Executive Program in Social Impact Strategy

We want to hear your story, your goals for society, and what you want to accomplish in your career. We are looking to learn about you, what you’re passionate about, what you want to learn and why. We hope that the application process might serve as a reflective practice for you to step back and articulate what you’re hoping to accomplish.

The essays are short but extremely important. This is where we learn your goals for the world and the program, and the best way we can assess whether you are at a stage in your venture or career to benefit from participating. We encourage concise, detailed responses.

In the first essay, tell us about the social impact issue area or initiative that you are most passionate about contributing to, and why. Each week of the Executive Program is designed for students to articulate some aspect of this issue, even if they are still ideating. We need to see that you can try ideas out, on paper, concisely and with specifics. You don’t have to pretend that everything is already figured out — actually, we hope you won’t. Instead, share your assumptions about this issue and the things you need to learn in order to take the next step in this work. 

In the second essay, help us understand why you think this program is right for you. What aspects do you most look forward to? What do you hope to accomplish professionally or organizationally in the 8 months of the Executive Program? Why is 2022 the right time for you to undertake our program? 

In the third essay, describe your prior actions to support a social mission. Volunteer work, sitting on a board, acting as an engaged funder, working in an organization that did good work either as its main business or on the side…there are many ways to help make the world a better place. 

 If you have questions about admissions, please don’t hesitate to reach out at admissions@csis.upenn.edu so we can discuss.

No. Our program is designed to have the lowest tuition possible without losing the integrity of the educational experience. We’re proud to say it is the most affordable comparable executive program that we are aware of. Since the program tuition is already being offered at a discounted rate relative to similar programs, we’re unfortunately unable to offer scholarships. We can, however, offer students who would like additional time to complete their payment the option of an interest-free payment plan over the course of 3 months. Some students have received partial or full tuition from their employers or a donor. Feel free to use this template to calculate the program cost for you and to share with your employer if it is useful in your funding applications.  

If you have questions about finances, please don’t hesitate to reach out at admissions@csis.upenn.edu so we can discuss.

A $950 tuition deposit is not refundable. 

Refund requests for the remainder of tuition must occur within 14 days of the start of the program, January 19, 2022.

There are no educational prerequisites to apply for this program — we are looking for leaders across all industries with a variety of perspectives. Applicants should be comfortable learning in the English language, and have the capacity to stream video weekly.  

If you have questions, or if you think you might need a learning accommodation, please don’t hesitate to reach out at admissions@csis.upenn.edu so we can discuss your questions.

You will complete a total of six online courses and attend an in-person convening at the University of Pennsylvania. Required courses include: Social Impact Strategy, Business Models for Social Enterprise, Community and Collaboration, and Marketing for Social Impact. Students select two additional electives from among that year’s choices. In the past, we have offered: Impact Management, Research Design, Digital Media for Social Movements, Data Science for Social Innovation, Ethical Decision-Making in Social Organizations, Volunteer Management, and Unleashing Large Scale Social Movements. Download the viewbook for course descriptions.

Alumni are a critical part of the CSIS family, and they receive lifelong access to the CSIS community. We have a private Facebook group dedicated to conversations online for anyone in our network to share resources and support one another. Most years, we also host a free alumni summit in Philadelphia to bring our diverse community together and offer one another a deep sense of community and connection. In 2020 and 2021, these summits have been virtual, and while we like welcoming alumni on campus each year, they have been wonderful opportunities to reconnect with curriculum and classmates. We expect to be back on campus in 2022! 

We will be following all guidelines in place for visitors on campus at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as guidelines set forth by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. 

For anyone who can’t join us in person, we will offer a virtual alternative that will allow you to fully participate in both learning and cohort-building activities. It will take place synchronously with the on-campus convening. You will be able to watch all instruction via live-stream, and will interact with your other classmates learning online. There will be an online alternative for all social activities. 

The online option will be fully staffed and will feature a separate instructional team that will ensure that you are able to hear the instruction, and facilitate your active participation in all interactive activities. Please set aside the same time and attention as you would if you were learning in person. This will not be an online session during which time you can sit on your couch, do other professional work, take side calls, or fold laundry. 

When you enroll in the program October-December, we will ask you to indicate whether you intend to participate in March in person or online. 

Depending on your time zone, it might be challenging for you to attend our live sessions synchronously. Online participants will have an opportunity to view recorded sessions and submit their work by the end of the week. Depending on the location of our incoming class, and their ability to attend the convening in person, we may organize social activities at a different time when online participants are more able to attend. 

To facilitate this opportunity, we will also ask you when you enroll the time zone from which you will learn.  Learning sessions will remain synchronous with the in-person event.

No. The online option will feature the same curriculum and activities as the on-campus option. You will have instructors focused specifically on ensuring that you are learning, engaged, and interacting with your classmates.