<p>What are some of the college major/minors most closely associated with social entrepreneurship and nonprofit works?
Thanks in advance everyone.</p>
<p>I work in the non-profit, trade association industry. It depends on what type of work you want to perform. If it is just working for a non-profit there are openingings in marketing, accounting, finance, etc. If you want to be a specific program manager–ie providing fresh water to communities in Africa, that might require a technical degree. I recommend majoring in the field of your choice and volunteering if at all possible with different groups that appeal to you. Some non-profits have more in common with major mulit-natioanl businessess, so are more like a mom-and-pop corner store.</p>
<p>Non-profits, like their for-profit counterparts, need all the same business skills to be managed effectively and, all too often, are behind the curve on using technology both to get the data they need to make good decisions and to optimize their use of limited resources operationally. I’ve worked in and consulted to nonprofits for more than 20 years. The smaller ones are often run by smart, intelligent, committed and knowledgable people (which is why I like to work in this area) - but those same people are too often woefully underskilled as managers and have little or no understanding of how to use IT to their organization’s advantage.</p>
<p>If you really want to have an impact, in addition to studying whatever you love, get the business skills!</p>
<p>thanks guys!
I kinda want to work internationally, would studying international relations be a good start?
and what about social entrepreneurship? I know that’s a very vaguely defined term, but I wish to start my own nonprofit instead of working to achieve a goal set forth by someone else. I know some schools that offer human rights as minors, would that be a good minor to have if I intend to work in this field?</p>
<p>It could be a good start. Again, I echo the comments of M’s Mom and again highly recommend doing some volunteer work to test the waters. My first association job was at an internatioanl development/ag group. Our admin assistants were typically international relations, political science majors, etc who were looking for an entry-level “first job” out of college. Mosf of them left after two years for grad school (which we all wanted them to do) or other associations/opportuities. However, we also needed numersous accounting types so they stuck around for a longer time, travelled to assist with our overseas offices and had a more “international experience”. In addtion to volunteer work/internships, talk to people working at NGO’s for their take on your potential career choice.</p>
<p>If you want to work internationally then you will almost certainly need language skills - make study and working abroad part of your college experience especially in the part of the world you are most interested in working in. Immerse yourself in the history and culture of that part of the world. International relations is fine - but not in any way essential. Intern with international NGOs. And do informational interviewing with alums from your school who are working in this field: Ask them specifically how they got started, how to best prepare yourself, what the needs are right now and in the coming decades, and in what areas is there likely to be growth and professional opportunities. (If you handle this well, you may find yourself with some internships or work abroad options!)</p>
<p>M’s Mom gives some great advice about business/management skills. Some programs actually offer this but with a nonprofit bent. Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs has a nonprofit management major where students are actually getting training as undergrads in accounting for nonprofits, fundraising, and IT. There’s also an accelerated masters where you can get your bachelors and masters in 5 years (and the SPEA MPA is #2 in the country and #1 for nonprofit management – undergrad programs don’t have a ranking system).</p>