The Future Leaders in Philanthropy blog has just concluded a series it’s been publishing about the pluses and minuses of graduate degrees in business and in public administration.

In its last interview, Alison Urkowitz, an associate director of research programs at the Michael J. Fox Foundation, explains why she chose a degree in public administration to help her make the leap from advertising to the foundation world.

“I decided on an MPA over an MBA because I felt it covered much of the same information, but was geared toward the nonprofit sector, which is where my interests laid,” says Ms. Urkowitz, who graduated from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service. “ I felt my program, in particular, forced me to learn an appropriate amount of finance, economics, statistics, policy, etc, all providing a great background for entering the nonprofit world as an employee and strategic manager.”

Ms. Urkowitz says she believes the foundation values her graduate-school experience and her management training. She also likes being able to apply what she’s learned.

“It’s great to work through real experiences in graduate school and then be able to apply them to your job afterwards,” she says. “ I think I am able to do this in my current position on a regular basis.”

Do you share Ms. Urkowitz’s perspective? Or do you think a business degree is more useful in the nonprofit world? How did you choose between the two degrees? Would you advise against going to graduate school for nonprofit work? Please share your thoughts by clicking on the comment field below.