Better Yourself and Your Business

Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility (CCSR)

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as Your Career Path

CESR has developed a Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility (CCSR) program for people seeking to further themselves and their companies in the practice of socially responsible business.

We are proud to partner with B:CIVIC, a Colorado-based nonprofit association of professionals, business leaders and for-profit companies focused on CSR and civic philanthropy.

Click here to Apply

CESR CCSR students in class

Is this class right for me?

The variety of students in the CCSR program is part of the value of the course. Whether you work for a nonprofit, are looking for more meaning in your career or are building a CSR department in your company, you’ll find a place in the Certificate in CSR class. Some of our past students include: senior leaders in CSR and DEII departments, employee engagement professionals, mid-career pivoting into CSR roles, graduate students seeking to supplement their knowledge base, marketing and finance consultants who want to help their clients incorporate CSR, nonprofit professionals wanting a better understanding of their corporate partners, and more.

In the course you will:

Learn practical applications and create a “toolbox” of resources
Hear from local, regional and global experts that will spark ideas and insights
Expand your community of peers, making valuable professional connections
Study with CESR, the regional University leader in CSR education, programs and research

CESR is now offering CCSR online!

Learn how a CCSR alum created a CSR program for her organization.

gold quote

I valued the community we created, which fostered incredible discussions and relationships. I couldn't have asked for a more interesting, committed, and intelligent group of people to work with.

- Grace Randazzo, Conservation Colorado, Fall Cohort 2018

CCSR Program Structure, Learning Environment and Core Topics

The CCSR course is collaborative, interpersonal and experiential, with dialogue-based learning involving cohort members and subject matter experts. Through knowledgeable instructors and guest speakers, you’ll get practical, applicable best practices that can help you deliver maximum value back to your company, organization and the communities you serve.

Certificate – Upon completion of the program, students receive a non-credit, professional Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility from the Center for Ethics on Social Responsibility (CESR) of the University of Colorado, Leeds School of Business.

Instructors – The course is led by Pete Dignan, a 3-time CEO of Certified B Corps, and features guest speakers with deep expertise and practical experience in CSR. The curriculum was developed by seasoned CSR professional Geri Mitchell-Brown.

Format – The course will be collaborative and experiential, with dialogue-based learning involving the instructors, cohort members and CSR experts.

Tuition – Tuition is $2,250. Since this is a non-credit course, no financial aid is available from the University of Colorado.

Apply – Please fill out the interest form below to set up a telephone interview with the instructor. This interview will serve to answer your questions and determine whether or not the course is a good fit for your background and needs.

Click here to Apply

CESR CCSR students in class

Fall 2020 Details

Due to COVID-19, we have decided to move all sessions online to ensure the health and safety of our students, instructor, and guest speakers. We currently offer two online options, with one primarily intended for Colorado professionals.

Schedule – Both courses will comprise approximately 28 hours of interactive class time, and will require up to 4 hours of outside reading and preparation each week.

This class is not self-paced, but rather meets via Zoom video conference weekly throughout the fall semester with 2 weeks off during the session. All sessions are recorded.

Tuesday Cohort

Tuesdays, 6:00-8:15 p.m. (MST), from September 1st to December 15th

Wednesday Cohort (if you'd like to build your network in Colorado, we recommend this cohort)

Wednesdays, 6:00-8:15 p.m. (MST), from September 2nd to December 16th

Location – Zoom video conference

Students – We will accept up to 20 professionals for each cohort. We received more than applications than space the cohort for the Spring 2020 session.

Application deadline – August 18, 2020

Click here to Apply

The program’s core topics include:

The role of ethics in CSR
UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Compact
Community engagement, corporate philanthropy, and social impact
Employee engagement, volunteering, and donation matching
Equity, diversity, and inclusion
Environmental sustainability
Financial perspectives, including ESG ratings
The purpose of the corporation in society
CSR alignment with business purpose and strategy
CSR strategy models and frameworks
Reporting, including GRI, TCFD, SASB, and CDP
Certified B Corps, Public Benefit Corporations, and the B Impact Assessment
The role of marketing and storytelling in stakeholder relations
Regulation & compliance, the role of government in CSR, and policy advocacy

Check out this summary of a few courses from the Spring 2019 session.

gold quote

The Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility program was an exceptional experience - the instructors were top notch, the material was informative and relevant, and I had the opportunity to form meaningful relationships with my fellow students. I would highly recommend the program to anyone passionate about CSR and mission-driven business.

~ Fall 2016, Brian Lichtenheld, Advisor and Impact Specialist, BSW Wealth Partners