Social Entrepreneurship

Social entrepreneurs implement innovative private sector approaches to solve social, cultural and/or environmental problems. This course will examine the practice of identifying, starting and growing successful mission-driven for profit and nonprofit ventures in the travel and tourism sectors. Through case studies, lectures and classroom dialogue, students will learn to think strategically and act opportunistically with a socially-conscious business mindset. Topics will include problem/opportunity assessment, acquiring the necessary resources to grow a social enterprise, and the tradeoffs between social and financial returns on investment. Students will review good practices in social entrepreneurship, and will develop a business plan for a mission-driven organization.