***All nonprofit leadership (NPL) master’s students must take 10 credit units in order to earn a master’s degree. The credit equivalencies in the table indicate the number of credit units that will be applied to accelerated students after they 1) earn their CSIS executive program certificate and 2) apply, are admitted to, enroll in, and complete all other NPL Masters program requirements. Students who enter the NPL program after completing the SIS executive program must complete six (6) NPL credit units (CUs) at least four (4) CUs of which must be from the core offering. Students who enter the NPL program after completing the XSD executive program must complete seven (7) NPL credit units (CUs) at least four (4) CUs of which must be from the core offering. CSIS executive programs confer no course credit in the stand-alone program — executive students must complete the NPL degree in order to obtain these equivalencies. Find more information about the relationship between CSIS executive programs and Penn’s MS in Nonprofit Leadership here.
Free Online Courses in Social Impact
Social Impact Strategy: Tools for Entrepreneurs and Innovators is a free, four-week massive open online course in social impact strategy available on Coursera to anyone in the world. Taught by Professor Peter Frumkin, Faculty Director of the Center for Social Impact Strategy at the University of Pennsylvania, students learn how to design, develop, and launch social impact organizations of their own invention. This course will cover a select set of topics associated with social innovation and entrepreneurship, whether nonprofit or for-profit. By taking this course, students will learn how to:
- Launch social entrepreneurship projects which have high potential of significant positive social impact;
- Direct energy and limited resources to efficiently launching those projects with the most promise;
- Apply tools and frameworks to test and scale a own social enterprise.
We also offer free online classes in Corporate Social Responsibility (on EdX) and Arts & Culture Strategy (on Coursera).
Other free tools and resources are available in smaller bites on the CSIS website’s Independent Learning page.
Residential Programs
The Global Social Impact House (GSIH) brings together 20 global social entrepreneurs, creative intrapreneurs, and innovators who are actively working on a social impact initiative.
GSIH is a seven-day residential program that provides fellows with the tools, community support, and training they need to advance their ventures. Agendas are customized to the needs of fellows and explore advanced concepts in business models, design thinking, and leadership. The program is designed to help fellows unplug from their home environments and immerse themselves in nature, while building meaningful, global connections.
We welcome applicants with a compelling and tested concept for social impact. The only prerequisite for admission is completing CSIS’ free online course in social impact strategy, described above. CSIS will provide full program scholarships to every fellow, which includes accommodation and food. Fellows are responsible for covering travel and visa-related expenses to and from the location.
Additional Resources
Center for Social Impact Strategy Code of Conduct
School of Social Policy and Practice Refund Policy