Ballard Center Class List

Do Good. Better. is the Ballard Center for Social Impact's course that helps students explore how to make a difference in the world in any field. Open to all majors, it introduces practical ways to get involved in social innovation—whether by launching a venture, joining a nonprofit, working in corporate social responsibility, or volunteering. Students learn to evaluate social ventures using tools like theory of change and impact measurement, gaining the skills and confidence to join the next generation of changemakers.

Apply a systematic human-centered approach to social innovation and creative problem solving. Learn tools and techniques focused on empathizing with the beneficiaries of the innovation, defining the beneficiaries' needs, ideating to create ideas for innovative solutions, prototyping creative solutions, and testing those solutions.

MSB 375 is a recommended pre-requisite.

Identify how organizations, within and across government, nonprofit and business sectors, can become broader vehicles of collective social impact. Each sector's rationale and potential for social impact and what makes organizations within each sector unique, and how organizations across sectors can work together for maximum social impact.

Introduce students to the theory and practice of social impact measurement. Examine the need for social impact measurement, identify several competing contemporary approaches to social impact measurement, and compare and contrast the methods and effectiveness of different approaches as applied by organizations.

The course invites various social innovators to share their personal journeys and experiences in creating positive change in the world. Students can learn firsthand from those who have dedicated their careers to social impact.

The Ballard Brief course is a research and writing-intensive course that helps students become informed, effective social impact communicators. Students choose a pressing social issue they care about and work closely with Ballard Brief staff to write a publishable report, called a Ballard Brief. Through one-on-one editorial mentorship and monthly workshops, students learn how to conduct credible, interdisciplinary research, synthesize complex information, and write for a broad public audience. Upon finishing the course, students will have a professionally edited, published brief and a strong foundation in evidence-based communication for social change.

GoodMeasure is a learn-do-become initiative that focuses on the practice of social impact measurement. Students will be equipped to strategically use data to manage, evaluate, and achieve the desired outcomes of their programs. This is accomplished through faculty-supported semi-professional consultancies with government, business, and nonprofit community partner organizations, wherein student teams contribute to the design, gathering, and analysis of social impact data.
MSB 378 is a pre-requisite for this course.

This class focuses on improving the ways you can be helpful to others, with a focus on informal helping. The course draws on research and evidence-based practices that lead to more effective helping behavior.

Our Social Impact Career Coaching class is designed to help students interested in a career in social impact. While open to everyone, it is targeted towards juniors and seniors receiving the Global and Community Impact (or similar!) minor. As part of this small 1-credit class, you will learn more about your internal strengths and career interests, gain skills in networking and resume writing, connect with professionals, gain access to an exclusive pool of Ballard Center mentors, and ultimately grow your confidence and skills to get a job in the social impact sector! We will help you with wherever you are in the job search process, all you need to bring is a desire for an impactful career.

Social Impact Projects (SIP) is the Ballard Center's hands-on internship program that connects students with leading social impact organizations. In small, multidisciplinary teams, students spend a semester tackling real-world challenges and creating innovative solutions for their partner organizations. SIP offers practical experience both on and off campus through consulting and internship work with recognized changemakers. Students apply to specific projects based on their skills, interests, and major. Credit may be available—check with your college’s internship coordinator.

Explore the idea that essential business institutions can be leveraged for positive social impact. As part of a larger effort to build a theory and practice of corporate social impact, students engage principles derived from economics, sociology, psychology, and business management and apply them to live cases in the corporate world.

Explore the idea that essential business institutions can be leveraged for positive social impact. As part of a larger effort to build a theory and practice of corporate social impact, students engage principles derived from economics, sociology, psychology, and business management and apply them to live cases in the corporate world.

This course invites students to explore the creation of businesses designed to address social issues. Through analysis, research, and mentoring, students learn how startups for good operate and the unique challenges they encounter.

Impact investing markets, analysis, due diligence, and practice.

Current social impact-related topics varying by semester and section.