Certificate Program: An Overview Internship Program Conference Speaker Series The Social Entrepreneurship Clinic Contact Us

Indiana University SPEA – Bloomington Kelley School – Bloomington SPEA – IUPUI Kelley School – IUPUI Center on Philanthropy Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Kelley School of Business Contact Us

Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship:
Nonprofit and Public Benefit Organizations

Indiana University

Overview

In 2006, Indiana University inaugurated the first formal university-based Social Entrepreneurship program in Indiana.  Offered to graduate students on both the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses, the Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship: Nonprofit and Public Benefit Organizations is a cooperative program between the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA), the Kelley School of Business, and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.  The Social Entrepreneurship certificate prepares students for innovatively approaching public needs with a combination of entrepreneurial practices and social purposes – through the for-profit, nonprofit, and governmental sectors.

Student Requirements

The Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship: Nonprofit and Public Benefit Organizations program offers MBA and MPA students the opportunity to take classes in both SPEA and the Kelley School of Business. The requirements for the certificate are 18 credits of course work and participation in a qualifying Social Entrepreneurship internship. In most cases normal MPA or MBA requirements will satisfy 9 of these hours, meaning only an additional 9 credit hours of courses will need to be taken. Follow the links at left for lists of courses at IU Bloomington and at IUPUI currently accepted for credit towards the certificate.

Social Entrepreneurship Courses

Students enrolled in the Social Entrepreneurship Certificate program take courses both in the Kelley School of Business and in SPEA, providing a dual perspective on the social and business problems faced in today’s society.  The class “Principles and Practices of Social Entrepreneurship” exposes students to the latest theories, cases, and practices of social entrepreneurship as it is being developed throughout the world.

Internship Program

Each student in the Social Entrepreneurship Certificate program is required to complete a qualified internship with a nonprofit organization, a business, or a public agency.  Internship projects should focus on accomplishing specific social entrepreneurial objectives developed by the student, faculty, and organization and designed to advance both the business practices and social mission of the organization.

Student internships for social entrepreneurial projects are available during the summer with qualifying nonprofit, for-profit, and governmental sites and projects.  These internships are paid positions, with the final stipend depending upon the successful completion of identified outcomes and a formal report.  Alternative internship experiences may also qualify for this requirement, assuming they satisfy specific criteria and upon formal approval by a faculty member of the Social Entrepreneurship Program.

Apply online for an internship with this application.

Speaker Series

A speaker series on critical topics in Social Entrepreneurship is offered throughout the school year, both in Indianapolis and in Bloomington.  These programs bring national and international leaders to share their experiences and approaches with Indiana University students and faculty as well as community leaders.

Social Entrepreneurship Conference: Social Innovation in Indiana

The Indiana University Social Entrepreneurship program will sponsor a regular feature a Social Entrepreneurship Conference, highlighting the state of Social Entrepreneurship scholarship, teaching and practice throughout the world and its application to Indiana.  The conference will bring together business, government and nonprofit leaders from throughout Indiana as well as leading educators and students to better understand how Social Entrepreneurship approaches are profitable for business, are good for community development, and are a key to a socially beneficial and prosperous future for the state of Indiana.

The Social Entrepreneurship Clinic Program

The Social Entrepreneurship Clinic Program provides an ongoing partnership between the social entrepreneurship resources of Indiana University and the needs and opportunities of area businesses, organizations, and agencies.  The clinic program permits students in the Social Entrepreneurship program to work in short term assignments with businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit groups, as well as to prepare them for internships and future employment.