidate. If you're a master’s student, then you are eligible to receive one of these grants.

Emergency Funding

• The Center for the Education of Womenoffers Critical Difference Grants for students in emergency situations.
• Rackham Graduate Schooladministers a Student Emergency Fund to help in case of medical, dental, or mental health emergencies for yourself or, in some circumstances, for your immediate family members.
• The School of Educationmay have resources for students in emergency situations.

Financial Aid

• A Child Care Subsidymay be available to you if you're a parent with child care expenses.
• The university's Office of Financial Aidhas information about various loan programs for which you may be able to apply.