Specializations and Certificates

UCLA Anderson School of Management
MBA Specialization in Social Impact

For UCLA Anderson MBA students

UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Leaders in Sustainability Certificate

For UCLA and UCLA Anderson graduate students

Social Impact Specialization

 
The Social Impact Specialization prepares UCLA Anderson MBA students for the changing landscape of business, one that demands more transparency and social responsibility from companies and fosters innovation for social impact. The Specialization enables students to build in-depth expertise in a chosen career path, while customizing academic preparation to lead transformational social change in any sector. The Social Impact Specialization offers students a guided curriculum to develop common language and a consistent understanding of impact.
Requirements
 
To receive the social impact specialization, students must complete 16 units. Students are required to take at least one foundational course denoted with an asterisk below. For the remaining 12 units, students can choose a combination of social impact elective courses, a social impact capstone project, independent studies and/or a graduate level course outside of Anderson.

MGMT246A: Business Sustainability and the Environment* (4 units)

This course considers major questions about the role of business in mitigating environmental degradation. It puts emphasis on corporate strategies that deliver value to shareholders while responding to environmental concerns. For example, some firms successfully adopt environmental differentiation strategies to respond to customers environmental concerns; other firms use environmental concerns as a way to generate costs savings within the business; yet other firms seek to influence government regulation in order to impose their standard on competition. The course examines environmental issues in each of the main areas of the MBA program: finance, marketing, operations, supply-chain management, accounting, entrepreneurship and strategy.

This course fulfills the foundational course requirement for the Social Impact Specialization.

Offered Winter 2023

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MGMT295F: Social Entrepreneurship - Business Models for Social Impact* (4 units)

Introduction to different business models for social impact and to the fundamental opportunities and challenges of designing, funding, managing and scaling enterprises with a social mission.

The course introduces frameworks for understanding and analyzing problems facing society and cultivate critical thinking skills to identify diverse ways to address those problems through sustainable programs and enterprises.

Offered spring quarter 2023

This course fulfills the foundational course requirement for the Social Impact Specialization.

Please Note: the following courses may count as a foundational course in lieu of MGMT 298D Social Entrepreneurship – Business Models for Social Impact, if applicable and when offered: (1) MGMT 458A Global Immersion South Africa, G. Northrop; or (2) MGMTEX421 International Business Residential Rwanda, G. Northrop

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MGMT258A: Global Immersion: Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation in South Africa (4 units)

Please note this course is not offered every year.

This course may count as a foundational course toward the social impact specialization in lieu of MGMT 298D Social Entrepreneurship – Business Models for Social Impact when offered.

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MGMTEX 421:  International Business Residential (IBR): Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation in Rwanda (4 units)

Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a Resource-Limited, Asset-Rich Ecosystem. 

This course seeks to explore topics of social entrepreneurship and social innovation, and sustainable economic and community development in application to Rwanda. Rwanda has a rich and turbulent history that impacts all aspects of entrepreneurship in the country. History, politics, culture, and economic conditions in Rwanda today have led to the growth of social entrepreneurship and a vibrant social sector, while at the same time creating challenges unique to this country’s social and environmental context.

This course explores these topics through classes that will be held on Zoom, as well as a series of site visits and speakers in the East African country of Rwanda. Site visits focus on elements of economic activity and policy, innovation and entrepreneurship, and sustainable development. Site visits will include tours of nonprofit and for profit social enterprises, innovation/ entrepreneurship hubs, as well as a visit to a social enterprise coffee or tea plantation. Students will hear from successful social entrepreneurs and community leaders and emerging entrepreneurs working to start-up and scale their social innovations and small businesses. Via those visits and related analyses, students will explore policies, initiatives, and pre-conditions necessary to support innovation and build a sustainable social enterprise in Rwanda.

Please note this was offered as an International Business Residential course for EMBA students in Summer 2022 and is not offered every year.

This course may count as a foundational course toward the social impact specialization in lieu of MGMT 298D Social Entrepreneurship – Business Models for Social Impact when offered.

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MGMT298E: ESG & Sustainability Reporting (4 units)

Examination of the relevance of social and environmental risks and opportunities to Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), finance teams, accountants, and the capital markets. Emphasis on practical application and integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) within financial decision-making, investment, and external disclosure. MGMT 246: Business and the Environment is suggested, but not required.

Offered winter 2023

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MGMT250D-23: ESG for Managers and Investors (4 units)

This course explores the quickly evolving sustainability reporting landscape with an emphasis on how companies are assessing, measuring, managing, and reporting sustainability performance.  The course will also emphasize the role of the chief financial officer in responding to this new landscape and feature prominent guest speakers from the finance community.  

Offered spring quarter 2023

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MGMT296: Social Impact Consulting (2 units)

In this class, you will build skills and competencies necessary for social impact consulting in both the corporate and nonprofit realms, including: project scoping and client management; crafting recommendations, presentation storyboarding and implementation planning; legal structures, governance, and strategy; sources of funding; impact measurement; integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into consulting engagements; role, rewards and challenges of social impact consulting

Offered spring quarter 2023

This course is open to students participating in the Social Impact Consulting Corps Program, by application. Please contact impact@anderson.ucla.edu for more information.

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MGMT298H: Impact Investing I & II (2 separate classes/4 units total)

Introduction to impact investing, navigating the issues faced in the emerging field of social venture capital. Note: this course spans 2 quarters (4 units total, 2 units per quarter)

Two-part series begins in fall quarter 2022 and ends in winter quarter 2023. Application required. Please visit the Anderson Venture Impact Partner webpage or email avip@anderson.ucla.edu for more information.

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MGMT298E: Energy, Climate Change and Finance (4 units)

MGMT 298: Advanced Business Strategy: Managing the Non-Market Environment (4 units)

What is the “Non-Market Environment?”


All economies are defined by formal and informal norms and regulations that structure market competition. These “rules of the competitive game” vary significantly across industry and countries. Many barriers to entry, for example, originate from specific laws and regulations that favor some capabilities over others. The transportation company Uber, for example, is initially at a disadvantage relative to incumbent taxicab companies.

The rules of the competitive game, and in many cases their enforcement, are not fixed constraints. Instead, they are determined, implemented, and interpreted by legislatures and government administrative agencies. Therefore, they are subject to change. In fact, Uber is often able to gain a license to operate by changing the rules of the competitive game in a given jurisdiction.

The analysis and development of successful strategies to shape the rules of the game to an organization’s advantage constitute the domain of non-market strategy. This domain is known as the dark arts of strategy, and can be used for good or ill, by for-profit or non-profit organizations to further their respective agendas.

The analytical framework for non-market strategy goes beyond that of traditional competitive strategy. Nonmarket strategy is an emerging discipline which combines elements of competitive strategy, political science, and corporate social responsibility (i.e., Environmental, Social, and Governance factors (ESG)). By the end of this course, students should be able to “see” new opportunities and risks they would not have seen before taking the course.

Why does the Non-Market Environment need to be managed through non-market strategy?

Successful non-market strategy can establish, sustain, or erode a company’s competitive advantage and impact. For example, the rules governing protection of intellectual property impact the advantages to “innovating” firms versus firms that are “fast followers.” Non-market issues are also important in determining the profitability of an entire industry. Regulations or taxes, for example, may also hurt or help all players, creating common interests among market rivals. Similarly, “the rules” can largely determine how much impact a nonprofit might ultimately have.

This course is well-suited for those pursuing for-profit work, non-profit work, and social impact work and new ventures, as all of these spaces are often profoundly impacted by the “rules of the game,” and how they are managed (or mis-managed).

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MGMT 298D-05: Technology and Business Challenges in Cleantech Entrepreneurship (4 units)

This course is an introduction to the transformation of new knowledge and inventions into viable commercial products and services with particular emphasis on the technology development to reduce carbon emissions and transition the economy towards a zero-carbon future. Key barriers to entry, such as technology viability and scalability, energy intensity, and regulatory concerns will be de-risked through a framework for carbon technology entrepreneurship. The complexities of launching a new venture in the clean tech, and specifically the carbon technology, ecosystem will be thoroughly explored with respect to emerging trends, business models, and the convergence of industry, environmental, and governmental entities.

The goal of the course is to provide students with a framework for understanding the “carbon emissions” and “zero-carbon economy” problem in terms of its scale, the timeline for requisite action, and demonstrate that solutions involve “hard technology” with the potential and need for deploying industrial scale solutions that will transition the society away from carbon dense energy solutions. This class will also serve as a pre-requisite for students that seek to enroll in the Business Creation Option capstone program at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Through this capstone, student venture teams will utilize the concepts in Technology and Business Challenges in Cleantech Entrepreneurship to explore the potential for commercialization across the early-stage lifecycle for new carbon emissions reduction technologies.

UCLA graduate or professional students from business, computer science, and engineering are permitted to enroll in this course

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MGMT298E: Leading for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (2 units)

Considerations of the challenges and opportunities of leading an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organization. This course considers the challenges and opportunities of leading an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organization, focusing on key insights and evidence-based strategies for addressing them. Recognizing that great benefit can come from full participation, authentic communication, and constructive collaboration in diverse communities, this course deepens insight into how leaders may evoke and sustain those experiences.

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MGMT225: Law & Management of Nonprofits (4 units)

Introduction to important legal, financial, and management issues confronting nonprofit organizations. Topics include how to start nonprofit tax-exempt organizations, qualifying and maintaining tax-exempt status under IRC Code Section 501(c)(3), corporate governance, political and legislative activity restrictions, and strategic planning, fundraising, nonprofit accounting, and employment law.

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MGMT298E: Affordable Housing Development (2 units)

The course familiarizes students with the site selection and acquisition process, and explores the complexities associated with land use, entitlements, and the political landscape. The course teaches how to evaluate the various financing tools available to affordable housing developers, including low income housing tax credits, tax-exempt bond financing, and various federal, state and local funding sources. The course also evaluates disruptive technologies and influences in the housing industry.

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MGMT298D: Technology & Society: A Dynamic Relationship and The Changing Role of Leaders (4 units)

This course will look at the dynamic and disruptive nature of technology – – enhancing outcomes that benefit enterprises and society collectively in areas such as financial services, education and healthcare. It will look at the unique ability of new technologies whether based on high speed networks, artificial intelligence or cloud computing coupled with new business models such as the platform-based businesses and the shared economy to create transformational offerings which benefits both businesses and society. Cases exploring the disruptive effects of platform based, online education, low cost telehealth solutions and new digital platforms for payments and financial transactions which create a multiplier effect of economic growth in developing markets will be covered... Ultimately, this course will look at the changing role of leaders in all sectors –– in business and government and their role in supporting technology-based innovation to serve a multitude of stakeholders while minimizing unintended consequences and negative externalities.

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MGMT415: Foundations of Ethical Decision Making (2 units)

Provides practical tools to help students navigate difficult decisions that leaders routinely face. Study adopts behavioral science approach to understanding ethical behavior in order to examine the most fundamental problem in all of ethics: Why do good people sometimes do bad things? Answering this question requires understanding of fundamental psychological processes that govern human thought and behavior in ethical domains. These processes can lure anyone into ethical lapses that ruin careers, destroy businesses, and bring shame to individuals and organizations. Understanding these processes gives insights into practical ways of designing one's organization to encourage its members to behave in line with their own stated values.

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MGMT440: Advanced Business Strategy: Managing the Non-Market Environment

MGMT271A: Medtech Innovation I: Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Medical Technology (4 units)

A framework for developing medical device innovations and preparation for careers in healthcare, product development, and entrepreneurship. The two-quarter course provides guided learning in lean startup principles, design thinking ideology, value proposition development, brainstorming techniques, and tools for clinical concept generation.
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MGMT250D-06: Corporate Governance (4 units)

This course provides the foundational knowledge needed to understand the role of corporate governance within a firm. It covers the key conflicts within a firm between shareholders and managers, and among various types of shareholders. It examines the role of corporate governance in managing and mitigating against these various conflicts and costs to the firm, and the responsibility of the board of directors in leading corporate governance efforts.

Offered spring quarter 2022

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MGMT293: Ethical Considerations in Business (4 units)

A review of ethical considerations in business decisions involving the individual, the corporation, society, and international business.
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MGMT275: Current Topics in Emerging Technologies: Health Care Technology (2 units)

This course addresses technologies and platforms poised to disrupt the healthcare industry, which have the potential to alter the delivery of healthcare through improved patient value, increased cost savings or change in the practice of medicine. Topics include digital health, electronic medical records, personalized medicine and diagnostics, wireless sensing and remote monitoring, cloud connectivity, telemedicine, mobile health platforms, social networks, big data and predictive analytics, and bioinformatics. Includes representatives from venture capital and technology start-up communities.
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MGMT421B: Choice Architecture: How to Nudge Others to Make Better Decisions (2 units)

An examination of the tools of choice architectures, drawing on the disciplines of behavioral economics and experimental psychology to analyze economic models of decision-making. The course examines a wide range of applications—from promoting retirement saving to energy conservation to public health; from exercising and healthy eating to public safety. The range of potential application is far wider and will be relevant to the work of for-profit, non-profit, government, and nongovernment organizations.
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MGMT254: Incentives and Motivations in Organizations (4 units)

An introduction to a wide variety of modern incentive systems, both monetary and non-monetary, as well as the cutting-edge technology that help managers optimize the employee experience.
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MGMT252: Persuasion and Influence (4 units)

Practical strategies to communicate with, persuade, and more generally influence others in everyday conversation, written work, presentations, etc.
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MGMT250D: Patterns of Problem Solving (4 units)

Theory and practice of critical thinking skills that will enhance one's ability to respond to novel and complex situations.
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AMR, GAP, SMR Field Study Capstone Project (10 units)

UCLA Anderson's field study requirement is a real-world six-month consulting project that puts MBA teams to work in the U.S. and around the globe. Each year, a number of Applied Management Research (Full-time MBA), Global Access Program (FEMBA), and Strategic Management Research Program (EMBA) students focus their efforts of advancing the missions of nonprofit organizations and social enterprises through their capstone field study project. Whether evaluating new models for micro finance, improving supply chain efficiency, or evaluating growth and expansion strategies, students make a real, immediate and often profound impact. 

If you would like your capstone field study project to counts toward your social impact specialization, please complete this form. Subject to approval by the Center for Impact office.

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Business Creation Option Capstone Project (10 units)

With the UCLA Anderson Business Creation Option, student entrepreneurs launch their companies while still in school. Students have the opportunity to formulate strategies for the sales, marketing, operations, finance, accounting and management departments, develop and test hypotheses, and conduct effective research that leads to a strategic business or implementation plan for their startups. Students take two prerequisite courses to prepare their business plans, work with teams made up of fellow students and apply to BCO during their first year. Selected projects will span two academic quarters during the second year (either during fall and winter, or winter and spring). 

If you would like your BCO project to counts toward your social impact specialization, please complete this form. Subject to approval by the Center for Impact office.

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Independent Study (2 units)

Students may pursue an area of learning and research of interest to them under the guidance of a UCLA Anderson faculty member. 

Please note a maximum of two independent studies (4 units total) can be applied to the social impact specialization. If you would like your independent study to counts toward your social impact specialization, please contact impact@anderson.ucla.edu. Subject to approval by the Center for Impact office.

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Leaders in Sustainability Course

ENVIRON 277: Leaders in Sustainability (4 Units)
Course includes academically-based discussions on various sustainability-related themes, capitalizing on the wide mix of disciplines represented among participating students. Sessions feature UCLA faculty members, external speakers, and leadership skills to help students learn more about how to best put their interests in sustainability to use.

This is the common course for all students participating in the Leaders in Sustainability Certificate Program, including those from engineering, law, management, public affairs, public health, natural and social sciences and others. Please note students may apply only 4 credits from courses taken outside of UCLA Anderson to the social impact specialization.

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UCLA Institute of Environment and Sustainability Courses

Sample Courses:

ENVIRON 277: Leaders in Sustainability (4 Units)

ENVIRON 200A: Issues and Methods in Environment and Sustainability (4 units)

ENVIRON 240: Food, Energy, and Water Systems Management Seminar (1 unit)

Please refer to the UCLA IoES website to see their schedule of classes.

Courses not listed above may also be applied to the social impact specialization, subject to the approval of the Impact@Anderson office. Please send your request and class syllabus to impact@anderson.ucla.edu. Please note students may apply only 4 credits from courses taken outside of UCLA Anderson to the social impact specialization.

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UCLA School of Education and Information Studies Courses

Please refer to the https://seis.ucla.edu/UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies website to see their schedule of classes.

Courses taken at the UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies can be applied to the social impact specialization, subject to the approval of the Impact@Anderson office. Please send your request with the class description and syllabus to impact@anderson.ucla.edu. Please note students may apply only 4 credits from courses taken outside of UCLA Anderson to the social impact specialization.

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UCLA School of Law Courses

Please refer to the UCLA School of Law website to see their schedule of classes.

Courses taken at the UCLA School of Law can be applied to the social impact specialization, subject to the approval of the Impact@Anderson office. Please send your request and class syllabus to impact@anderson.ucla.edu. Please note students may apply only 4 credits from courses taken outside of UCLA Anderson to the social impact specialization.

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UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Courses (Public Policy, Social Welfare, Urban Planning)

Please refer to the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs website to see their schedule of classes.

Courses taken at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs can be applied to the social impact specialization, subject to the approval of the Impact@Anderson office. Please send your request with the class description and syllabus to impact@anderson.ucla.edu. Please note students may apply only 4 credits from courses taken outside of UCLA Anderson to the social impact specialization.

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UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Courses

Sample Courses:

PUB HLT 200A: Foundations in Public Health (4 units)

Please refer to the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health website to see their schedule of classes.

Public Health courses not listed above may also be applied to the social impact specialization, subject to the approval of the Center for Impact office. Please send your request and class syllabus to impact@anderson.ucla.edu. Please note students may apply only 4 credits from courses taken outside of UCLA Anderson to the social impact specialization.

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UCLA Leaders in Sustainability Certificate

 
The Leaders in Sustainability (LIS) Graduate Certificate Program, managed by the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability (UCLA IoES), provides UCLA graduate students with the knowledge and skills necessary to advance sustainability in their fields through leadership development and multidisciplinary education that integrates principles of economic health, environmental quality, and social equity. LIS is a cross-disciplinary program at UCLA that aims to provide a mechanism for graduate students at UCLA to pursue their interests in sustainability and collaborate with students across campus. Students can tailor the certificate program to best further their interests in sustainability and enhance their educational and career trajectories through collaboration and knowledge sharing with students, faculty, and professionals from different fields.
Requirements
 
To obtain the Leaders in Sustainability Certificate, students must complete 16 units of coursework. Students are required to take Environment 277 (4 units). Four of the remaining 12 units must be fulfilled with a course outside of their home department or school. In addition, all certificate candidates must complete a self-initiated leadership project and participate in LIS program events. Students can apply for the program here.

REQUIRED: Leadership Project

All LIS students are required to demonstrate leadership on a project related to sustainability. The project should address at least two out of three of the components of sustainability—environment, social equity and economics—and should have measurable performance outcomes. Projects may overlap with capstone projects, can be related to one's graduate studies or completely unrelated, and can be completed individually or with a group.

For more information, please visit the Leaders in Sustainability website or contact Harrison Levy at hlevy@ioes.ucla.edu.

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REQUIRED: Leaders in Sustainability Course: ENVIRON 277 (4 units)

This course includes academically-based discussions on various sustainability-related themes, capitalizing on the wide mix of disciplines represented among participating students. Sessions feature UCLA faculty members, external speakers, and leadership skills to help students learn more about how to best put their interests in sustainability to use. This is the common course for all students participating in the Leaders in Sustainability Program, including those from engineering, law, management, public affairs, public health, natural and social sciences, and others.

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REQUIRED: Three Sustainability-Related UCLA Graduate Courses (12 units)

This course includes academically-based discussions on various sustainability-related themes, capitalizing on the wide mix of disciplines represented among participating students. Sessions feature UCLA faculty members, external speakers, and leadership skills to help students learn more about how to best put their interests in sustainability to use. This is the common course for all students participating in the Leaders in Sustainability Program, including those from engineering, law, management, public affairs, public health, natural and social sciences, and others.

To see a list of sample courses across the UCLA graduate schools, click here. Please note that this is not a complete list of all possible courses related to sustainability at UCLA. Because departments change their course listings, timing, professors, and even content quarterly, please visit department pages to find the most current information. If you find a course that addresses sustainability and is relevant to the curriculum, please submit the course description and syllabus for approval by emailing Deepak Rajagopal, LiS Director, at  rdeepak@ioes.ucla.edu or Alfredo Lezama, LiS Student Coordinator, at lezamora@g.ucla.edu.

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FAQ

 

Do I have to apply for the Social Impact Specialization or the Leaders in Sustainability Certificate?

In order to obtain the Social Impact Specialization, UCLA Anderson students must declare their intent to pursue the specialization with the Center for Impact by completing this Declaration of Intent to Pursue the Specialization Form at any time during your MBA career. Once you have completed all the requirements and/or are in your final quarter before graduating from UCLA Anderson, the last step is to complete the Social Impact Specialization Declaration of Completion form.

Please note: the FTMBA, FEMBA and EMBA program offices may require you to declare completion of the specialization separately with their respective offices.

For the UCLA IoES Leaders in Sustainability Certificate, students must apply for the program. To apply, visit the UCLA IoES Leaders in Sustainability website.

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Can I pursue both the Social Impact Specialization and the Leaders in Sustainability Certificate? If so, can the same course fulfill requirements for both the Social Impact Specialization and LIS Certificate?

Yes, UCLA Anderson students may pursue the Social Impact Specialization and UCLA Leaders in Sustainability Certificate concurrently. The same course(s) may fulfill requirements for both programs. 

Please note: According to UCLA IoES, a course is not automatically "in" or "out", as they approve portfolios of courses rather than specific courses. A student has to demonstrate subject matter "breadth" in order to get the LiS Certificate. Please contact the UCLA IoES office for questions. Similarly for the Social Impact Specialization, courses taken outside of UCLA Anderson are subject to approval by the Center for Impact office.

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I’m a second-year MBA student. Can I still complete the specialization or certificate?

Yes! For the Social Impact Specialization, you may have already completed many of the courses that qualify, but be sure to enroll in at least one of the foundational courses (in bold text above), which are offered in winter or spring quarter. Please declare your intent to pursue the specialization here.

For the Leaders in Sustainability Certificate, you may apply as a second-year MBA student. To apply, visit the UCLA IoES Leaders in Sustainability website.

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Is the specialization open to students in the Fully Employed MBA (FEMBA) or Executive MBA (EMBA) programs?

Yes, students in the FEMBA and EMBA programs are encouraged to complete the Social Impact Specialization.

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Can I take more than one foundational course (in bold text above)?

Absolutely. Students are welcome to take as many foundational courses as desired. Students must take a minimum of one to obtain the specialization, however, all three may be applied to the specialization.

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Can my capstone project (i.e. AMR, GAP, SMR or BCO) be applied to the social impact specialization?

Yes, it is possible for your social impact Applied Management Program (AMR, GAP, SMR) project to count toward the Social Impact Specialization for a total of 10 units, subject to approval by the Center for Impact office. Please complete this Request to Apply Capstone Project to the Social Impact Specialization form for consideration.

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I have more questions and would like to speak with a representative. Who should I contact?

For more information about the UCLA Anderson Social Impact Specialization, please contact Center for Impact at impact@anderson.ucla.edu.

For more information about the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability Leadership in Sustainability Certificate Program, please contact Harrison Levy at hlevy@ioes.ucla.edu.

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