Northeastern University established the Interdisciplinary Minor in Global Social Entrepreneurship (GSE) in December 2010. Undergraduates from any college within the University are eligible for the GSE Interdisciplinary Minor, including business students who may also pursue an Entrepreneurship concentration with a track in Social Entrepreneurship through the D’Amore-McKim School of Business.

Why Study Social Entrepreneurship?

The minor in Global Social Entrepreneurship provides a specific academic path for students from any college within the university to study the emerging interdisciplinary field of social entrepreneurship, and apply what they have learned in the classroom to practical field projects in disadvantaged communities both locally and in the developing world. The field is well suited for those students who are interested in “doing well and doing good.”

Social Entrepreneurship is the study of enterprise solutions to social problems, and more specifically, on finding sustainable enterprise solutions to reducing poverty and guaranteeing disadvantaged communities their basic human rights. Socially driven innovation and entrepreneurship are taking a leading role in the development of these solutions in partnership with governments, NGOs, philanthropic institutions and donors, among other elements of civil society.

Our teaching and research emphasis is on social innovation, sustainable business models (especially for-profits and hybrids), and scalable impact designs for the developing world. As such, students should understand both the societal/political aspects of social problems, but also the ways in which business knowledge and skills can be used to address them.

 

Required Coursework:

The Minor requires undergraduate students to complete five courses in the following sequence:

  1. The Core Course
    Social Entrepreneurship ENTR2206 or Honors equivalent
  2. In-Country Field Study
    SEI Field Research Program or Selected Dialogues of Civilization Program (8SH)
  3. Elective
    See Approved Courses List below
  4. Elective
    See Approved Courses List below

The current approved list of electives include:

D’amore Mckim Entrepreneurship & Innovation Program:

  • ENTR2414: Social Responsibility of Business in an Age of Inequality
  • ENTR3212: Innovation for Social Change
  • ENTR3219: Microfinance: Fostering Entrepreneurship in the Developing World
  • ENTR3520: Impact Investing and Social Finance (SPRING ONLY)
  • ENTR4506: Advanced Studies in Social Enterprise

International Affairs and Political Science Programs (CSSH):

Human Services Program (CSH):

  • HUSV1101: Human Services Professions
  • HUSV3570: Strategic Philanthropy and Non-Profit Management
  • HUSV3550: Social Policy, Advocacy and Activism

Anthropology Program (CSSH):

Law, Policy, & Society Program (CSSH):

  • LPSC2302: Global Human Rights: A Social and Economic Perspective

Honors Program:

No more than 12 credits (three courses) may be counted toward the minor from any one college.  For example, students participating in an SEI Field Research Program cannot count ENTR2219 or ENTR4506 towards the minor. Students participating in a Dialogue rather than a SEI Field Research Program can count up to three ENTR courses toward the minor, one of which must be the required ENTR2206.

Find More Information Through the D’amore Mckim Website

 

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