What is Corporate Social Responsibility?

Corporations around the globe have adopted CSR into their business practices to address social issues and make a positive impact on society. CSR is a model that applies to decision-making, company policies, business operations, community impact and employee relations. This approach to business often stems from stakeholders demanding that corporations act responsibly and demonstrate ethical behavior in their local communities. However, it’s become something consumers and employees increasingly want to see as well, choosing to only engage with responsible companies and brands.

Consumers want to know how products are made, where they come from and how they affect the environment. They want to shop at businesses that promote and follow philanthropic responsibility. Communities want to welcome businesses that provide local employment opportunities and competitive wages, care about the environment and support local initiatives. Employees want to work for employers who care about their wellness, encourage professional development and growth, and offer flexible scheduling for life needs. All these examples fall under the umbrella of CSR.

Corporations that follow CSR practices are often committed to programs that address employee wellness, environmental responsibility and other societal needs. The purpose of CSR is to guide corporations to have a positive impact on the world.

The Power of B Corporations

Some for-profit businesses have chosen to take their sustainability commitment a step further by becoming , more commonly referred to as B Corps. Earning this designation means that a business is operating for the greater good and utilizing its practices in a way that benefits both people and planet.

Organizations with this designation, like ������Ƶ, have elected to take the B Impact Assessment, which is a digital tool used by more than 150,000 businesses to assess and identify needed improvements to ensure positive impact performance for environment, community, consumerism, supply, employment and shareholders.

Corporations with this legal distinction have more flexibility than traditional corporations that must focus on shareholder primacy. Benefit corporations have legal protection to address stakeholder governance before shareholder primacy, meaning benefit corporations can make decisions based on their mission and vision statements, rather than fiscal reasons.

Skills Needed to Work in CSR

CSR professionals should be proficient in skills like active listening, transparent communication, critical thinking, systems thinking, creative thinking, public relations, stakeholder engagement and problem-solving. A CSR professional needs to engage with internal and external stakeholders, so it’s important to have effective communication skills, flexibility and empathy as well.

Often those who work in and support CSR are change agents. According to , a change agent is “action-oriented leader who seeks to improve an organization’s logistical, technical and interpersonal functions by changing policies, systems, processes or operational norms.” This operational-focused mindset, along with strong interpersonal skills, is critical to ensuring a corporation is both implementing and following current CSR best practices.

Tips for Building a Career in CSR

Developing a genuine and effective CSR strategy is a complicated endeavor, which is why corporations have sought expert advice and developed CSR career positions, such as sustainability directors and coordinators. A focus on CSR initiatives have created the need for consultants, offering opportunities for entrepreneurship. Working as a CSR professional involves working across diverse industries and business sectors.

With the growth of corporations seeking employees with CSR knowledge, more and more business professionals are considering corporate social responsibility careers. Post-secondary institutions with their pulse on industry trends have developed curricula to address this need. How does a college graduate jump from coursework to real-world experience? Below are suggestions to help you pursue a career in corporate social responsibility.

1. Get Involved

An essential part of CSR is community engagement. For example, a sustainability coordinator might organize a community project where employees volunteer to help plant trees at a local park. Therefore, applicants seeking CSR positions should share past involvement in community-focused events. A community might be the city where you live, a school, an employer, a nonprofit organization, a church or other groups.

In interviews, you’ll want to describe how you positively engage in your community. Your role might have been as a leader, volunteer, participant or employee. Reflect on your experiences and what you learned. Questions to guide your reflection can include:

• How did the community communicate internally and externally?
• How did the community set goals and objectives?
• What styles of leadership were observed within the community?

Nonprofit organizations around the globe are working to address and solve sustainability challenges. The best way to get involved is through a nonprofit organization. They have the systems, structures and skills to organize and manage volunteer engagement. That’s what they do best!

Volunteering for a nonprofit organization offers you the opportunity to work directly with a specific interest. For example, and support healthy trees and forests. Seek out what nonprofits are in your community to make the most impact where you live.

2. Develop a Professional Learning Network

Professional learning networks (PLNs) are meaningful, purposeful communities that support professional growth. They offer informal and formal learning, mentorship, sponsorship, job recommendations and skill-based support.

Thanks to technology and social media, PLNs can be developed online. Dr. Dave Mulder, a professor of education at Dordt University, is an expert in developing PLNs online. He advises his students to approach social media with a growth mindset and by asking the question, “I have five minutes. What can I learn today?”

You can also develop a PLN through the people you know. Do you have a group of peers interested in similar professions or working for specific industries? For example, your colleagues at work, classmates at school or acquaintances through other professional settings. They could be interested in being a part of a group that shares knowledge and information. As mentioned above, you can use social media as a platform for discussing topics and sharing information; however, you can also organize in-person or online-based meetings to connect in a live setting.

The nice part about establishing an online platform is that you can engage with the PLN as you are available. These kinds of networks are meant to function as a supportive community of peers and should be a benefit instead of a hindrance. Sometimes you might have more time to engage than others, but that is okay and expected. These networks are meant to be enjoyable, and groups can create guidelines and expectations that work best for the collective.

3. Join a Professional Organization

Joining a professional organization, such as the , is a terrific way to stay connected with others in your field. There are numerous sustainability organizations nationwide and globally. Since there is generally a membership fee, take time to research and learn about an organization before joining. If it isn’t a suitable time to pay for a membership, that’s okay! The organization should have an email distribution list you can sign up for to receive newsletters and other emails.

4. Create an Online Portfolio

Show off your knowledge and skills in an online portfolio. Online portfolios offer an innovative way to highlight your experience, projects and goals.

Unsure of where to start? You can include:

• CSR initiatives or related projects that demonstrate your creativity and innovation
• Your resume
• Photos from events you attended
• Your personal statement on diversity, equity and inclusion
• Your career and personal goals
• Referral statements from professional references
• Snippets of scholarly writing

Then, you can link the portfolio to your resume/CV, making it easily accessible to potential employers.

5. Seek Mentorship and Sponsorship

You are most likely familiar with the idea of mentorship. However, sponsorship is a valuable relationship that can propel careers. Sponsorship is what referred to as, “phase two of mentorship.” A professional sponsor goes beyond the expectations of mentorship by adding advocacy to their role. Omadeke described a sponsor as someone who is willing to recommend you for employment and help expand your visibility within an organization. Thus, a sponsor is putting their reputation on the line, which is why it is important to first establish a mentorship relationship to build trust and confidence in your abilities and knowledge.

Your current employer might offer a mentorship program or, if you’re job hunting, you might seek out employment with a company that promotes their investment in professional development. It also never hurts to ask someone you admire to be your mentor to help guide you to your professional goals.

The above suggestions can help jumpstart you into a career in CSR. It’s important to note that CSR strategies can be applied to any job or career. Having these skills means you are considerate of others, knowledgeable of sustainability and the triple bottom line, able to perform systems thinking and able to engage in continuous learning to stay updated with research and stakeholder needs.

Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills you need to build a fulfilling career in corporate social responsibility from a college that puts its own social responsibility first. Explore ������Ƶ’s fully online business programs.

ACE: Congratulations on receiving the 2024 Faculty Award for Excellence! What does receiving this award mean to you?

Dr. Maricela Helm (MH): Thank you! I feel incredibly fortunate to be in a profession that I love, surrounded by passionate and dedicated individuals. Working with future administrators who will make significant impacts in their communities is both inspiring and rewarding. Knowing that I have a role in their journey is a privilege, and it fills me with hope and excitement for the future.

ACE: Can you tell us a little about your career and what led you to ACE?

(MH): I have had a fulfilling career in education, starting as a teacher, then moving on to become a campus administrator and now serving at the district level. Over the years, I have witnessed the role of educators evolve in both positive and challenging ways.

In my experience, the position that holds the most potential for impact within our school districts is that of the campus administrator. A well-equipped administrator who can persevere and inspire can not only transform the lives of students and teachers but also shift the dynamics of the entire community. It’s clear to me that the more we can equip future principals to step into these roles confidently and competently, the more effective they will be and the longer they will remain committed to their positions.

Coming to ACE has provided me with the incredible opportunity to contribute to this vital aspect of education. At ACE, I can help prepare and support future administrators, ensuring they have the tools, knowledge and resilience needed to make a lasting impact.

ACE: What have you enjoyed the most about being part of ACE’s instructional faculty?

(MH): What I have enjoyed the most is the incredible opportunity to meet staff and students from all over the world. I am continually inspired by the wisdom of our diverse faculty, who bring a wealth of experience from a wide array of careers.

Additionally, I deeply appreciate the growth mindset that ACE embodies. The organization is always seeking ways to improve and innovate, which aligns perfectly with my own values and passion for continuous learning.

ACE: Your instrumental involvement in the Academic Clarity Initiative and commitment to relevant curriculum development has excellently showcased the ACE mission. What inspired your passion for these projects?

(MH): Both initiatives truly prioritize student feedback and incorporate the latest research. Developing course content that is not only relevant but also designed in a way that students find meaningful is one of my favorite aspects of being part of ACE.

My passion for these projects is fueled by a natural drive to improve learning experiences for students and to put their needs first. Seeing firsthand how these initiatives positively impact student engagement and learning outcomes is incredibly rewarding.

ACE: What advice would you give to those aspiring to faculty positions?

(MH): My advice would be to build strong relationships with colleagues and students. In the end, it’s the relationships with the people we encounter along our journey that make the biggest difference. These connections enrich our professional lives and leave a lasting impact on our students’ lives. Prioritizing these relationships and being genuinely invested in the success of others will inspire and empower those around you, making your role as a faculty member truly meaningful.

������Ƶ offers a variety of leadership programs where you can learn from faculty like Dr. Helm. Learn more here.

When pursuing a doctoral degree, there are different tracks that prospective students can take. To help you determine what type of doctoral degree will best serve your career aspirations, here is a breakdown of the key differences between Ed.D. and Ph.D. degrees.

What is an Ed.D.?

An Ed.D., which is short for Doctor of Education, is a practitioner-focused degree that is designed for professionals aspiring to leadership roles in a variety of educational fields. You can typically complete an Ed.D. program in two to three years.

What is a Ph.D.?

Short for Doctor of Philosophy, a Ph.D. is a degree that is more heavily focused on research and theory.  Ph.D. programs typically take five or more years to complete. (As a personal example, I earned my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from a research-intensive program that required a five-year, full-time commitment.)

What are the main similarities between an Ed.D. and a Ph.D.?

Both degrees are at the doctoral-level and are considered terminal degrees. In other words, they represent the highest level of education that can be earned in a particular field. In addition, both degrees take multiple years to complete, and both degrees require a fair amount of writing and research.

What are the main differences between an Ed.D. and a Ph.D.?

One of the primary differences between these degrees is that the Ed.D. is more focused on practical applications, while the Ph.D. is more geared toward theory and original research. Additionally, Ed.D. programs usually have a lower cost and shorter time to completion compared to Ph.D. programs.

What are some common career options for those with an Ed.D.?

The Ed.D. is an outstanding option for individuals who wish to lead others and implement change in their organizations. Moreover, the Ed.D. is a focused degree with a wide range of career options, including:

• College or university president
• Dean
• Director of human resources
• Educational consultant
• Policymaker or analyst
• Principal
• Provost
• Superintendent

What are some common career options for those with a Ph.D.?

A Ph.D. degree is ideal for anyone interested in pursuing a career in research, academia, educational consulting or policy analysis. Career opportunities with a Ph.D. may include:

• Community developer
• Consultant
• Director of research
• Human resource manager
• Policy analyst
• Program manager
• Research analyst
• Statistician

What are the employment projections for doctoral degree holders?

, individuals who earn a doctoral degree in education have relatively high earnings and also have low unemployment rates.  In 2023, doctoral degree holders achieved median weekly earnings of $2,109 and a 1.2% unemployment rate. In comparison, master’s degree holders attained median weekly earnings of $1,737 and an unemployment rate of 2%.

Additionally, the job outlook is very strong for and , two professions where doctoral degrees are often required. (Postsecondary education is defined as education beyond the high school level and is often tied to higher education institutions.) According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, postsecondary teachers in 2023 earned a median annual pay of $83,380 and there is projected job growth of 8% for 2022 – 2032.  For postsecondary education administrators in 2023, the median annual pay was $102,610 per year with a projected job growth of 4% for 2022 – 2032.

Is an Ed.D. or a Ph.D. better?

Both the Ed.D. and the Ph.D. are advanced degrees that represent the highest levels of academic achievement. Regardless of which path an individual ultimately chooses, there is high potential for career advancement.

Ultimately, the best option for you comes down to your preferred path, career goals and values.  If you are seeking a job as a researcher and scholar, a Ph.D. is better aligned to your goals.  If you are more interested in seeking leadership positions that blend practice with research, an Ed.D. may be an ideal path toward your personal and professional goals.

At a glance: Ed.D. vs. Ph.D.

������Ƶ offers high-quality, fully online Ed.D. programs for under $24,000, designed to help students build their leadership capacity through practical applications of research theories. Learn more about our doctoral degrees here.

Why should you get a master’s degree in STEM education?

To build your career on a solid foundation, you first must discover your passion within the incredibly broad STEM universe. It’s essential to identify the specific area that ignites your curiosity as well as aligns with your natural strengths. A good master’s degree program in STEM education will address all aspects of STEM in a variety of ways, from lesson planning to technology integration, all for a variety of grade levels.

Your degree program should also guide you through science, technology, engineering and mathematics through the lens of learning theories, curriculum alignment and real-world scenarios you can use in the classroom. Immersing yourself in real-world experiences will help you engage your learners later, allowing you to satisfy their curiosity and inquiries.

Pursuing a master’s degree should not only give you the opportunity to learn from a faculty expert, but also from the experience of your classmates and peers. This is where online programs excel – the M.Ed. in STEM Education program at ������Ƶ connects you with educators from all over the globe. Through discussion boards and informal conversations outside the virtual classroom, our students love sharing experience and knowledge with each other.

What can you do with a master’s degree in STEM education?

Once you have your master’s degree in hand, there are a ton of career options available to you. If you are already an educator, you’ll have additional knowledge of pedagogy and andragogy to help you take on a larger role in STEM education, such as planning, organizing and managing STEM-related activities, events and initiatives in schools or other educational environments. 

You can also be a curriculum developer or a subject matter expert for an instructional designer. Many STEM programs in schools, nonprofits or government organizations need STEM-educated personnel to assist with their events or initiatives. With the expertise that you obtain from a STEM education master’s degree, you can be the expert in the room with the knowledge and skills to help build a STEM program.

In schools and nonprofits, there is a high need for STEM program coordinators or administrators. Your STEM education degree will show that you have the body of knowledge in STEM subjects that you need to be successful in these positions. Later in your career, you can leverage the experience you’ve gained from these positions to become an education consultant, offering services to educational institutions, government agencies or private organizations.

STEM has become a field that’s growing exponentially in both schools and other education facilities. There is a plethora of opportunities both in schools and other organizations for an impactful and important career. A master’s degree in STEM education could be your key to building yours!

At ������Ƶ, we put the practice of education into each one of our courses. In our fully online M.Ed. in STEM Education, you’ll learn about theories and theoretical frameworks but, more importantly, you’ll learn about how theories are such a vital foundation for educational curriculum and activities.

Please remember to use AI tools responsibly and read before using an AI tool for an assignment.

Brainstorming Topics

Ask your favorite AI chatbot to help you generate ideas for your topic. Here are some prompt examples:

“I need ideas for my research project on artificial intelligence in medicine. Can you suggest some potential research questions or topics?”

“I’m writing a blog post about textile design. Could you help me brainstorm industry trends?”

“How have recent developments in technology impacted early childhood education?”

Generating Synonyms

AI chatbots are excellent at providing synonyms that you can use in your keyword searches.

“Can you suggest synonyms for the term ‘online learning’?”

“Can you suggest other ways to write ‘teacher shortage’?”

Understanding Complex Topics

Ask an AI chatbot to simplify topics so that they are easier to understand.

“Can you explain a neural network in simple terms?”

“What is the difference between artificial intelligence and machine learning, and how are they applied in real-world scenarios? Please explain it to me as if I am 10 years old.”

Summarizing Articles

If you find an open access article or one that is available on the internet, you can ask the AI chatbot to summarize it for you. Please note: Articles found in the ACE Library cannot be uploaded into AI tools as it violates copyright policy.

“Can you summarize the key findings of the following article?”

“Please provide a concise summary of the main arguments presented in this research paper about renewable energy.”

Finding Sources

AI tools can generate a list of articles, papers and other sources that might be relevant to your research. AI tools such as and help you find additional research articles quickly. You enter a detailed research question or the DOI of an article and the tool recommends other articles on the topic as well as similar topics. Not all the articles will be fully accessible, but you can then search for those articles in the library or request them through interlibrary loan. You should always find the original source of the material before using it in your research.

Cite Your Source

If you directly quote or paraphrase information obtained from an AI tool, make sure you follow your institutional guidelines on how to cite it as a source. While the American Psychological Association (APA) has not released official guidelines on citing generative AI yet, provides guidance on citing ChatGPT and is adaptable to other AI tools. AI chatbots are just one tool among many that you can use for your research, but they could help save you time at the beginning of the research process. Try experimenting with one of the many options available to see if adding an AI tool to your digital toolbox is right for you.

������Ƶ provides you with up-to-date resources and strategies to help you make the most of your learning. Learn more about our student support here.

One critical segment of the healthcare industry is healthcare administration. Healthcare administrators are the backbone of the healthcare industry. They’re responsible for a wide variety of important functions in health organizations, from patient intake at local clinics to executive-level decision making that can impact regional and national health organizations.

What jobs can you get with a degree in healthcare administration?

Some potential career paths for a healthcare administrator include an administrator or human resources specialist at a hospital, clinic, assisted living facility or other health organization. You could also focus on areas within healthcare that have cross-industry applications, such as a medical records, information management specialist, finance or coding specialist at a health organization. As you progress along your career path and take on more leadership responsibility, you could grow into manager or director roles within your specialty. This experience can then be leveraged to assume manager or director roles for an entire healthcare facility or health organization, or even for executive director positions for a healthcare system.

What do you do as a healthcare administrator?

At the basic entry level position, a healthcare administrator’s day to day function will depend on the requirements of the position and organization, but most healthcare administrators will need to be proficient in interpersonal communication and data entry in software suites required for scheduling, coordination, forms or billing.

For example, a clinic coordinator might be responsible for scheduling patient visits and ensuring patient data is up to date in the system. Healthcare administrators in this position would need to interface with patients and ensure their information is entered correctly in the system. This is an important job, since incorrect information could result in issues with insurance and billing, which would not only impact the healthcare organization, but would also create headaches for the patient, as anyone who has ever had a claim denied due to a clerical error can attest.

What education do you need to work in healthcare administration?

A successful career in healthcare administration starts with education. An associate degree, either an AS or AAS, is a good gateway to a career as a healthcare administrator. An AS or AAS can help you obtain a variety of entry level positions in healthcare administration and the healthcare industry.

When you are ready to take on more responsibility and transition to a leadership (and higher paying) role, a bachelor’s degree is beneficial to career progression. Programs like ACE’s fully online bachelor’s-completion program in healthcare administration will give you the foundational skills and knowledge to pursue leadership roles in health administration within a variety of healthcare settings. ACE’s program engages in application-based coursework, where you’ll learn how to analyze complex health data to promote evidence-based decision-making. The curriculum emphasizes the role of globalization, diversity, community health, interdisciplinary collaboration and resource allocation in creating an effective balance in managing healthcare costs, quality and access.

Of course, education can be a challenge for working professionals with a full-time job and other personal obligations. Fully online programs like ACE’s bachelor’s degree are great options for those who need to learn on their own schedule. At ACE, classes are asynchronous and qualified professors are only an email away if you have questions or need assistance. ACE also has a plethora of additional student supports and resources, such as individualized student success coaches and free access to Tutor.com.

A bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration is a solid foundation on which to build a fulfilling career in healthcare administration, one that can lead to manager, director and other leadership positions that truly drive the landscape of healthcare forward. If you have a drive to guide the planning, policy and operations of health organizations, creating a system that ensures efficient operations, data-driven decision making and, ultimately, positive patient outcomes, this is the career path for you.

������Ƶ is ready to help you build a rewarding career in healthcare administration. With our fully online bachelor’s-completion and master’s degree in healthcare administration, we’ll equip you with the knowledge you need for the jobs you want.

Learn how to search like a pro.

You may be an expert at “Googling it,” but academic databases require different search techniques. Watch an introductory video or attend a library webinar to learn how to search a database most efficiently. If your library doesn’t offer instructional videos, you will find that each database vendor does. Use those Google skills to go to a vendor’s website such as or . Visit their support sections for videos and tutorials on how to use their databases.

Set aside time.

There’s an art to searching an academic database and your results won’t be instantaneous. Give yourself time to try different keywords and learn how to use advanced search functions. Keep a notebook or whiteboard handy to jot down keyword ideas or author names as you search. Thorough research takes time! The more you practice searching, the better you’ll get at it. 

Follow the clues left by other researchers.

Use the references from one of the articles in your reserved reading list, or a book you’ve found in the library, and find related texts that the author used for their research. If you see an author’s name that appears often in your research, look them up to see if they have written more works on your subject. If that subject matter expert works for a particular organization, look up its website to see if they have resources you can use.

Get organized in a way that works best for you.

There are lots of ways to manage your references. You can keep a spreadsheet, a spiral notebook or use a web-based citation manager like , or . Save your articles in folders on your computer by course or chapter. Create a system that makes the most sense to you so you can keep your research organized and easy to access.

Think outside of the library.

If you have access to an academic library, you will be able to search through thousands of subscription journals and e-books to find the resources you need. But there are many other places to find great resources. and the can direct you to open access articles which do not need a subscription. You may also find statistical data and articles on government or business organization websites, like the or the . is a free digital library providing access to all kinds of books and cultural resources.

Get help.

Librarianship is a service field. We provide access to information and we teach you how to access it yourself. If you have a question, reach out to a librarian. If you don’t have a public or academic library easily accessible, most online libraries offer live chat or at least email. Many also provide instructional tutorials or video guides to help people learn how to search the library at their own pace. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Librarians are specially trained and excited to help you find what you need.

������Ƶ’s robust library and responsive college librarians are just some of the resources we provide our students to help them find success. To learn more about our student support, watch our virtual open house.

The push for sustainable development gained substantial attention in 2015 when the published “Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” which listed seventeen goals for nations around the world to accomplish by 2030. The UN Nation Members unanimously agreed to the 15-year goal and signed up for the challenge. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of Uganda, was “the dawn of a new era towards eradicating poverty, transforming economies and protecting the planet.”

An Emphasis on Corporate Social Responsibility

The UN’s call for sustainable development created a need for sustainability-minded leaders. Leadership decisions are an essential factor in sustainable development. The UN’s challenge, along with demands from stakeholders, led to numerous business leaders deciding to implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) into their decision-making and companies’ daily practices.

Governments oversee businesses through various regulations, such as environmental policies addressing air pollution, water use and waste management, to name a few. However, beyond meeting minimum regulation standards, there are no laws requiring businesses to adopt sustainability practices. Therefore, when we observe businesses promoting their sustainability efforts, those businesses are following self-imposed sustainability goals.

Typically, businesses share their CSR efforts and outcomes with stakeholders through annual reports. Other ways businesses promote their CSR accomplishments are through various mediums, such as emails, newsletters, websites and company blogs. But knowing CSR is a self-reporting business model meant to help, , “a company be socially accountable to itself, its stakeholders, and the public” you might wonder, how do we know a business is meeting standard sustainability objectives?

is a nonprofit organization encouraging and supporting businesses in CSR practices. It’s best known for certifying businesses as B Corporations, known by their nickname as B Corps. B Corps are broad and diverse, found across numerous industries. (Famous brands include Patagonia, TOMS, Athleta, Ben & Jerry’s and Warby Parker. In 2016, ������Ƶ also became a Certified B Corp.) Businesses that become certified through B Lab have aligned their organizational goals with the UNs’ global agenda for sustainable development, pledging themselves to be measured against standards that are more objective than just self-reported metrics.

Preparing for Jobs in Sustainability

The rising focus on sustainability has created a need for business professionals with knowledge in this area, along with roles that focus on improving a company’s sustainability efforts. Those who wish to pursue jobs and careers in this area will need sustainability education.

The purpose of sustainability education is to increase students’ sustainability literacy. According to higher education professionals , sustainability literacy is “having the understanding, skills, attitudes and attributes to take informed action for the benefit of oneself and others, now and into a long-term future.”

The colleges and universities who have a pulse on industry trends are incorporating sustainability education into their curriculum, from revising courses to include topics of sustainability to new courses and programs with sustainability concentrations.

At ACE, for example, students can specialize their business degree in sustainability through a dedicated focus of study. This coursework prepares students to lead their communities and organizations in addressing sustainability issues and is available to students in any business program, whether it’s the MBA, M.S. in Organizational Leadership or M.Ed. in Educational Business Administration. Students learn:

• How various business structures incorporate sustainability, examining traditional corporations, benefit corporations, certified B Corps, nonprofit organizations and public institutions.
• The importance of collaboration and partnership and explore how organizations and stakeholders work together to create collective impact in their communities.
• About global challenges across the triple bottom line, a popular sustainability framework that helps businesses identify best practices and needed improvements beyond just a financial bottom line to include environmental and social implications.

Not only is this knowledge pivotal for launching a career within sustainability, but students are able to practice skills directly applicable to their professional life by demonstrate their learning through a variety of practical methods, such as traditional scholarly writing, recording podcasts and developing storytelling presentations.

There are less than six years to go before the world reaches the end of the UN’s 15-year challenge. With sustainability issues arising every day, the need for sustainability-minded leaders is greater than ever. Pursuing sustainability education is a great way to enter a growing business sector and make a difference with your business career.

Accelerate a career in sustainability with one of ������Ƶ’s fully online business programs, where you can specialize your degree in sustainability while also learning the general skills you need to be a successful business professional.

While there are some similarities between the MBA and the M.S. in Organizational Leadership (MSOL), there are definite distinctions to consider when deciding which best fits your personal and professional goals.

Who is the MBA for?

An MBA is a program designed for individuals to develop expertise in business and prepare for management and leadership positions. Earning this degree would allow you to advance your career in almost any field or discipline, as the managerial and leadership skills you’ll learn are a crucial part of successfully leading any team or project. In addition to soft skills, an MBA will include technical coursework that covers areas such as finance and economics. Thus, this degree might fit you best if you are looking to start a business, run a business or lead an enterprise.

Who is the M.S. in Organizational Leadership for?

An MSOL degree draws on the understanding of social dynamics that influence how individuals and groups work with each other in a business environment. The role of an organization’s leader is to inspire employee commitment through developing a culture and business structure. This program prepares you to do that by diving into how you empower workplace communities, become a global business leader and operationalize various dynamics in a business setting to maximize an organization’s workforce. Therefore, this is probably a better fit if you want to prepare for management and leadership positions.

Business Degrees Built for the Future of Business

While many higher education institutions offer business degrees, the MBA and MSOL at ������Ƶ are designed to help graduates navigate the future of business, not just learn about the strategies of the past.

The MBA incorporates emerging consumer trends within its coursework, including a focus on ways that businesses can make a positive impact within social justice, sustainability and more. And just as there’s more importance placed on diversity and sustainable workplace cultures in today’s job market, the MSOL at ACE includes a focus on leading diverse teams and organizations, becoming a positive change agent, and creating innovative organizational cultures and continuous improvement. It also covers how to manage teams who work in various settings, including virtual and remote.

Many companies are no longer just simply reviewing profitability as an indicator of organizational performance. Social impact has become an integral part of a business operation to ensure corporate social responsibility. Both the MBA and MSOL equip students to be leaders in that area by covering LLCs, C-Corps and other types of businesses. They also demonstrate how to run and/or lead a Benefit Corporation (B Corp), a business that meets the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. Each of the programs’ objectives, description and courses are purposefully broad to allow for an interdisciplinary approach for any industry.   

When it comes to choosing a business program, let your future goals be your guide to ensure that what you’ll learn will directly apply to your career. Choose a program that will prepare you to face the future of your industry.

Learn more about ������Ƶ’s fully online MBA and M.S. in Organizational Leadership. We offer multiple degree pathways that allow you to pursue both degrees at once, saving you time and money. Additionally, because our courses are easily transferrable between the two programs, you can switch programs after starting if it better aligns with your needs.

As educators, we are passionate people, and we often follow those passions in our own education and professional development. We’ll pursue degrees in what we teach or within where we work, such as special education, literacy or curriculum and instruction. We cultivate our expertise in our domains. But what happens next?

As teachers mature in their careers, many feel the urge to do “something else,” to broaden the scope of their influence or just change the way they impact kids. They want to leverage their experience, passion and expertise to do more, which often means moving out of the classroom and into a different role.

For a special education teacher, it might mean looking into special education director positions. A literacy teacher now wants to be a literacy specialist. Someone with a degree in curriculum and instruction might be looking for their next step in positions like curriculum director, instructional specialist or assessment coordinator. The options for advancement are as numerous as the schools we serve.

However, what many teachers don’t know, or don’t anticipate, is that in many schools, for many of these types of positions, expertise and experience simply aren’t enough. Interested candidates also need to hold administrative certification, which means “principal certification” or the equivalent in most states. You may be the most knowledgeable person in your school about curriculum, but many schools simply can’t promote you to curriculum director without that administrative certification. This is why the educational leadership degree is such a worthwhile degree to pursue:

It’s versatile.

A preparation program in school leadership equips you with the skills needed to lead and manage all the situations that arise in schools. Just consider some the anticipated outcomes of the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership program at ������Ƶ:

• Collaboratively lead, design and implement a school mission, vision and process for continuous improvement.
• Understand and demonstrate the capacity to advocate for ethical decisions.
• Develop and maintain a supportive, equitable, culturally responsive and inclusive school culture.
• Evaluate, develop, and implement coherent systems of curriculum, instruction, data systems, supports, and assessment.
• Engage families, community and school personnel.
• Improve management, communication, technology and school-level governance.
• Build the school’s professional capacity.
• Conduct, synthesize and apply research.

Which of those skills is not important for any of the roles we’ve discussed? More to the point, which of those skills would you not want to master? A solid principal preparation program does fundamentally prepare you to fill almost any role in a school, hence the versatility.

It’s vital.

Staffing schools with qualified, prepared and effective people is more important now than ever. The skills needed to bring people together, to develop the capacity and self-efficacy of others, and to advocate for change are paramount in creating the schools our kids deserve. The preparation you receive in these programs is vital to our schools.

It’s valuable.

Many schools offer salary bumps for those with advanced degrees. In fact, the master’s in educational leadership tends to have more promotion potential than any other degree you can obtain, making it the most valuable degree for both compensation and future career opportunities.

And if you haven’t before, consider the value a master’s in educational leadership may provide for you and your school. The administrative certification provides a strong foundation to build the remainder of your training upon. Get the certification, then focus professional development activities around your passion.

A program with an administrative certification, like a master’s in education leadership, is often the key to opening doors in education, even if your goal is not to be a future principal. It gives you the knowledge and skills you need to lead a team and school community with confidence, which is applicable to many different leadership roles within education.

������Ƶ is the nation’s third largest conferrer of M.Ed. in Educational Leadership degrees. For those who already hold a specialized degree and are interested in pursuing just an administrative certification, explore ACE’s Certificate in Principal Preparation.