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The University of Texas at Austin

Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs

Portfolio Program in Nonprofit Studies

Portfolio Program Links

The Portfolio Program in Nonprofit Studies is an academic certificate program that provides an interdisciplinary approach to the study and research of philanthropy, volunteerism and nonprofit management. The program is open to all graduate-level students at the University of Texas at Austin.

Program Requirements

All UT graduate students are eligible to apply. Students may fulfill the requirements of the Portfolio Program without extending the time necessary to complete their graduate degree program. Participants must:

  1. Complete 12 credit hours from the list of approved courses, including:
    • One required course on philanthropy, volunteerism, or nonprofit management (in bold on the list of approved classes).
      • Course Offerings that meet the required course criteria:
        Summer 2008: Strategic Management and Social Entrepreneurship: Edward
        Fall 2008: Philanthrophy and the Arts
        Spring 2009: Strategic Management
    • Three additional Portfolio Program courses from the approved list of courses.
    • Internships or work placements at a nonprofit, or a thesis on a nonprofit topic can take the place of one course.
  2. Conduct 40 hours of volunteer service at a nonprofit or public service organization(s). An unpaid internship at a nonprofit can count towards volunteer hours if you do not use it to fulfill one of your Portfolio Program course requirements.
  3. Participate in the Capstone Skills Day: Full day training designed to strengthen your professional skills of negotiation, communication, project management, people management and more.

Waivers and Substitutions

Students may petition the Program Coordinator to accept waivers and substitutions for the program requirements listed above. For example, a student may petition to have a course added to the list of approved courses.