MBA Specialization in Social Impact
For UCLA Anderson MBA students
Leaders in Sustainability Certificate
For UCLA and UCLA Anderson graduate students
- MGMT298D: Impact Creation, Analysis & Evaluation (4 units)
The role of investing in projects that create desirable social change has traditionally been within the realm of non-profit organizations and governments. Can private capital markets and for-profit organizations also play a significant role? This course provides a high-level overview of the areas in which you can create meaningful impact through your career, as well as taking a deep dive into impact evaluation.
This course fulfills the foundational course requirement for the Social Impact Specialization.
Offered winter quarter 2021
- MGMT246A: Business 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 quarter 2021
- 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.
This course fulfills the foundational course requirement for the Social Impact Specialization.
Offered spring quarter 2021
- 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.
- MGMT298E: Accounting, Finance & ESG (2 units total)
Examination of the relevance of social and environmental risks and opportunities to Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), finance teams, and the wider capital markets. Emphasis on practical application and integration of ESG within financial decision-making, investment, and external disclosure.
- MGMT298H: Impact Investing in Social Ventures (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 2020 and ends in winter quarter 2021. Application required. Please visit the Anderson Venture Impact Partner webpage or email avip@anderson.ucla.edu for more information.
- MGMT258A: Global Immersion: Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation in South Africa (2 units total)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- MGMT298D: Values, Ethics and Tradeoffs (4 units)
Practical tools to help one navigate difficult choices as a leader: how do you effectively work with, negotiate with, or make decisions with those whose values, priorities, or incentives are different from your own?
- MGMT298E: Energy, Climate Change and Finance (2 units)
- MGMT298D: Non-Market Risks and Understanding Politics: Global Context of Doing Business
Considerations of the global political environment and how it affects business.
- 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.
- MGMT293: Ethical Considerations in Business (4 units)
A review of ethical considerations in business decisions involving the individual, the corporation, society, and international business.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- MGMT252: Persuasion and Influence (4 units)
Practical strategies to communicate with, persuade, and more generally influence others in everyday conversation, written work, presentations, etc.
- 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.
- 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 contact impact@anderson.ucla.edu. Subject to approval by the Impact@Anderson office.
- 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 contact impact@anderson.ucla.edu. Subject to approval by the Impact@Anderson office.
- 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 Impact@Anderson office.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- 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.
- UCLA School of Education and Information Studies Courses
Please refer to the 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Offered in winter quarter 2021
- REQUIRED: Three Sustainability-Related UCLA Graduate Courses (12 units)
In addition to ENVIRON 277, students are required to take three additional elective courses. These three courses, chosen by the student, must be sustainability related. At least one of these courses must be outside the student’s home department. A course is not automatically “in” or “out”, as the LIS office approves portfolios of courses rather than specific courses. A student has to demonstrate subject matter breadth in order to get the LiS Certificate. Courses must be letter graded and be at the graduate level (200 and above).
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.
- MGMT298D: Impact Creation, Analysis & Evaluation (4 units)
The role of investing in projects that create desirable social change has traditionally been within the realm of non-profit organizations and governments. Can private capital markets and for-profit organizations also play a significant role? This course provides a high-level overview of the areas in which you can create meaningful impact through your career, as well as taking a deep dive into impact evaluation.
Offered winter quarter 2021
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.
- MGMT246A: Business 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.
Offered winter quarter 2021
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.
- MGMT298D: 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 2021
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.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
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.
- MGMT240F: Global Supply Chain Management (4 units)
Overview of supply chains and major challenges in managing an efficient global supply chain, various strategic and tactical supply chain issues such as distribution strategy, information sharing, outsourcing, procurement (including e-markets), product design (including mass customization), virtual integration, and risk management. This course also allows students to explore emerging supply chain business opportunities in a global context.
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.
- MGMT298D: Global Trends (4 units)
Explores recent global trends affecting business, including the likely impact of automation, ai, etc. and their impact on business and society.
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.