A new online guide lists all of the courses available at the University of Pennsylvania that focus on making a difference in the lives of others.

Sponsored by the School of Social Policy & Practice and its Nonprofit Leadership Program, the social impact course guide is a comprehensive resource that compiles all of the social impact-related classes across Penn.

Peter Frumkin, the faculty director at the Center for High Impact Philanthropy, originated the idea of creating a document designed to help students and others plan their educational pathways more easily.

The guide is interdisciplinary in nature and lists dozens of classes that are available at schools across the University. Courses are grouped by academic year and semester.

This spring, in conjunction with the Wharton School’s Ian MacMillan and James Thompson, Frumkin will offer a six-week interdisciplinary Social Entrepreneurship course as the School of Social Policy & Practice’s first free online class via Coursera. 

“Social enterprise requires quick and savvy business experience with an understanding of the forces that generate social problems and the required steps to efficiently and successfully generate social change,” says Richard J. Gelles, the dean of the School of Social Policy & Practice.  “The collaboration between Wharton and the School of Social Policy & Practice brings together a team experienced with the growing field of social entrepreneurship.”

By offering the Social Entrepreneurship class online and at no cost, it opens the possibilities for everyone.

“This course can educate an array of people, from a young man running a community bazaar in Ecuador to a woman in Beijing who wants to learn more about civil society laws,” explains Frumkin, the director of the Nonprofit Leadership Program and a professor at the School of Social Policy & Practice.

Additional courses offered through the School of Social Policy & Practice include Strategic Planning & Resource Development for Public and Nonprofit Organizations; Global Social Impact; Nonprofit Financial Management; Leadership for the New Economy; Budgeting for Nonprofits; Social Media for Social Impact; Leadership & Social Change; Philanthropy & Fundraising; and Social Entrepreneurship. 

“In short, students will learn they can do good and do well,” adds Gelles.

Frumkin says the online social impact guide offers a way for everyone to learn about the many opportunities on campus.  As the year unfolds and as the spring and summer schedules solidify, the guide will be updated as needed.

The list of courses can be found on the Social Policy & Practice Web site.

Suggestions for course additions can be made to Amy Lee at leeamy1@sp2.upenn.edu.