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Certificate in Social Impact

The world needs responsible leaders who are passionate about making a change and are ready to tackle challenging issues. The Centre for Social Impact at Smith School of Business is proud to offer a Certificate in Social Impact, which provides education and resources to the leaders of tomorrow.

Lead the Way to a Better World

The Certificate in Social Impact, offered by the Centre for Social Impact at the Smith School of Business, connects you to the networks and knowledge you need to be a change leader in modern business. Through the Certificate, you’ll learn about core topics in social impact such as:

  • Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship
  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Social Finance & Impact Investing
  • Impact Measurement
  • Data and AI for Good
A group shot of students holding their Social Impact certificates

Objectives

The Certificate in Social Impact has been designed with the following objectives:

  1. Learn how to integrate social impact approaches into core business strategies and business models.
  2. Meet and engage with leaders in the field of finance, business, and community who are advancing social impact.
  3. Grow your network through conferences, workshops, and seminars offered through the Centre for Social Impact.

Components

The Certificate in Social Impact has the following three components:

  1. Academic component with social impact themed courses and assignments
  2. Conference and event attendance to expose students to a diversity of topics of social impact, and to give students the opportunity to learn from and network with leaders and practitioners in various fields
  3. Volunteer outreach activities with registered charities or non-profit community organizations

“The CSI Program has helped me to become a more conscientious and committed leader in social impact. I have developed a greater understanding of how to implement a successful corporate social responsibility strategy. Ultimately, by confronting challenging ethical issues in this program, I am better equipped to deal with these problems when they arise in the course of my career.”

Nicholas Backman, MBA’20
Lawyer at Lapointe Rosenstein Marchand Melançon

Certificate Program Components

To earn a Certificate in Social Impact in addition to their Bachelor of Commerce degree, students must complete the following components:

  • Achieve a minimum grade in the mandatory social impact related program courses
  • Complete the required number of elective courses from the approved list of "Social Impact" themed courses
  • Fully participate in one Social Impact Summit and one Social Innovation Bootcamp, both hosted by the Centre for Social Impact
  • Pass an evaluative component associated with each of the conferences in which the student participates
  • Actively participate in approved outreach activities with registered charities or non-profit community organizations

To earn a Certificate in Social Impact students in addition to their MBA, students in the Accelerated MBA program must complete the following components:

  • Achieve a minimum grade in the mandatory social impact related program courses
  • Write the final individual capstone essay on a social impact related topic
  • Attend social impact related conferences or events
  • Engage in meaningful volunteer outreach with a registered charity or non-profit community organization on a project approved by the Centre
  • Submit a final portfolio summarizing experiences and key takeaways from the program

To earn a Certificate in Social Impact in addition to their MBA, students in the Full-time MBA program must complete the following components:

  • Achieve a minimum grade in the mandatory social impact related program courses
  • Attend social impact related conferences or events
  • Complete a major project for a business with a social impact focus, or with a registered charity/non-profit organization
  • Submit a final portfolio summarizing experiences and key takeaways from the program

To earn a Certificate in Social Impact, students in the Master of Management Innovation & Entrepreneurship program must complete the following components:

  • Complete the required elective courses and assignments
  • Engage in meaningful volunteer outreach with a registered charity or non-profit community organization on a project approved by the Centre
  • Attend social impact related conferences or events
  • Submit a final portfolio summarizing experiences and key takeaways from the program

To earn a Certificate in Social Impact, students in the Master of International Business program must complete the following components:

  • Complete the required elective courses and assignments
  • Engage in meaningful volunteer outreach with a registered charity or non-profit community organization on a project approved by the Centre
  • Attend social impact related conferences or events
  • Submit a final portfolio summarizing experiences and key takeaways from the program

To earn a Certificate in Social Impact in addition to their MBA, students in the Executive MBA program must complete the following components:

  • Complete the required assignments
  • Engage in meaningful volunteer outreach with a registered charity or non-profit community organization on a project approved by the Centre
  • Attend social impact related conferences or events
  • Complete a major project for a business with a social impact focus, or with a registered charity/non-profit organization
  • Submit a final portfolio summarizing experiences and key takeaways from the program