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.
(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.
~ Fall 2018, Grace Randazzo, Conservation Colorado
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 working to build a CSR department in your company, you’ll find a place in this course. Some examples of our past students include: senior leaders in CSR roles, employee engagement professionals, career switchers wanting to get into CSR, graduate students seeking to supplement their for-credit curriculum, marketing and finance consultants who want to help their clients incorporate CSR, nonprofit professionals wanting a better understanding of their corporate partners, and more.
CESR now offers an online version of the CCSR program! This option is intended for those who cannot attend the in-person classes and would otherwise not be able to participate in the program.
Learn how a CCSR alum is creating a CSR program for her organization!
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.
In the course you will:
The program’s core topics include:
Check out this summary of a few courses from the Spring 2019 session.
Fall 2020 Details
Schedule – The course will comprise approximately 40 hours of in-person, interactive class time, and will require up to 3 hours of outside reading and preparation each week.
Classes will be held on Wednesdays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., from September 2nd to December 16th with 2 weeks off during the session. In-person attendance at 10 out of 14 sessions is required. All sessions are broadcast via video conference and recorded.
Location – CU Boulder
Students – We will accept a cohort of up to 25 professionals. We received more than 25 applications for the Spring 2020 cohort.
Application deadline – August 19, 2020
Schedule – The course 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 on Tuesdays, 6:00-8:00 p.m. (MST), from September 1st to December 15th with 2 weeks off during the session. All sessions are recorded.
Location – Zoom video conference
Students – We will accept a cohort of up to 15 professionals. We received more than 15 applications for the in-person Winter 2019 cohort.
Application deadline – August 18, 2020
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, Director of Accountability/Giving at Help2heal