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Philanthropic Leadership and Service Minor

Develop and to pursue your passion for service in a thoughtful and rigorous fashion.

Why Philanthropic Leadership and Service at Valpo?

There are currently over one million registered nonprofit organizations in the United States. While each organization may attract individuals with particular interests and expertise, these agencies also need leaders with consistent abilities in oral and written communication, critical thinking, problem solving, organization, and public advocacy within the corporate and governmental spheres.

About Our Philanthropic Leadership and Service Minor


General Information

The minor in Philanthropic Leadership and Service further develops these core competencies while introducing students to the range of issues facing our communities. Students working in the minor will demonstrate that they have gone beyond volunteering at local organizations to thinking about how they can best continue contributing to these organizations in a long-term and professional capacity. Finally, the minor gives students seeking degrees in other fields an opportunity to develop and to pursue their passion for service in a thoughtful and rigorous fashion.

A minimum of 16-21 credit hours is required for the minor in philanthropic leadership and service. Specific requirements are listed below. Recommended courses for specific areas of focus follow.

Required Courses
GS 220  Contemporary Issues Philanthropy & Serv 3 Cr.
ENGL 296 Traditions of Giving and Serving in, American Life 3 Cr.
Elective Courses: 12 Cr.
CVA 265Public Relations Principles3 Cr.
CVA 345  Leadership Communication 3 Cr.
CVA 362  Communication Cases and Campaigns 3 Cr.
CVA 401 Social Media 3 Cr.
ENGL 210  Intro/Bus & Prof Writing-WIC 3 Cr.*
SPAN 308  Spanish for Community Engagement 3 Cr.*
HCL 301  Healthcare Strategic Planning 3 Cr.
HCL 302  Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues 3 Cr.
IPE 213  Social Determinants of Health 3 Cr.
IPE 253  Intro to Interprof Comm for Health Pros 3 Cr.
IPE 318Global Health Issue 3 Cr.
MGT 304   Management & Organizational Behavior3 Cr.*
MGT 315 Leadership and Interpersonal Skills 3 Cr.*
PHIL 125 The Good Life 3 Cr.
POLS 261  State and Local Politics in the United, States 3 Cr.
POLS 360   Public Administration3 Cr.
SOC 275  Inequality in America 3 Cr.
SOCW 210  Social Welfare Policy: History & Program 3 Cr.
REL 251 Christian Theology and the Moral Life 3 Cr.
No more than two courses (six credits) may be taken from any one department.
* Denotes course requires a prerequisite

Focus Areas

Students may choose to develop a focus area based on their specific interest in the non-profit sector, although this is not required to complete the minor. Some sample focus areas and possible courses are listed below – no more than two courses may be taken from any one department:


For students interested in marketing and public relations

CVA 265Public Relations Principles3 Cr.
CVA 345Leadership Communication 3 Cr.
CVA 362Communication Cases and Campaigns 3 Cr.
CVA 401Social Media 3 Cr.
ENGL 210Intro/Bus & Prof Writing-WIC 3 Cr.

SPAN 308  Spanish for Community Engagement 3 Cr.
HCL 301  Healthcare Strategic Planning 3 Cr.
HCL 302  Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues 3 Cr.
IPE 213  Social Determinants of Health 3 Cr.
IPE 253  Intro to Interprof Comm for Health Pros3 Cr.
IPE 318  Global Health Issue3 Cr.
POLS 361  Public Policy3 Cr.
SOC 275  Inequality in America 3 Cr.
SOCW 210  Social Welfare Policy: History & Program3 Cr.

For students interested in service and philanthropy related to the health or social work professions

For students interested in graduate work in philanthropic studies

ENGL 210 Intro/Bus & Prof Writing-WIC  3 Cr.
PHIL 125  The Good Life 3 Cr.
REL 251  Christian Theology and the Moral Life  3 Cr.

For students interested in pursuing service in an executive capacity

ENGL 210Intro/Bus & Prof Writing-WIC 3 Cr.
MGT 304Management & Organizational Behavior 3 Cr.
MGT 315Leadership and Interpersonal Skills 3 Cr.
POLS 360Public Administration 3 Cr.

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