The demand for MBA skills in the social sector is increasing dramatically. The breadth of courses in the core MBA program at Fuqua will provide a strong foundation for any student looking to become a successful social impact leader. In addition, CASE offers multiple opportunities to complement the core through extra-curricular programming and elective courses.
Fuqua is unique in that we offer a “Concentration in Social Entrepreneurship.” The concentration is designed to serve students who aspire at some point in their lives to be social entrepreneurs, executives in social-purpose organizations, philanthropists, board members, or leading volunteers in their communities and the social sector. Courses in this concentration will also appeal to students interested in incorporating strategies for social impact into their business and entrepreneurial careers. Learn more.
Social Entrepreneurship
Through case discussions, frameworks, and guest speakers, students learn how to answer a number of questions, including: How do successful social entrepreneurs use organizations to achieve sustainable change and impact? How do impact investors pick the best to invest in? What are the advantages and challenges of growing a company vs. a nonprofit? How can larger institutions help bring the best ideas to scale?
Advanced Social Entrepreneurship
A seminar style course which provides students an opportunity for deeper exploration of the practice of social entrepreneurship, set within the context of global poverty.
Impact Investing
Explores the emerging marketplace of impact investing. Through a series of case studies and guests, students learn the perspective of the entrepreneur seeking capital as well as the perspective of the investor and lender adapting traditional forms of financing to support enterprises seeking both profit and mission.
The Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum (FCCP)
A project based course which includes social entrepreneurship (nonprofit and for-profit) clients both in the US and abroad.
CASEi3 Consulting Practicum (i3CP)
A project based course which includes client projects focus on various aspects of the impact investing landscape.
Mentored Study
In this course, students commit to spending at least 2 hours per week on-site and at least 8 hours per week on assigned tasks for an entrepreneurial venture, including local start-up and early stage companies, non-profit organizations, real estate developers, and venture capital firms.
Duke and CASE are also supportive of students interested in pursuing independent study opportunities. Review Fuqua’s guidelines for independent studies here.
There are also many other Duke electives that will help students develop additional skills for social impact leadership. To get an idea of some of the classes available, visit their site.
One of the benefits of studying at a world-class university is the ability to select courses outside of Fuqua to compliment your educational goals. From public policy to human-centered design, Fuqua students have taken advantage of a variety of courses during their time at Duke University. Some commonly utilized campus resources by our students include:
