Social Innovation for Global Impact (Graduate Certificate)

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Offered by the School of International Service , the Social Innovation for Global Impact (Graduate Certificate) equips students with the knowledge and skills to apply techniques of innovation to social change and activism in a global context, with a special emphasis on human rights, peacekeeping, governance and international development. It has both a curricular and co-curricular component.

Admission to the Program

This certificate is available to students currently enrolled in an American University graduate degree program. It is also open to students with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited institution. Applicants must submit their official transcripts along with a one-page statement of purpose.

Non-native English speakers are required to submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) unless they hold a degree from a U.S.-accredited institution before enrollment at SIS. The minimum TOEFL score for full admission consideration is 100 on the Internet-based test (iBT) or 600 on the paper-based test (PBT). The minimum IELTS score is 7.0.

Certificate Requirements

12 credit hours of approved graduate work with grades of C or better. Grades of C- or D in certificate program courses are not accepted toward the fulfillment of certificate requirements, although these grades will be included in the calculation of the GPA. Students must have a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA in certificate courses in order to be awarded a certificate. Students in certificate programs must take a minimum of 6 credit hours during each 12-month period and complete the certificate in four years. International students must enroll in 9 credit hours each semester (except for summer). A maximum of 3 credit hours earned at an accredited college or university may be applied toward the certificate as transfer credit
Complete the SIS Social Innovation Fellows (SIF) co-curricular program

Course Requirements

Competence Acquisition (9 credit hours)

Complete 9 credits from the following, or other social innovation-related courses approved by faculty advisor:

SIS-619 Special Studies in International Politics (1-6) :
Consulting for Social Impact

Innovation for Social Impact

Leading Social Innovation
SIS-635 Advanced Topics in Development Management (3) : NGO/Social Enterprise Management
SIS-739 Private Sector Engagement with Social Issues (3)
SIS-750 Research and Professional Methods in International Affairs (3) : Organizational Effectiveness for International Service

Competence Application (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours from the following, or other course approved by faculty advisor:

SIS-693 Practicum: Action Research in Development Management (3)
SIS-793 Practicum in International Affairs (3) : Social Innovation Practicum
SIS-795 Master’s Research Requirement (1-3) (approved topic)
SIS-797 Master’s Thesis Supervision (1-6)