Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for BA 278 archive revision 201704

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Effective Term:
Fall 2017 through Winter 2025

Course Number:
BA 278
Course Title:
Eco-Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
40
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Introduces the social, economic and environmental pillars of sustainability, and social entrepreneurship within the business environment with a focus on global, domestic and internal business methods, practices and policies. Investigates sustainable business, social innovation and intrapreneurship evolution and trends. Includes opportunities to interact with local social entrepreneurs, analyze initiatives, and develop market-based solutions to social problems. Examines individual and corporate decision-making and best practices. Includes team projects and a community-based service learning experience. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

  1. Understand the fundamental definitions and concepts of environmental sustainability, social entrepreneurism and intrapreneurism.
  2. Analyze claims about sustainable business and social entrepreneurial practices and policies critically.
  3. Develop and apply systems-thinking, writing, and analytical skills effectively in the workplace. 

Sustainability-focused Learning Outcomes from the SPARC Council

4. Critically examine the complex and interconnected relationship between human economic behavior and the environment through a lens of sustainability and “the triple bottom line” (people, planet, profit).

5. Build an awareness of the impacts of environmental sustainability issues and policies on communities of diverse backgrounds, on the local, regional, national and international level, in order to interact with sensitivity, respect and a sense of responsibility to others and to the future.

Course Activities and Design

This course contains written homework assignments as well as unique engagement and community-based service learning activities and assignments including:

  1. Interview a local sustainable or social entrepreneur who's work is addressing a significant social or sustainability issue in the Portland-metro area. Students will submit a summary of the interview as a homework assignment and share their experience in a short, in-class presentation.
  2. Complete 8-hours of a community-based service project for a sustainable or social entrepreneur/non-profit organization in a small group (2-4 students) or individually. Assignments includes three written reflection assignments during service activity, and a final  class presentation. 

Outcome Assessment Strategies

At the beginning of the course, the instructor will detail methods used to evaluate student progress and the criteria for assigning a course grade. The methods will include the following tools: Examinations, homework assignments, journaling, case study analysis, oral presentations (individual or group), and small group projects to apply course concepts and methods to an actual experience.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

A. Business and Society

B. Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability

C. Social Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurism

D. Globally Responsible Business and Ethics Management