Course Work
Who will teach the courses?
The MSIL courses will be taught by faculty and industry leaders with substantial experience in a variety of social impact settings.
Social Impact Projects
Are there examples of the types of partners/mentors who will be working with students on their projects or that students will be hearing from during the duration of the course?
Yes, We will create opportunities in the program to link students to leaders engaged in the work...as mentors, as case examples, as the beginning of your professional network.
How will the projects class be structured and what will class time look like?
The class will be held for 3 hours per week. We will have time for community building, field trips to visit social impact orgs, mini-lectures, and time to work on your social impact project designs and plans.
Is the final deliverable a presentation, implementation program, evaluation plan, essay, research paper, etc.?
The final deliverable could include a document, a presentation to the class, or even a showcase. We are working on this decision over the summer. The course will include a few smaller assignments as well.
What are the expectations of community partners/mentors working with students on their projects?
Some students will come into the course with a community partner - an organization they have been working with or volunteering with. Other students will find a community and/or partners to work with during the course. Community engagement is an important part of social impact leadership. We will work with you in the course to develop your community partners.
What does an "ideal" project look like?
The projects are defined by individual students or small groups of students. We will outline project criteria together in class. We will begin the course by reviewing social impact project examples across a variety of sectors. The Stanford Social Innovation Review (online) features social impact projects and leaders regularly.
What is the intended final deliverable for the course?
For the fall semester, the final deliverable will be a detailed design/plan. Some students may be further along with their projects so they will submit deliverables related to their phase of development.
What is the plan if a student's idea or project doesn't materialize the way it was expected to?
That's part of the learning. You will develop prototypes. Some will fail. You will learn from the failings and revise. You will document what you tried and what you learned.
Student Experience
What can I expect in terms of different approaches to learning?
The MSIL is designed to be an interactive, project-based program that engages students in building skills and experiences in social impact leadership. Class size will be small, allowing for personal attention and customizing the MSIL coursework to meet student interests. Through the program, students will network with industry leaders, gain hands-on experiences, and work closely with cohorts of students. MSIL students will also have the opportunity to utilize the experiences and resources of the School of Social Work and the University of Michigan.
Difference Between MSIL and MSW
I saw there was an MSW Management & Leadership pathway. How does this differ?
Students in the MSIL will have a more intentional focus in social impact. Students in the MSW program, in one of the macro pathways, such as Management and Leadership, will have exposure to social impact content as part of their broader MSW degree. Students in the MSW will have the coursework and field placements necessary to obtain a license to practice social work.