In this course, students will learn a theoretical framework for social entrepreneurship and design thinking, as well as explore the individual skills and will necessary to respond to complex social needs both locally and globally. Students will be placed on teams throughout the course to engage in hands-on activities, case studies, competitions and a leadership project. The objective of this course is to inspire and begin equipping students to become innovative leaders in the social sector. Specifically, we will address how to understand yourself as a leader within the context of a community and how to lead with moral imagination (the ability to put yourself in the shoes of the people you are serving); understand how an entrepreneurial mindset and operational skills can create and support social change; and turn theory into action by designing and carrying out a team leadership project.
Pathway Elective For
- Management & Leadership (Host)
- Program Evaluation and Applied Research
Objectives
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Understand oneself as an entrepreneurial leader within the context of a community and how to lead with moral imagination (the ability to put yourself in the shows of the people you are serving) (EPAS 1, 2, 3, 7; PODS).
- Understand how an entrepreneurial mindset and operational skills can create and support social change (EPAS 2, 3, 7, 8; PODS).
- Design a team leadership project focused on social enterprise and entrepreneurship (EPAS 2, 3, 7, 8).
Design
This course will use multiple methods including but not limited to: case studies, videos, readings, discussions, written assignments, and individual and group exercises.
Intensive Focus on Privilege, Oppression, Diversity and Social Justice (PODS)
This course integrates PODS content and skills with a special emphasis on the identification of theories, practice and/or policies that promote social justice, illuminate injustices and are consistent with scientific and professional knowledge. Through the use of a variety of instructional methods, this course will support students developing a vision of social justice, learn to recognize and reduce mechanisms that support oppression and injustice, work toward social justice processes, apply intersectionality and intercultural frameworks and strengthen critical consciousness, self-knowledge and self-awareness to facilitate PODS learning.