Creating Change through Social Entrepreneurship from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Getting Started

Breeze through these short introductory videos to get a flavor of the course and determine if this course is right for you.

STAGE 1: RESEARCHING YOUR TOPIC

Your journey really starts here! This is the first stage in becoming a changemaker - understanding and researching your challenge.

STAGE 2: LISTENING TO PEOPLE

The most important part of your entrepreneurial journey is to understand (and engage with) the people who are most affected by your challenge. This module will equip you with the knowledge and skills to create meaningful community connections.

STAGE 3: DESIGNING A SOLUTION

This module focuses on creating innovative solutions to social challenges through the process of user-driven design. This approach facilitates the development of your solution by mobilizing existing resources in a new way.

STAGE 4: DEVELOPING YOUR IDEA FURTHER

In this module, you’ll figure out how people will interact with your offering. To do so, you need to talk to as many people as possible! First, you'll work on articulating your mission, vision, and values. Then, you’ll ask for informational interviews and talk to customers, others who have tried similar ideas, and anyone else who will talk to you and help connect you to others. The goal is to understand how your customers will interact with your solution.

STAGE 5: MEASURING OUTCOMES

This week, you will specify what success looks like, and how you will measure it.

STAGE 6: ENSURING FINANCIAL VIABILITY

In this module, you will address the financial viability of your solution, based on revenue and distribution models that are commonly adopted by social enterprises.

STAGE 7: FUNDING YOUR ENDEAVOR

In this module, you will review the financing approaches associated with social entrepreneurship. Hopefully, you will determine which one(s) could be right for you!

STAGE 8: STRUCTURING AS AN ORGANIZATION

This week, you will learn how to organize and structure the resources required for institutionalizing your endeavor.

STAGE 9: PITCHING & COMMUNICATIONS PLANNING

This module is about effectively communicating with stakeholders. Pitches and Business Plans are essential communication tools, but they’re not the only ones. You are encouraged to draft and comprehensive communications plan that specifies what to convey to whom and why, when, and how.

STAGE 10: EXPANDING YOUR IMPACT

In this module, you will learn different ways to reach beyond your solution. While you are contributing to the improvement of your social challenge, there’s a limit to what you can achieve on your own. To broaden the impact of your solution, you need to build partnerships with other entities that share your goal. This is the last module of the course, but your journey is just beginning!

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches social entrepreneurship mindset and skillset to build social impact

Provides a framework to help structure learner's journey

Features case studies and campus conversations with social entrepreneurs

Suitable for learners with diverse backgrounds and experiences

Covers financial viability, funding, and organizational structuring

Requires learners to research a social or environmental challenge

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Creating Change through Social Entrepreneurship with these activities:

Brush up on Business Fundamentals

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Ensure your foundation in business principles is strong to support your social entrepreneurship journey.

Browse courses on Business Fundamentals

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Review key concepts in accounting, finance, and marketing.
Read articles or watch videos to refresh your knowledge on business strategy and operations.

Conduct Customer Interviews

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Practice interviewing potential customers to understand their needs and refine your solution.

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Identify and schedule interviews with potential customers.
Prepare open-ended questions that will help you understand their experiences and challenges.
Conduct interviews, taking notes to capture key insights.
Analyze the data from your interviews to identify patterns and generate ideas.

Engage with Social Impact Organizations

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Experience the realities of social entrepreneurship by volunteering with organizations in the field.

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Identify organizations that align with your interests and values.
Offer your time and skills to support their mission.
Observe and participate in their operations to gain practical Insights.

Five other activities

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Explore Digital Marketing Resources

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Expand your knowledge of digital marketing strategies by following online tutorials and resources.

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Research and find reputable online tutorials on social media marketing, search engine optimization, or email marketing.
Follow the tutorials, taking notes on key concepts and strategies.
Apply what you learn to your own solution's marketing and outreach efforts.

Contribute to Social Impact Projects

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Join a community of like-minded individuals working on projects that address social issues.

Browse courses on Open Source Projects

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Explore online platforms and communities dedicated to social impact projects.
Find a project that aligns with your skills and interests.
Contribute your skills to the project and collaborate with others.

Develop a Business Model

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Create a roadmap for the financial viability and sustainability of your solution.

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Identify your target customer and value proposition.
Develop a revenue model and estimate your costs.
Design your operations and infrastructure.

Share Your Knowledge with Others

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Strengthen your understanding of the course concepts by teaching them to others.

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Identify a topic you feel confident in.
Find opportunities to mentor or tutor peers, friends, or family members on that topic.
Prepare materials and practice explaining the concepts clearly and concisely.

Develop a Social Impact Report

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Demonstrate the impact of your solution by creating a report that showcases its positive outcomes.

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Gather data on the outcomes and impact of your social entrepreneurship endeavor.
Analyze the data to identify key metrics and achievements.
Craft a concise and compelling report that highlights the positive impact your solution has made.

Career center

Learners who complete Creating Change through Social Entrepreneurship will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Social Entrepreneur

Social entrepreneurs use business principles to solve social problems. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful social entrepreneur, such as how to research a social challenge, design and implement solutions, and measure your impact. You will also learn how to build a business model, raise funding, and market your social enterprise.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Entrepreneur

Community Organizer

Community organizers lead social change initiatives at the grassroots level, working with people who are directly affected by a social problem. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful community organizer, such as how to research a social challenge, design and implement solutions, and measure your impact. You will also learn how to build relationships with community members and stakeholders, which is essential for building a successful social change movement.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Organizer

Health Educator

Health educators develop and implement programs to promote health and prevent disease. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful health educator, such as how to research a social challenge, design and implement solutions, and measure your impact. You will also learn about health education and how to use evidence-based strategies to promote healthy behaviors.

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Policy Analyst

Policy analysts research and analyze social problems and develop政策recommendations to address them. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful policy analyst, such as how to research a social challenge, design and implement solutions, and measure your impact. You will also learn how to write policy briefs and reports, and how to advocate for your policy recommendations.

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Market Researcher

Market researchers collect and analyze data about consumers and markets. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful market researcher, such as how to research a social challenge, design and implement solutions, and measure your impact. You will also learn how to conduct surveys and focus groups, and how to analyze data to identify trends and insights.

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Urban Planner

Urban planners design and implement plans for the development of cities and towns. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful urban planner, such as how to research a social challenge, design and implement solutions, and measure your impact. You will also learn how to work with community members and stakeholders, and how to create sustainable and equitable communities.

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Environmental Scientist

Environmental scientists study the environment and develop solutions to environmental problems. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful environmental scientist, such as how to research a social challenge, design and implement solutions, and measure your impact. You will also learn about environmental science and how to use scientific methods to solve environmental problems.

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Social Impact Investor

Social impact investors invest in companies and organizations that are working to solve social and environmental problems. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful social impact investor, such as how to research a social challenge, design and implement solutions, and measure your impact. You will also learn about the different types of social impact investments, and how to evaluate the social and financial impact of your investments.

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Social Worker

Social workers help people navigate social problems and improve their lives. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful social worker, such as how to research a social challenge, design and implement solutions, and measure your impact. You will also learn how to work with people from all walks of life, and how to advocate for their needs.

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Nonprofit Program Manager

Nonprofit program managers oversee the development and implementation of social programs. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful nonprofit program manager, such as how to research a social challenge, design and implement solutions, and measure your impact. You will also learn how to manage a team of staff and volunteers, and how to work with donors and other stakeholders.

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Philanthropy Officer

Philanthropy officers raise money for nonprofit organizations. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful philanthropy officer, such as how to research a social challenge, design and implement solutions, and measure your impact. You will also learn how to build relationships with donors, and how to write grant proposals.

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Lawyer

Lawyers advise clients on legal matters and represent them in court. This course may be useful for those who want to become lawyers who specialize in social justice or public interest law. The course will provide you with a foundation in the theories and practices of social entrepreneurship, and will help you develop the skills you need to advocate for social change through the legal system.

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Journalist

Journalists research and write news stories about current events. This course may be useful for those who want to become journalists who cover social issues. The course will provide you with a foundation in the theories and practices of social entrepreneurship, and will help you develop the skills you need to research and write about social issues in a clear and engaging way.

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Doctor

Doctors diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries. This course may be useful for those who want to become doctors who specialize in public health or social medicine. The course will provide you with a foundation in the theories and practices of social entrepreneurship, and will help you develop the skills you need to address the social determinants of health and promote health equity.

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Professor

Professors teach and conduct research at colleges and universities. This course may be useful for those who want to become professors in the field of social entrepreneurship or social change. The course will provide you with a foundation in the theories and practices of social entrepreneurship, and will help you develop the skills you need to be a successful teacher and researcher.

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