The Graduate Certificate in Social Innovation and Global Development

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The Graduate Certificate in Social Innovation and Global Development (SIGD) aims to foster a social innovation culture at Georgetown University. The certificate helps students develop an innovation mindset by equipping them with key skills and tools for identifying, developing and scaling social innovations to tackle complex development challenges and to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SIGD is led by the Global Human Development Program — a first-class experiential graduate program in international development housed within Georgetown University’s prestigious School of Foreign Service. All Georgetown graduate students, regardless of program or school, are eligible to apply for the SIGD certificate.

The certificate offers courses grouped along three pathways that are sine qua non for successful social innovations: (1) Identification and Design; (2) Multisectoral Partnerships; and (3) Social Finance. 

Certificate students are required to complete 15 credits, including at least 1.5 credits from each category of the approved list of electives. Also required is a Gateway module (1.5 credit course) called Social Innovation for Global Development. This module is offered in both Fall and Spring terms, and counts toward the 15 credits required to earn the certificate. 

SIGD certificate students are also encouraged to partake in the student-run Global Social Innovation Lab (GSIL), an annual ideathon and pitch competition open to all Georgetown students. GSIL provides a platform for students to learn from experts and develop their own social innovation ideas to tackle a different sustainable development challenge every academic year. 

Applications for the SIGD certificate are now open. To be considered eligible, students must submit an application by the end of the penultimate term before their graduation date. Applications are subject to approval by the Certificate Director, Ekin Birol who can be reached here for more information.  

Apply for the Graduate Certificate in Social Innovation and Global Development