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Institutional Advancement Concentration
“The curriculum was approachable and useful while still being challenging. In the Institutional Advancement track, each course built on the one before, which provided a clear indication as to how all the different pieces of the industry fit together.” - Darin Pfeifer, G'15
The Institutional Advancement Concentration in the MS in Higher Education Administration is a 12 course (36 credit) program. This concentration is designed for students who are pursuing, or wish to pursue, careers in any of the functional areas within Institutional Advancement, including fund raising and development, marketing and communications, alumni relations, and government and community affairs. Students will gain a broad exposure to these areas, along with an appreciation for the historical, legal and sociological contexts in which they operate.
Core Courses (8 courses): MHE 500, MHE 626, MHE 640, MHE 645, NMP 621, NMP 622 –OR –NMP 656, MHE 650, MHE 670
Electives (choose 4 courses): Students can select from a wide number of approved graduate electives, and can check with their advisor for help selecting electives from the Higher Education Administration, Nonprofit Management & Philanthropy, Communications & Information Management, or MBA programs that interest them.
Curriculum & Schedules
Code | Course Name | Credit Hours | |
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MHE500 | Introduction to Higher Education Administration | 3 | |
This course provides a basic introduction to the administration of colleges and universities in modern-day America, including the role and purpose of various functions and departments and major organizational participants (e.g., faculty, students, administration/staff, board). Current topics affecting University and university operation are reviewed and the impact of state and federal policy on institutions is explored. |
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MHE626 | Introduction to Institutional Advancement | 3 | |
This course provides an overview of the functional areas within higher education institutional advancement, including development and fundraising, marketing and communications, alumni relations, and government and community relations. Particular attention will be given to how each of these functions operates, how they are integrated, and how they are managed and led. |
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MHE640 | History and Economics of Higher Education | 3 | |
This course is designed to provide a conceptual overview of the history of higher education and the forces which shaped it. Specific attention will be given to the broader political, social, cultural, and economic context within which higher education was established and continues to develop today. |
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MHE645 | Higher Education Marketing and Communications | 3 | |
Students will explore how targeted communications and marketing strategies support an institution’s enrollment management goals. Students will apply marketing best practices and research to enrollment management, examine the use of different technologies in marketing to prospective students, and explore methods for evaluating a strategic enrollment plan. Students will create communication goals and strategies, integrate technology tools into an enrollment communications strategy, and assess the effectiveness of a strategic enrollment communications plan. |
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MHE650 | Leading Change Through Research in Higher Education | 3 | |
This course is designed to give students the opportunity to lead meaningful change through creating an original research project in higher education. During the course, each student will design a significant project (applied independent research) pertaining to a higher education management issue or problem. This course focuses on specific methodologies and frameworks for analysis to use in preparation of the research required for their individual capstone project. The course focuses on creating working drafts of the first four chapters of the research project (Introduction, Literature Review, Theoretical Frameworks and Methodology). |
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NMP521 | Foundations of Philanthropy | 3 | |
This course provides an overview of America’s tradition of philanthropy and its relevance for today’s fundraisers. Attention is given to changing expectations for ethical behavior and accountability along with changes in donor markets which impact the practice of philanthropy in the 21st century. This course also examines the theoretical basis and goals of fundraising activities, how to apply the theory to develop a comprehensive development program and a personal fundraising philosophy and framework. |
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NMP620 | Consulting in Nonprofits: Theory and Practicum | 3 | |
Course content includes theory about the business and practice of providing consulting services to nonprofit organizations. It will also include a practicum during which students will do field work at participating nonprofit organizations in the Greater Springfield area to investigate the presenting problems identified by the nonprofit organization, to conduct a broader organizational assessment, and to develop corrective action plans based upon the findings of the investigation and assessment. |
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NMP670 | Capstone: Advanced Management Seminar | 3 | |
This class is designed to provide students with the opportunity to apply and demonstrate their mastery of new skills and knowledge. Each student will complete and publicly present the results of a significant project (applied or independent research) pertaining to an issue or management problem. Students will select their topic and complete the initial literature review and project prospectus during NMP/MHE 650 as part of NMP/MHE 650. NOTE: NMP 650/MHE 650 is a prerequisite for NMP 670. |