The Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego is proud to announce the launch of its Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship, a graduate-level program designed to equip early- and mid-career professionals with the tools and frameworks needed to address today’s most pressing social and environmental challenges.
As the world faces complex global issues such as climate change, economic inequality, and systemic social problems, the demand for skilled social entrepreneurs has never been greater. This certificate program offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative business models and sustainable practices, empowering students to create meaningful impact through entrepreneurship and innovation.
“Businesses, nonprofits, governments, and all forms of organizations need to think about their impacts on the communities with which they work. Social entrepreneurship frameworks and skills are essential tools for understanding how your organization can maximize its positive local and global impacts. This Certificate can show you how to unlock your creativity in a fashion that can equip your organization to help address some of the most pressing issues of our times,” said Darren Kew, Dean of the Kroc School.
A First-of-Its-Kind Social Entrepreneurship Program on the West Coast
The Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship stands out as one of the few programs in the nation that introduces students to traditional social enterprises while also exploring innovative ownership models, such as ESOPs, co-ops, Benefit Corporations, and perpetual purpose trusts. The program offers a flexible, 9-unit curriculum with three core courses and a practicum, which can be completed in as few as two semesters.
“The Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship empowers professionals to explore innovative approaches to leading businesses and nonprofits that prioritize social impact and sustainability. This program equips changemakers with the tools and frameworks to address complex challenges and build a more equitable and resilient world,” said Paula Cordeiro, faculty director for the program.
Program Highlights
- Practical Curriculum: Courses are designed to build upon one another, blending theory with real-world application.
- Flexible Options: Open to both current graduate students and non-degree professionals.
- Expert Faculty: Learn from the Kroc School’s renowned scholar-practitioners.
- Pathway to a Master’s Degree: Credits earned can be applied toward the Master of Arts in Social Innovation (MASI) program.
Required Courses
- KROC 523: Social Entrepreneurship (3 units)
- KROC 526: Design Thinking (1 unit)
- KROC 594: Reimagining Capitalism (3 units)
- KROC 524: Practicum Project (2 units)
Join Us in Shaping the Future of Social Entrepreneurship
Whether you want to enhance your skills, pivot your career, or create a new social enterprise, the Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship provides the knowledge and tools to make a lasting impact.
Applications for the Fall 2025 cohort opening soon.
For more information, visit our website or contact us at krocadmissions@sandiego.edu.
About the Author
The Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice (Kroc IPJ) launched in 2001 with a vision of active peacebuilding. In 2007, the Kroc IPJ became part of the newly established Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, a global hub for peacebuilding and social innovation. The core of the Kroc IPJ mission is to co-create learning with peacemakers — learning that is deeply grounded in the lived experience of peacemakers around the world, that is made rigorous by our place within a university ecosystem and that is immediately and practically applied by peacemakers to end cycles of violence.
