Certifications, Degrees, and Educational Programs for CSR Leaders

Lacey Gaitan, VP of Content and Learning
ACCP

As the Vice President of Content & Learning for ACCP, it may not surprise you to know that I love to learn! In fact, “Learner” is my #1 strength on the CliftonStrengths report, followed not too far by “Input.” This means I’m very drawn to learning and enjoy collecting information.

This is a fitting strength as my team and I are charged with developing learning opportunities and educational resources to help corporate social impact professionals gain new insights, grow their professional skills, and advance the effectiveness of their CSR efforts.

I consistently hear one question from both those looking to enter the field and those looking to grow in the field: “What certificate, degree, or educational program is there for CSR leaders?” Personally, here are a few that I have benefitted from participating in:

• Certificate in Sustainable Capitalism and ESG
• Certificate of Practice in Corporate Community Involvement
• Impact Leaders Incubator
• Moving DEI from Intention to Impact with Ruchika Tulshyan
• Sustainability Change Agent Accelerator
• Online MPA in Public Administration, Organizational Leadership

There are many more virtual and in-person courses; some are free, some charge and all have different time commitments. So, whether you are a “learner” like me or merely looking for an opportunity to grow professionally, here are some courses, programs, and educational opportunities for social impact professionals to consider.

Courses for those looking to learn more about corporate social impact:

For those in their first one to three years of experience in the corporate citizenship field, check out ACCP’s Forum: A CSR Intensive (April 8-11, 2024).

• CoEvolution
  • Leadership for Real Impact
• Coursera:
  • Business Strategies for Social Impact
  • Impact Measurement & Management for the SDGs
  • The Sustainable Development Goals – A global, transdisciplinary vision for the future
• Duke:
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
• edX:
  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): A Strategic Approach
    • Discovering Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
    • From Corporate Social Responsibility to Corporate Social Innovation
    • SDGAcademyX
• FutureLearn:
  • Responsible Marketing and the Fundamentals of Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Social Impact in Business: How to Build a Brand that Matters
• Maven: Accelerate Your Social Impact Career
• NYU: Leadership for the 21^st Century: Delivering on Purpose and Profit
• Pepperdine: Corporate Social Responsibility Program
• Udemy:
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Advantage
  • Master Course in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
• UC Boulder: Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility
• UPenn: Center for Social Impact Strategy

Courses for those looking to learn more about ESG and Sustainability:

Elevating ESG: An ACCP Summit

• Concordia: Sustainable Investment Professional Certification
• GRI Academy
• Harvard Extension School: Corporate Sustainability and Innovation Graduate Certificate
• Loyola University Chicago: Baumhart Certificate in ESG
• NYU:
  • Corporate Sustainability
  • Corporate Sustainability: Pivoting Towards an ESG Mindset
  • Sustainable Finance, Investing and ESG
• Terra.do: Climate Change: Learning for Action
• UC Boulder: Climate Action for Business
• UCLA: Sustainability Certificate
• University of Wisconsin: Sustainable Management Certificates
• Wharton:
  • ESG Essentials
  • ESG Programs for Executives
• WholeWorks: Strategic ESG: Creating Sustainable Value Professional Certificate Program

Looking for more? Greenbiz posted a great article with 40 sustainability certifications!

Courses for those looking to learn more about DEI:

• The Diversity Movement: Certified Diversity Professional
• edX: Catalyst Professional Certificate in Inclusive Leadership
• The Herndon Directors Institute prepares minorities and women for participation on corporate boards.
• HR University: Diversity and Inclusion Certification Course
• Human Capital Institute: Strategic Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Certificate
• NYU: Inclusive Leadership: A Competitive Advantage
• Sarah Jane Academy: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Practitioners
• UC Boulder: Certificate in Inclusive Leadership
• Udemy: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Beginner’s Guide

Social Impact degree opportunities:

ACE:

• MBA in Social Impact

CSUN:

• Master of Arts, Diverse Community Development Leadership

Loyola University Chicago:

• Baumhart Scholars MBA

• The Skoll Scholarship supports MBA students at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, who pursue entrepreneurial solutions for urgent social and environmental challenges.

University of Wisconsin:

• Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Management
• Master of Science in Sustainable Management

Wharton:

• Undergraduate concentration in Environmental, Social and Governance Factors for Business
• MBA: Environmental, Social and Governance Factors for Business
• MBA: Social and Governance Factors for Business

What courses or learning opportunities have you participated in that we’re missing? Please send me a note at Lacey@accp.org with other programs you would recommend or have benefitted from, so we can continue to grow this list together! Sharing knowledge with our community is the foundation of our work here at ACCP, and I look forward to learning alongside you.