Social Entrepreneurship

World-impacting
business skills.
Christ-centered
business perspective.

You’re a down-to-earth dreamer. You want to change the world for the better - through business, through a local organization, or through your church. When you look around, you see people making a difference not just with compassionate work, but also with creative business ideas, solid financial plans, and compelling marketing tools.

The Diploma in Social Entrepreneurship introduces you to the basics of running initiatives that are focused on positive world change. You’ll take worldview-shaping biblical studies courses alongside hands-on business courses. But more than that, you’ll be inspired and equipped to tap into the incredible potential of business for making a caring impact in our world. You’ll graduate not just with foundational business skills, but also with a deep appreciation for the triple bottom line: business or non-profit work that’s financially viable, environmentally sustainable, and cares for others.

First Things First 

Character, faith, integrity, how you see the world and what you value most -- these will be the foundation of your future. This is why you'll engage in a set of transformational classes that includes subjects like Old and New Testament Survey, Christian Theology, Spiritual Formation, and Ethical Reasoning. Outside of class, you'll benefit from encouraging mentors and Christ-centered community.

Develop Business Skills

Every class you take will combine current business theories with a Christ-centered approach. You'll be equipped with foundational skills through these courses:

• • Intro to Business
  • Macroeconomics
  • Accounting
  • Essentials of Marketing
  • Non-profit Organization Management
  • Intro to Leadership Studies

Create A Business Plan

Your capstone class will take place in your final semester: Entrepreneurial Operations. First you'll learn to think like an entrepreneur as you tackle case studies, computer simulations, and team assignments. Then you'll use all the tools you've been given to build your own game-changing business plan and present it to a panel of real-world business owners and experts for feedback. 

The two-year diploma program in Social Entrepreneurship provides students with a Christ-centered worldview, spiritual formation, and foundational business concepts and skills that they can apply in the marketplaces of life. Students wishing to pursue a degree in business after graduation from this diploma may be able to transfer credits to other institutions. (See current transfer guides for details or contact your school of interest.)

Minor in Social Entrepreneurship

Students can choose to enhance any Columbia BA program with a Minor in Social Entrepreneurship, which includes 18 credits of foundational business courses. Click here to see included classes.