GSPA

Course Description: The course is designed for graduate students who seek a deeper understanding of the character, historical evolution and significance of the nonprofit sector in American life. The course will be conducted as intensive seminar. Students are expected to attend all class sessions and participate actively. Emphasis will be placed on allowing each student to apply, integrate, refine and share knowledge gained from academic study and professional experience.

Today's nonprofit sector is changing and complex and only recently has received serious academic analysis and review. This course will examine the theory of the nonprofit sector, the emergence of the nonprofit sector and the future of the nonprofit sector. The scope of the course is broad, with particular attention to the American evolution of the nonprofit sector. The central question is to what extent, and how, a body of people living together in a country, state, city or neighborhood, organized into representative governments, should--can--rely on voluntary action by willing citizens to fulfill both their own individual and respective community's needs. To do so requires an examination of alternative allocations of responsibility for solving particular problems, voluntary, not-for-profit, for profit, joint public/private, publicly encouraged, subidized, and publicly coerced, along with examples, reasons, and theories for particular forms of organization. Class discussions and papers will be organized around a series of issues and questions facing the sector.

Students will be expected to prepare and present two papers on selected topics. Each paper shall be between 10-15 pages, typed and double-spaced. You may choose your subject based on the topics listed in the syllabus or choose another subject with the instructor's approval. You may write a paper on the history of a subject related to the course, critique any of the major authors, figures or topics, defend or attack a position, conduct a policy analysis of a particular problem facing society with respect to which governmental, nonprofit or voluntary action or a some combination may be desirable. Papers will integrate the readings, additional readings, class discussion and paid and nonpaid experience with nonprofit organizations. Papers will be presented to the class. The purpose of the papers are to provide an opportunity for more comprehensive examination and critical analysis and to improve writing and presentation skills.

Reading and Classes: The texts provide a framework for the class and active student participation is essential to the success of the course. Students are expected to come to classes having read and reflected about the material.

Grading: There are 60 points possible in the course as follows: papers, 50 points; and class participation, 10 points. Since an effective nonprofit manager needs to be able to problem solve, write and present information, these skills will be stressed.

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