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Pepperdine | Graduate School of Education and Psychology

Everything You Need to Know About a Masters in Social Entrepreneurship and Change

What is Social Entrepreneurship and Change?

Social entrepreneurship is a field that applies innovative solutions to the world's largest social problems. Students and practitioners of social entrepreneurship discover ways to create and sustain social value. The processes of social entrepreneurship and change are designed to support learning, innovation and adaptation, while building leadership in creating social change with a focus on the needs of those being served.

What Do Social Entrepreneurs Do? 

Social entrepreneurs aim to solve community-based problems. Social entrepreneurs usually join an existing non-profit organization or create one. These social initiative driven companies, organizations and individuals prioritize social well being over profits. These companies and organizations and individuals can focus on the local level, the global level or both. They often challenge social systems in order to meet the social needs of disparaged communities and peoples.  

These companies and organizations and individuals are tasked with developing and implementing innovative, effective, and sustainable solutions to some of the world's largest social problems such as poverty, social justice, famine relief, and other economic and environmental issues. Social entrepreneurs learn and apply the skills of social change. A common example of social entrepreneurship implementation is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), a form of business-community relations and sustainability management in the private business sector.

What Can I Do with a Degree in Social Entrepreneurship and Change? 

There are many job/ career opportunities for a Social Entrepreneurship and Change degree holder. Here is a list of the most common of those:

  • Social Enterprise Founder / Entrepreneur
    • Launch and operate a social change startup. Start your own enterprise with a focus on helping to solve social issues. 
  • Intrepreneur
    • Bring a social perspective to any role within an existing enterprise. 
  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
    • CSR professionals help companies reflect responsibility and dedication to their communities' and society's advancement and well-being through various activities and implementations such as volunteer projects, funding for nonprofits and charities, and sustainability practices. 
  • Non-Profit Executive Director
    • Oversee the aspects of a non-profit organization, especially its fundraising.
  • Administrative Director
    • Lead a variety of departments in a variety of industries, especially in higher education and social entrepreneurship companies.   
  • Business Consultant/ Inclusion, Diversity Consultant  
    • Advise individuals, corporations, and non-profits on strategy and optimizations. 
  • Human Resources 
    • Oversee aspects of human resources of a company. 
  • Advocates and Government Officials
    • Many avenues in education, legal, non-profits, private sectors and political roles.
  • Director of Education
    • Design and implement academic programs at an academic institution.

Get your Master of Arts in Social Entrepreneurship and Change at Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology 

The Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology was the first institution to offer a Master’s degree program in Social Entrepreneurship and Change. The program features a values-based, comprehensive, and practical knowledge of business, leadership, and promoting social impact without the unnecessary time and cost of a traditional business degree. Pepperdine is a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful places to study, Pepperdine is where you're inspired to learn as you learn to inspire.


Get in touch and learn more about this exciting program.