Online course designed for high school students
Social Entrepreneurship: The Business of Helping Others
Do you have an entrepreneurial mindset and want to make a difference? Then this online course in social entrepreneurship is a must. Discover how social entrepreneurs get started, build a value proposition, find customers, identify problems, come up with solutions and create a team.
This course is ideal for future business majors, budding entrepreneurs and anyone with a social conscience.
Learn how to do good by doing business
What is social entrepreneurship?
Learn how this type of business is different from philanthropy, non-profits, social work and government support. Practice the steps outlined in the value proposition matrix to write a value proposition for social entrepreneurship. Pick your favorite brand and identify its value proposition.
Know your audience
Understand how social entrepreneurs identify their customers, and how they fit into the value proposition. Do a deep dive into a successful social venture, “We Can Code [IT]” and understand how it serves the needs of its audience. Identify types of customers for popular brands.
Identify pain points
Gain insight into how social entrepreneurs pinpoint the problem their organization is trying to solve. Learn how to use the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development as a guide. Create a list of five specific problems you see in your community that social entrepreneurs could solve.
Be a creative problem solver
Explore how social entrepreneurs come up with solutions that are different from those of non governmental organizations and charities. Come up with your own solution to a problem and describe how it is unique. You’ll learn to test whether your assumptions are valid.
How to build a social entrepreneurship team
Determine what skills and assets you’ll need from your team. Learn to put your value proposition to work to guide your team in solving problems. See how successful social entrepreneur teams accomplish their goals.
Prepare for a future in social entrepreneurship
Topics covered in this course offer a good background for those thinking about pursuing a future in business, entrepreneurship or cause-related government or non-profit careers.
How You Will Benefit
- Discover how a social entrepreneurship differs from NGOs, charities, government programs and not-for-profit groups.
- Be able to create a value proposition.
- Identify the ideal customer for a social entrepreneurial business and the pain points your product or service addresses.
- Know how to assemble a team of people you’ll need to ensure that you meet your goals.
- Learn asynchronously: Lessons by your professors are delivered as videos so that you can tune in whenever your schedule allows—the ultimate in flexibility.
- Earn a Certificate of Completion from Case Western Reserve University.
Apply Now for the Next Available Course
December 18 - January 1
Social Entrepreneurship: The Business of Helping Others
Length: 2 weeks
Cost: $995
Application Deadline: Sunday, December 11, 2022
June 11 - June 25
Social Entrepreneurship: The Business of Helping Others
Length: 2 weeks
Cost: $995
Application Deadline: Sunday, June 4, 2023
June 25 - July 9
Social Entrepreneurship: The Business of Helping Others
Length: 2 weeks
Cost: $995
Application Deadline: Sunday, June 18, 2023
All course options, whether 2 or 4 weeks, have the identical educational content, learning materials, and number of assignments. The difference in length of course is due to time of year (not amount of instruction). We know the school year keeps you busy, so we’ve made the course longer during that time so that you can get assignments done.
Hear from Case Western Reserve University
3 Learning Advantages Designed for You
Flexible Learning
- 100% online, works with your schedule
- 20-25 hours of total instruction and course work, including engaging multimedia, simulations, and curated assignments for which you will receive guidance and support
- A flexible format: you’ll learn through engaging video. Tune in anytime that works for you.
- Engage with fellow students from around the world
Mentoring
You’ll receive guidance from a mentor who can support you and answer questions as you deepen your learning experience. You can expect:
- Encouragement and direction on all assignments
- Inspiration, motivation and confidence to help you succeed
- Brainstorming to help as you prepare for your final project
Final Project
The course culminates in a final project in which you will
- Create a value proposition for your own Social Entrepreneurship
- Be able to analyze the value propositions in the social entrepreneurships we’ve studied
- Get feedback from your mentors on your work
- Use video, text, or a presentation to complete your project
Course Designed by Case Western Reserve University
Michael Goldberg
Associate Professor, Design & Innovation
Goldberg is an experienced venture capitalist and entrepreneur whose teaching is focused on the fields of entrepreneurship and early-stage finance. Goldberg is an associate professor of design and innovation at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management. Goldberg is also the inaugural executive director of the university’s Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship.
Megan Buchter
Director, Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit
Buchter has been part of the Fowler Center for over 10 years, first as a student volunteer while pursuing her Case Western Reserve undergraduate degree in economics where she participated in the Second Global Forum for Business as an Agent of World Benefit held in June 2009. Then, Megan returned to the Fowler Center as a graduate assistant while completing her Weatherhead School of Management MBA. During that time, she was named one of the inaugural Fowler Family Fellows, supporting the Third Global Forum and co-authoring the teaching case "Food Donation Connection: Profitably Scaling Food Waste Reduction."
Course Mentors
Sunayana
CWRU undergraduate with a major in biomedical engineering and minors in polymer science and engineering, chemistry. Current Communications Director of CWRU's Entrepreneurship Club as well as the founder of a Cleveland-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting classical Indian dance, particularly at the collegiate level.
Patrick
CWRU undergraduate majoring in business management.
Kelly
Undergraduate at CWRU studying economics and chemical biology with minors in medical anthropology and public health. Member of the Resident Hall Association, Period (advocates for menstrual equality), and the Advocates for Cleveland Health.
How to Apply
It’s easy. No transcripts or letters of recommendation are required. Our application will ask you to provide the following:
- Basic contact information for you and your parents or guardian.
- Why you wish to take this course. You can tell your story through writing, video, photos — any media you prefer.
Note: Please submit all application materials in English.
Begin the guided process. It should take only a few minutes of your time to answer the questions.
Apply Now
Scholarships
We offer need-based pre-college program scholarships in each cohort to students who need assistance with the program cost. The scholarship application is a part of the overall program application.
If you would like to be considered for a scholarship but you:
- haven't applied to the program, complete your application now. The scholarship application is included.
- applied to the program and didn't fill out a scholarship request, reach out to us at support@precollege.case.edu for assistance.
- are unsure about whether or not you applied for a scholarship, reach out to us at support@precollege.case.edu for assistance.
The University reserves the right to modify the course as may become necessary.