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.
Earn a master’s degree through stackable certificates
This graduate certificate can stand alone or serve as a main certificate toward a Master of Advanced Study. To complete the degree, you’ll stack a second 15-credit graduate certificate. This opportunity allows you to design a program tailored to your career goals and interests.
When admitted, connect with your academic advisor about stackable MAS options.
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.
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.
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:
The impressive faculty in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions inspire the next generation of public service leaders through real-world solutions to issues in areas such as child welfare, safety, city management, human trafficking and water scarcity. Faculty highlights include:
- Fellow of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.
- Fellow of the American Psychological Association.
- Member of the National Academy of Public Administration.
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 programs, which range from public policy and social work to criminal justice and emergency management, are designed to prepare graduates to make a difference in their communities.
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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.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA in the last 60 hours of their bachelor's program. Alternatively, applicants must have a minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA in an applicable master’s degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- Graduate admission application and application fee.
- Official transcripts.
- Proof of English proficiency.
An applicant whose native language is not English (regardless of current residency) must provide proof of English proficiency.
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.”