Online Graduate Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship and Community Development

Earning a social entrepreneurship and community development certificate empowers you to build meaningful initiatives that address challenges in local communities. This transdisciplinary program equips you with broad expertise in these subjects while also giving you the opportunity to tailor the curriculum to your career goals.

Learn more

Quick facts

Next start date:

Next start date: 05/16/2024


Total classes:

Total classes: 5

Weeks per class:

Weeks per class: 7.5

Total credit hours:

Total credit hours: 15

Degree questions, answered.

Have questions about the Social Entrepreneurship and Community Development (Graduate Certificate)? Fill out this form and we’ll get in touch!

* Indicates a required field

This is a required field.
This is a required field.
This is a required field.
Invalid phone number. Please try again.

What are examples of community development?

Community development is about co-creating transformative solutions that enhance the social, cultural, environmental and economic well-being of communities. Social entrepreneurship is a process of creating impact through new and innovative ways that are sustainable and results-oriented. Common examples of community development include:

  • Cultural awareness programs.
  • Education support for children, youth and families.
  • Human services advocacy for the most vulnerable.
  • Municipal planning.
  • Philanthropic advancement.
  • Rehabilitation and expansion of public spaces.
  • Workforce and economic development.

There are many more potential programs and projects that can be considered community development depending on the needs of a specific community. A community development and social entrepreneurship certificate will educate you on how to develop, implement and sustain innovative solutions to enhance community well-being.

What can you do with a social entrepreneurship and community development certificate?

 

Students who have earned this community development certificate in the past have used it to work in nonprofit, philanthropic and community development organizations. In these roles, our graduates are leading programs related to the arts, environment, human services, education, health and more.

This graduate certificate combines social entrepreneurship with innovative community development. This provides a basis for fostering positive change to enhanced community well-being through nonprofits, corporations, societies and economies. By the end of this community development certificate, you’ll have a deep understanding of how to harness social enterprise opportunities to create transformative solutions to challenges prevalent across communities.

Who should earn a social entrepreneurship and community development certificate?

 

This certificate is designed for individuals who are interested in community development and social innovation. The program can empower current community workers or those wishing to enter this field, to advance their skills and learn how to create innovative social programs.

This social entrepreneurship certificate accepts students from a wide range of disciplines and doesn’t require a highly specialized educational background to apply. The certificate can be completed alone for professional development or paired with another ASU Online degree program in the social sciences, healthcare, arts or environmental science. Graduates generally apply their community development certificate to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations and social benefit corporation roles.

Will my certificate say ‘online’?

No, Arizona State University’s certificates and diplomas don’t specify whether you earn them online or in person. All certificates, diplomas and transcripts simply say “Arizona State University.”

Social entrepreneurship and community development classes

This program is designed for both policy and entrepreneurship-oriented students across disciplines. The certificate benefits from sharing coursework and faculty with ASU’s top-ranked master’s degree in nonprofit leadership and management. In addition, the opportunity to select your own community development classes as electives means you can customize your degree. Featured courses include:


Core

Financial and Resource Management


Core

Social Entrepreneurship


Core

Community and Social Innovation


Elective

Grant Writing for Nonprofit Organizations


Elective

Program Evaluation and Information Management


Elective

Reading and Conference


Elective

Strategic Human Resources Management


What can I do with a community development certificate?

Completing a social entrepreneurship certificate positions you to take on a leadership role in establishing and administering community development programs. You might work for an existing organization or start your own. Career examples include but are not limited to:

Chief advancement officer

Child and family social worker

Community development specialist

Human service advocate

Municipal planner

Social and community service manager

Educators who inspire a commitment to social innovation and community development

The impressive faculty in the School of Community Resources and Development are inspiring the next generation of socially responsible leaders through advancing real-world solutions to the most pressing issues facing communities. The faculty members are experts in building the capacity of the nonprofit and philanthropic sector. This work has impacted hundreds of organizations in delivering services that represent the full range of community issues and interests. Recent faculty highlights include:

  • Member of The NonProfit Times “Power & Influence Top 50” in the United States.
  • Leading scholars of the field as recognized by the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action.

Educators who inspire a commitment to social innovation and community development

The impressive faculty in the School of Community Resources and Development are inspiring the next generation of socially responsible leaders through advancing real-world solutions to the most pressing issues facing communities. The faculty members are experts in building the capacity of the nonprofit and philanthropic sector. This work has impacted hundreds of organizations in delivering services that represent the full range of community issues and interests. Recent faculty highlights include:

  • Member of The NonProfit Times “Power & Influence Top 50” in the United States.
  • Leading scholars of the field as recognized by the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action.

How to apply

Applicants to the graduate certificate in social entrepreneurship and community development must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.

Application requirements

Additional application information

Nationally recognized public service programs

The Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions is a comprehensive public service college dedicated to addressing social problems through teaching, research and service. Our public service programs, from public policy, to social work, to criminal justice, to emergency management, are designed to help prepare our diverse student body to make a difference in the community.

#1


best graduate homeland security and emergency management programs, according to U.S. News & World Report.

#2


in the U.S. and #7 in the world for hospitality, leisure, sport and tourism, according to the Center for World University Rankings.

Top 5


Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management in the nation, according to U.S. News & Report.

Top 10


best online master's in criminal justice programs for veterans, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Tuition calculator

Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs. Learn more.

Tuition calculator

Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs. Learn more.

You might also be interested in

Social Justice and Human Rights (MA)

Graduate

Social Justice and Human Rights (MA)


Program Evaluation and Data Analytics (MS)

Graduate

Program Evaluation and Data Analytics (MS)


Social Work (MSW)

Graduate

Social Work (MSW)


Nonprofit Leadership and Management (Graduate Certificate)

Certificates

Nonprofit Leadership and Management (Graduate Certificate)