ORG704: Social Entrepreneurship 

Instructor & Contact Information

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Course Description

Social Entrepreneurship is the field of applying business entrepreneurship, start-up principles to social causes. The course centers around a final project where students will build their own social entrepreneurship "pitch deck" presentation to use to persuade potential supporters of their initiative. This course will apply many of the best practices of startups used by Silicon Valley to the social sector including: Lean Startup principles and the Business Model Canvas. Students will synthesize a major doctoral project combining theoretical and practical research related to social entrepreneurship, specifically for their contexts.

Course Outcomes

After completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Define the field of social entrepreneurship and key traits of social entrepreneurs.
2. Describe and apply the theories from the Lean Startup needed to rapidly adapt to uncertain environments facing social entrepreneurs.
3. Interview customers and stakeholders to assess product-market fit for a new initiative.
4. Develop a Business Model Canvas for your new initiative and revise based on customer feedback.
5. Develop a pitch presentation of your new initiative to a group of potential investors.
6. Synthesize a major doctoral project combining theoretical and practical research related to social entrepreneurship, specifically for your context.

Degree Program Outcomes

This course supports the following program outcomes, marked with an (I) for Introduce, (D) for Develop and an (M) for Mastery.

1. 1. Research methods. Apply action research methods to practical research topics in the field.
   2. Diffusion of Innovation. Utilize technology and relational networking to help diffuse innovations within a community of practice.
   3. Values Alignment. To develop a theological vision and to align your organization's strategy, culture and systems with that vision to avoid secularization and mission drift.
   4. Strategy. To develop a synthesis to integrate a wide range of business skills into a strategic plan for starting or growing an organization.
   5. Social Entrepreneurship. Develop strategies and plans to effectively use technology and innovation to achieve organizational goals. (M)
   6. Action Research Project. Synthesize action research with theory and practice to solve a practical challenge facing your organization and/or the larger field.

Broad Institutional Outcomes

• I1. Knowledge (Head). Apply a wide range of tools to help solve society’s great problems by shifting from a single lens/tool/discipline to a multiple lens, multifaceted Biblical understanding of reality. (D)
• I2. Skills (Hands). Develop the skills you need for the next position in your development as a leader by shifting from mastery & understanding of a division in an organization to a comprehensive systemic mastery/understanding needed to lead across the organization.
• I3. Attitudes/Character (Heart). Develop the character and discipline needed to step into greater leadership roles by losing the bias of your old position to gain broader perspective and intellectual humility needed to accelerate your commitment to lifelong learning.

The outcomes programs listed are for the Doctoral program, but this course may also apply to the program outcomes of other programs.

Required Texts

Students are required to purchase these texts before the first day of classes. 

• Crane, C. A., & Reeb, L. (2022). The Social Entrepreneur: Seasoned Advice to Multiply Your Impact 100x. Ardent Mentoring. ISBN: 979-8986764504
• Gelobter, M. (2015). Lean Startups for Social Change: The Revolutionary Path to Big Impact (1st ed.). San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers. 224 pg. ISBN 978-1626561496
• Osterwalder, A., & Pigneur, Y. (2010). Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers (1st edition). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons. 288 pg. ISBN: 978-1626561496

Guidelines for Written Work

All written work must follow our Writing Format and Forum Requirements. You must read these to understand how to cite sources appropriately.

Critical Policies to Read for This Course

Note: These policies are critical for all students to read. In case of change, we have linked to the versions on our website to make sure you have the latest version.

• Grading Scale 

• Deadlines to Drop Courses

• Attendance, Late Policy and Extensions

• Technology Requirements for Courses

• Standards of Academic Integrity & Plagiarism Policy

• What plagiarism is and how to avoid it 

• Credit Hour Policy, Grading Policy and Other Academic Policies

• ADA Policy, Learning Accommodations & Disabilities Services
• Student Code of Conduct 

• Library Services

Additional Policies:

• Privacy Policy

• Consumer Disclosures
• Additional policies are listed in our catalog

This syllabus is subject to change without notice up until the first day of the semester.

Last updated: November 24, 2025