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Social Entrepreneurship: People, Profit and the Planet

July 14 - August 1, 2025, Monday to Friday

SOCI 207 (GNED Elective)

Social entrepreneurship is a new approach to finding solutions to social problems such as poverty, illness, illiteracy, environmental destruction, human rights abuses and corruption through citizen action. Recognizing the deep connections between economic activity, human populations and global issues, social entrepreneurship attempts to incorporate the "three Ps" - people, profit and the planet - as it builds sustainable and transformational projects and institutions. This course introduces students to how social entrepreneurship first emerged and explores the vital role of social entrepreneurs and the qualities that make them successful. Looking to make an impact? Using the principles of social entrepreneurship, students are introduced to different methods of addressing social problems and will learn to develop, design and implement a social action project plan. This course will appeal to those who want to make a difference, address social needs and have a desire to create sustainable social change through the principles of entrepreneurship.

What you’ll gain:

  • Essential knowledge about social entrepreneurship and its capacity for making transformational change when applied to complex problems such as sustainability and poverty;
  • Increased understanding of the complex relationship between social problems and systemic challenges that perpetuate these problems;
  • Capacity to a devise and implement a social action plan through project-based learning opportunities.

The course is right for you if:

  • You are interested in transformational change related to a wide range of contemporary social and economic problems and challenges;
  • You want to lead change effectively through a social entrepreneurship model;
  • You’re ready to work in a group setting focused on social action project plans.

What will I be able to do after the course?

  • Identify qualities of successful social entrepreneurship and analyze the organizational designs of social enterprises;
  • Recognize the practices of innovative organizations and describe the process framework for social entrepreneurs;
  • Describe and assess the environmental conditions for sustainable social venture.
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