STU Launches Program in Social Entrepreneurship and Nonprofit Management

A new interdisciplinary program at STU will encourage students’ growing interest in organizations and initiatives that promote social wellbeing and environmental sustainability. 

 

The Interdisciplinary Studies major with a focus in Social Entrepreneurship and Nonprofit Management combines STU's student-centered, multidisciplinary education with business fundamentals and the core skills needed to affect social change. These include critical thinking, communication and advocacy, writing, collaboration, and the ability to apply conceptual understanding and knowledge to real-world issues.  

 

The program is unique — no other university in Atlantic Canada offers an undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies major with a focus in Social Entrepreneurship and Nonprofit Management. Graduates from the program will be prepared to create, develop, or participate in a social enterprise or a nonprofit organization.  

 

“Once they graduate, our students will have the skills to contribute to existing social enterprises and nonprofits right away,” said Dr. Andy Secord, the program’s coordinator.  

 

“Our courses in Social Entrepreneurship and Nonprofit Management are designed to benefit all students who will work in management, fundraising, marketing, or aspire to start a new social enterprise or nonprofit project.” 

 

In these courses, students will use theory and research to develop knowledge and understanding, while also gaining practical skills in marketing, strategy, board governance, fundraising, and sales techniques. The Social Enterprise Work-Study Placement course will connect students with an existing social enterprise where they will participate in strategy development, impact measurement, marketing initiatives, and financial planning. 

 

“In the STU courses, we become knowledgeable in how to organize, finance, and build an enterprise and market our ideas to supporters in the community and at large. At the same time, we study the ways these techniques have been used to meet social objectives,” said Secord. 

 

“In contrast with more traditional business programs, the STU focus is on maximizing the social benefits to the community and society more generally.” 
 

Students can now register for courses in the Social Entrepreneurship and Nonprofit Management program for the 2024-25 academic year. 
 

For more information, see STU.ca/SENP. 

 
Sample Courses

• BUSI 1003: Introduction to Social Enterprise 
• BUSI 1013: Contemporary Case Studies in Social Enterprise 
• BUSI 2033: Building the Social Enterprise 
• BUSI 2043: Marketing for the Social Enterprise 
• BUSI 3023: Nonprofit Management 
• BUSI 3043: Finance and Fundraising for Social Enterprise 
• BUSI 3053: Social Enterprise Work-Study Placement
• BUSI 3903: Business and Human Rights