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G.D. in Social Organization Development

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Program description

The Graduate Diploma in Social Organization Development is geared to the practice of social innovation in a professional context. The program is book-ended by two compulsory courses. The first, at the start of the program, discusses the foundations and main approaches of social innovation. The second, at the end of the program, allows students to assess and support an organization or incubate a new project.

Three electives strengthen participants’ practical skills. You can study the main techniques for mobilization and communication in the context of social change and collective action; the effects of technology on organizations; coordination and management methods for established social organizations; as well as best practices for partnerships with the public sector, private backers or other social groups that promote organizational development. You will also learn how to use management tools suited to social organizations.

The program, which is organized to emphasize the links between theory and practice, provides students with the main analytical frameworks and approaches needed to meet current challenges facing social organizations.

Who should apply?

This program is aimed specifically at employees and managers of social organizations, social entrepreneurs, activists, community workers, union members or members of a cooperative. It can also be suited to some workers from the public and para-public sectors or any professional who wishes to make a career change and has an innovative project in mind.

To make it easier for working professionals to participate, all courses for the diploma are given in the evening.

Mauril-Bélanger Social Innovation Workshop

All Social Innovation students are members of the Mauril-Bélanger Social Innovation Workshop, also known as The Atelier. The Atelier is a centre for training, collaboration and co-working for people and organizations that want to have a positive impact in their community.

Career Opportunities

  • Founder of a social enterprise or cooperative
  • Project manager in a social organization
  • Social innovation project analyst
  • Project officer for an international cooperative
  • Community services and economic development officer

Admission details

Enrollment: full-time or part-time
Program length: five courses over one year full-time or two years part-time
Program delivery: on campus
Languages: this program is offered in English and in French

For more details, please click here.

Scholarship Opportunities

Students enrolled in this program may be eligible for a number of scholarships. For more information, please click here.

This diploma is conferred jointly with the University of Ottawa.

For information about academic regulations, click here.

Candidates must meet the following conditions:

i. Hold an honours bachelor's degree (4 years) or its equivalent with an average of at least «B» (70%) in Human or Social Sciences or Management; or hold an honours bachelor's degree with an average of at least «B» (70%)  in another discipline and have at least five years of relevant work experience in a social organization, a social movement or a social enterprise (a letter of confirmation from a third party specifying the duration of the activity in question must accompany the application).

ii. Provide the following documents:

  • Cover letter (maximum 500 words);
  • Curriculum vitae.

iii. Undergo an interview with the program coordinators (to verify the candidate’s goals and his or her suitability for the program).

Compulsory Course (3 units)

INS5101 Theoretical Foundations of Social Innovation (3u)

Optional Courses (9 units)

9 units from:
INS5102 Self-Management and Workplace Democracy (3u)
INS5103 Collective Action Strategies and Discourses (3u)
INS5104 Technology in Social Innovation (3u)
INS5105 Organizational Consolidation and Transformation (3u)
INS5106 Public Institutions, Funding and Partnerships (3u)
INS5107 Social Innovation and Management (3u)
INS5108 Selected Topics in Democratic Management (3u)
INS5109 Selected Topics in Social Action (3u)
INS5111 Internship (3u)

A maximum of three units of graduate courses may be taken from other programs or universities with prior authorization from the director of the program.

Research (3 units)

3 units from:
INS6101 Advanced Practical Seminar: Diagnosis and Recommendation (3u)
INS6102 Incubation of a Project in Social Innovation (3u)

INS 5101 - Theoretical Foundations of Social Innovation

Critical study of founding texts in social innovation and of the main approaches in the field. Study of key actors and strategies in contemporary social innovation.

INS 5102 - Self-Management and Workplace Democracy

Analysis of the main challenges in the democratic organization of work; study of issues arising in the development and consolidation of self-managed organizations.

INS 5103 - Collective Action Strategies and Discourses

Study of mobilization and communication techniques in the context of social change and collective action, from strategic planning to tactical execution in the field.

INS 5104 - Technology in Social Innovation

Study of the effects of technology on social organizations and of ways of integrating digital technologies into the strategies of social transformation.

INS 5105 - Organizational Consolidation and Transformation

Study of the coordination methods and direction in the context of established and functional social organizations. Transformation and growth of social organizations from the inside.

INS 5106 - Public Institutions, Funding and Partnerships

Best practices for establishing partnerships with the public sector, private donors and social groups to promote organizational development. Financial strategies, philanthropy and solidarity financing.

INS 5107 - Social Innovation and Management

In-depth study of management approaches and tools of social organizations: strategic planning, management and advanced accounting.

INS 5108 - Selected Topics in Democratic Management

In-depth study of selected topics and contemporary issues in democratic management of organizations.

INS 5109 - Selected Topics in Social Action

In-depth study of selected topics and contemporary issues in collective action and social movements.

INS 5111 - Internship

Internship in a social organization or developing an action research in partnership with a social organization (collaboration agreement, project development and identification of research aims and process, conducting the action research, results presentation and reflective analysis). Préalable : INS5501.

INS 6101 - Advanced Practical Seminar: Diagnosis and Recommendation

Study of a specific issue within a social organization and writing of a report making a diagnosis and proposing recommendations.

Prerequisite: To register for this course, the student must complete the compulsory course and all the optional courses of the program.

INS 6102 - Incubation of a Project in Social Innovation

Design and implementation of the first stages of an innovative project.

Prerequisite: To register for this course, the student must complete the compulsory course and all the optional courses of the program.

Contact Us

Office of the Associate Vice-Rector, Strategic Enrolment Management
Room 148
Saint Paul University
223 Main Street
Ottawa, ON
K1S 1C4
CANADA

Notice to gmail address holders, be sure to check your junk mailbox regularly, as due to your server's firewalls our email response to your application may end up there.

Telephone: 613-236-1393
Fax: 613-782-3014
admission@ustpaul.ca

Hours of Operation

Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Please leave your documents in the mailbox in front of room 148 when our offices are closed.





Information for future students

Saint Paul University

223 Main Street
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1S 1C4

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Toll free
1.800.637.6859


613-236-1393

613-782-3005

info@ustpaul.ca

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