This concentration promotes advanced scholarship that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. Students combine required coursework in social entrepreneurship, management, public policy, public and international affairs, and leadership with courses aimed at individual student’s areas of specialization and hands on learning activities. Through this powerful blend of academic courses and experiential learning opportunities (i.e., the practical and the theoretical), students will graduate with the knowledge of leading edge concepts and research-based approaches, as well as the field experience necessary to succeed as social innovators.
Students earning an MAIS with a concentration in social entrepreneurship will learn about the roles that technology, public policy, market based approaches, research, leadership, strategy, and communication play in implementing solutions to urgent challenges around the globe. Whether they work in government, industry, or the citizen (non-profit) sector, these future leaders will be exposed to cutting edge knowledge related to sustainability, ethical leadership, strategic management, and working effectively within complex networks made up of divergent groups of stakeholders. Further, students will be equipped with the experience, strategic knowledge, technical support, and the social networks needed to create, operate, develop and accelerate startups, bring ideas to scale, and improve program effectiveness.
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.
Total credits: 36
This is a Green Leaf program.
Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.
Students pursuing this degree must successfully complete 36 credits of graduate coursework in one of the concentrations which follow. Students must submit a curriculum worksheet that has been approved by their concentration head and the director. All students complete their work in the program with a project or thesis.
The concentration in social entrepreneurship will equip students with the subject matter expertise, strategic knowledge, technical support, and social networks needed to create, operate, develop, and accelerate startups; bring ideas to scale; and improve an existing program's effectiveness. These future leaders will learn about sustainability, ethical leadership, strategic management, and working effectively within complex networks made up of divergent groups of stakeholders. All students will complete a capstone research project and an experiential learning requirement that deliver practical knowledge and real-world experience. This degree is suitable for students seeking careers in government, business, or the non-profit sector.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MAIS 796 | MAIS ProSeminar | 1 |
| Total Credits | 1 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Social Entrepreneurship and Leadership | ||
| Three credits of | 3 | |
| Experiential Learning 1 | ||
| Three credits of | 3 | |
|
INTS 535
|
Leadership in a Changing Environment | |
| Business | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
|
GBUS 540
|
Analysis of Financial Decisions | |
|
GBUS 697
|
Special Topics in Graduate School of Business 2 | |
|
MBA 711
|
Entrepreneurship | |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
| 1 |
When topic is Foundations of Social Innovation. |
| 2 |
When topic is Introduction to Entrepreneurship. |
Students take three or four courses from the list of competencies below to complement the skills they have already acquired through formal education and professional experience, or other courses to enhance their skills, including oral and written communication and research methods, that are chosen in consultation with an advisor. Students choosing the thesis option for their capstone take 9 credits including a research methods course. Students choosing the project option for their capstone take 12 credits total, with a research methods course being optional.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
EVPP 638
|
Corporate Environmental Management and Policy | |
|
PUBP 761
|
Social Entrepreneurship and Public Policy | |
|
PUBP 784
|
Entrepreneurship, Economics, and Public Policy |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
GBUS 540
|
Analysis of Financial Decisions | |
|
PUAD 655
|
Nonprofit Fund Raising and Resource Development | |
|
PUAD 664
|
Nonprofit Financial Management |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
GBUS 697
|
Special Topics in Graduate School of Business 1 | |
|
or MBA 711
|
Entrepreneurship | |
|
MBA 712
|
Project Management | |
|
MBA 714
|
Managing Growth of Small Businesses | |
|
MBA 752
|
Turning Ideas into Successful Companies | |
|
PUAD 505
|
Introduction to Management of Nonprofits | |
|
PUAD 658
|
Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise | |
|
PUAD 659
|
Nonprofit Law, Governance, and Ethics | |
| 1 |
When topic is Introduction to Entrepreneurship. |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Experiential Learning 1 | ||
| Experiential Learning 2 |
| 1 |
When topic is Mindfulness and Leadership. |
| 2 |
When the topic is Leadership and Positive Organizations. |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Interdisciplinary Research Methods 1 |
| 1 |
or appropriate alternative chosen in consultation with the concentration head. |
Students must develop expertise in the social problem they seek to address through entrepreneurship. Possible areas of focus include global and/or local poverty, homelessness, human trafficking, conflict resolution, women's rights, racial inequality, educational and health-care access, climate change, environmental sustainability, and human rights, among other possible topics. The experiential learning requirement should be met through an opportunity that advances the student's understanding of their subject matter expertise.
Students take:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| INTS 540 | Contemporary Issues in Social Justice Human Rights 1 | 3 |
| 6 credits of courses related to the student's chosen subject matter area of expertise, chosen in consultation with the concentration head. | 6 | |
| Experiential learning | 3 | |
| Experiential Learning 2 | ||
|
or other relevant experiential learning course chosen in consultation with the concentration head.
|
||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
| 1 |
or other social justice and human rights course chosen in consultation with the concentration head. |
| 2 |
Students will seek out and/or create an opportunity for experiential learning that aligns with a social mission. Experiential learning opportunities can include internships, service-learning, consulting projects, and field studies or research (including overseas). Because the intention is to develop and apply newly acquired skills, students may not use work done previously or their current employment to fulfill this requirement. All experiential learning projects must be approved by the social entrepreneurship concentration head the semester before registering for the course. Students may register for an individualized section of INTS 595 Experiential Learning or another graduate-level internship or practicum course to fulfill this requirement. Students must complete the experiential learning component before registering for MAIS 798 Interdisciplinary Studies Project or MAIS 799 Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis. |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MAIS 797 | Interdisciplinary Studies Proposal | 1 |
| Total Credits | 1 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one from the following: | 4 | |
| Interdisciplinary Studies Project (take 1 credit) | ||
| Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis (take 4 credits) | ||
| Total Credits | 4 | |
