Social Enterprise Development (Joint Honours)

Three years full-time, four years with optional work placement.

This course is designed for those that wish to turn their passion for social justice into an enterprising activity and for those that want to develop management careers within social enterprises. It equips students with the appropriate skills, theoretical knowledge and attitudes necessary to be able to understand and work with the challenges presented within social enterprises. Social enterprises are one of the fastest growing areas of the economy, and during difficult economic times are key ingredients in helping communities work together in adversity.

The course, available as a single honours and Joint Honours, enables students to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to manage a wide range of social enterprises.

Areas covered include: understanding the social enterprise, understanding social issues and how they develop, forming and developing a social enterprise, issues for public sector and not-for-profit contexts, funding and financing, recruiting and staffing, trends and innovations, and professional practice development.

Stage one

Introduction to the social enterprise environment and entrepreneurial activity in addition to issues in public sector and not for profit sector.

Stage two

Practicalities of business and management, community involvement and the making of social entrepreneurs. Investigation of innovation and opportunity management.

Stage three

All final stage students undertake an independent study leading to the submission of a dissertation. In addition, students take a number of specialised modules covering issues such as state aid, public procurement and mega trends.

• Access to practical start-up support for new social enterprises
• Allows students already involved in social enterprises to gain credit for work-based projects
• Allows students not already involved in social enterprise to develop their ideas and prepare to start one
• Investigates current best practice in the establishment and growth of social enterprises
• Involves engagement with real world issues, including case studies and field visits
• Provides both academic and skill development in sociological thinking and enterprising action

Click here for a detailed list of modules.

Typical modules include:

• Challenges for Social Enterprise Development
• Community Involvement
• Growing Social Enterprises
• Opportunity Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Principles of Business
• Social Issues in the UK
• Third World Social and Cultural Issues
• Understanding Social Enterprise

A variety of individual and group based assessments are used, including written reports, presentations, portfolios, projects, client briefs, multiple choice tests and examinations.

Graduates will be well prepared to develop their own social enterprise, to play a key role in an existing social enterprise or to apply their skills and knowledge in a wide range of other organisations. In addition, graduates will gain skills and experience to be an asset to existing social enterprises or in charitable organisations that wish to develop their enterprising activities.