<p>Our daughter is interested in majoring in social entrepreneurship with a minor in fashion or apparel merchandising. She'd also like to consider some poverty and social justice classes. We are having a very difficult time finding many colleges that offer the combination of social entrepren. and fashion merchandising. Her dream job is to work at Tom's or another fashion/apparel company with a strong social giving component. And, her preference is a smaller college versus a Big 10. Any suggestions? Thanks!</p>
<p>Social entrepreneurship is simply coming up with innovative and scalable solutions to social problems, usually based upon some business principles. You definitely don’t need to major in social entrepreneurship to do that; you can major in anything. The key is going to a college/university with a commitment to social and community issues, or going to college in a place where our daughter can foster that side of her (because there is a community, city or town nearby that has those kinds of attractions).</p>
<p>If she wants to design fashion for a sustainable company, she should probably focus on the fashion design/merchandising aspect - but get involved in extracurriculars that show off her commitment to social justice and human rights.</p>
<p>The other thing is that classes like that will be scattered in other departments not called “social entrepreneurship.” Peace and conflict studies, human rights, social justice, health and society, international development, social policy, even plain old sociology courses.</p>
<p>One place where you can (somewhat) combine those studies is the New School, in their BA/BFA program. She could major in fashion design (and take classes in fashion marketing and merchandising; the New School offers an AAS in that) but also major in one of Eugene Lang’s liberal arts majors - maybe environment, society, and public policy; or urban studies; or social inquiry; or a self-designed major.</p>
<p>Marquette University (a smaller LAC) has an entrepreneurship major in its business college with a social concentration; they also have a social welfare & policy major. The business school also has marketing and supply chain management; its not specifically fashion.</p>
<p>At Marist, a small LAC in Poughkeepsie, she could major in fashion merchandising and minor in “public praxis.” Check out the description: [url=<a href=“http://www.marist.edu/liberalarts/philrel/pubpraxis/]Public”>http://www.marist.edu/liberalarts/philrel/pubpraxis/]Public</a> Praxis: Marist College<a href=“%22.%20Committed%20to%20fully%20engaged%20learning,%20global%20awareness,%20solidarity%20with%20those%20subject%20to%20injustice,%20and%20public%20work%20with%20a%20view%20toward%20a%20more%20just%20and%20humane%20world,%20the%20Minor%20requires%20students%20to%20integrate%20work%20for%20the%20common%20good%20and%20scholarship,%20with%20critical%20reflection%20and%20analysis.%22”>/url</a></p>
<p>the University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a medium-sized public university (~15,000 students). It has both a major in entrepreneurship with the capacity to concentrate on the social, and a major in Retailing and Consumer Studies within the department of Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies.</p>
<p>Babson College is a small LAC in Wellesley, MA, that focuses only on business. They have a concentration in retail supply chain management and a major in entrepreneurship, but also a concentration in justice, citizenship and social responsibility - as well as some other concentrations your daughter may be interested in (identity and diversity, global business management, etc.)</p>
<p>This is helpful – and validating in that some of the colleges you mention about we have looked into but to some degree ruled out because of distance. She ideally wants to stay within an 8 hour drive, and the East Coast rules a lot out. We’ve mostly looked into Babson but it’s pretty pricy. The one place that does offer both of what she’s looking for is Bradley U in Peoria (know anything about Bradley?), but she wishes it was in a more urban center. Marquette has a great social e program, but no fashion of any kind…</p>
<p>It’s just a matter of narrowing down what’s most important, etc etc. She’s definitely looking at ancillary classes like the one you suggest (peace and justice studies, etc.). Thanks so much!!</p>