Camarillo, Calif., April 20, 2011 – The first course designed specifically for CSU Channel Islands’ (CI) California Institute for Social Business (CISB) will be offered to students in fall 2011.  “Introduction to Social Business” will provide students with an interdisciplinary overview of social business models and their application to social, economic, technological, cultural, political and environmental issues both locally and globally.  It will introduce finance and planning involved in social businesses as compared to traditional or alternative business models.  This course is one of three core courses in the Minor and Certificate in Social Business.

The first course combines elements from business, economics and sociology and will be offered to 30 students from multiple majors.  Dr. Claudio Paiva, Associate Professor of Economics in the MVS School of Business & Economics with experience in international business including 12 years with the International Monetary Fund, is uniquely qualified to lead students in this overview of social business.

Students will hear speakers from local and global social businesses. Community members interested in designing a social business can participate in the certificate program to gain more knowledge about the concepts that propel a social business and the specifics of how to set up the business.

Another course, “Social Business Planning”, is tentatively scheduled for spring 2012.  Many of the courses within the Minor and Certificate programs are existing courses within the University curriculum, courses which give students background about social problems that social businesses could be designed to address.

Dr. Andrea Grove, Associate Professor of Political Science and Faculty Director for the CISB, explained, “The final course in the Certificate or Minor program is expected to be a research course where faculty-student teams will have the opportunity to study a selected social business either in the United States or abroad, applying what they have learned, analyzing how the business works, the issue it addresses and the social/economic/political context within which the business operates.” Funding is being sought to pay for the students and faculty to travel to these businesses and work with their founders to gain in-depth experience and put their education to work on real-world situations.

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About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning.  CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees.  Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research.

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About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands
(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting CI's Social Media.

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