Global Opportunities

An international view of social justice

SP2 takes seriously its responsibility to prepare students for leadership positions both nationally and internationally, and thus has created a wide range of global opportunities. Students at SP2 gain a global perspective through strong international curricular content, learning from international faculty, interacting with peers from across the globe, and engaging in study abroad programs and global immersion experiences.

Global Courses

A number of SP2 courses take place in global locations. An application is required for global courses. Once a student is accepted to a course, they will be contacted with information about enrolling. View current course offerings.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands

NPLD 7500: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Partnerships and Practices

NPLD 7500 examines the relationship between business and society using the prevalent framework of corporate social responsibility (CSR) with a focus on corporate philanthropy. The large question that we focus on is, “What is the responsibility of business to society, if any?” We examine how it is conceptualized, its practice, the societal partnerships forged, and its impact.

Businesses performing philanthropic activity often use their platform of CSR activities to engage with society, directly, via a corporate foundation, or through partnerships with nonprofit organizations. Although such philanthropic activities are not directly related to profit-making ventures, they may boost their reputation, be used in marketing their products, talent recruitment, increase employee engagement and commitment, and thus contribute to the profit indirectly. Many businesses undertake their CSR related philanthropic activities using strategic partnerships with nonprofits or public sector organizations to meet their goals. This provides opportunities to nonprofit and public sector leaders in achieving social and sustainable change.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica

NPLD 5850: Penn Social Impact Lab

Students will learn how innovation and entrepreneurship play a central role in public problem solving. The course will explore how social entrepreneurs co-develop new ideas with key stakeholders, articulate problems and solutions, define intended impact, understand competition, and collaborate with other actors. At the end of the course, students will have mastered a set of conceptual tools and strategies that will allow them to be effective problem solvers in diverse settings throughout their careers and personal lives. The course has five core objectives:

  • To introduce students to the concepts and practices of social entrepreneurship;
  • To introduce students to the components of a successful social enterprise;
  • To train students to view the world from a perspective of social innovation;
  • To encourage and empower students to develop their own innovative solutions to different social problems around the world;
  • To introduce students to real social issues and social innovations in a real-world setting.
India – Microfinance

India

SWRK 7480: Microfinance and Women’s Empowerment in India

SWRK 7480: Microfinance and Women’s Empowerment in India examines microfinance and its engagement with marginalized communities, such as those in India. It is designed to provide students with an understanding of the phenomena of microfinance and its role in poverty alleviation. By studying the use of self-help groups with NGO facilitation, their impact on women’s empowerment will be examined and understood through interaction with women engaged in microfinance activities.

Additional Opportunities

SP2 students are welcome to explore other opportunities to gain a global perspective or experience.

Internationally Focused Courses at SP2

Internationally-Focused Courses at SP2

Students interested in international issues may choose to take a semester-long course on Penn’s campus. These classes provide a global focus without the need to leave Philadelphia.

International Independent Studies

International Independent Studies

In limited cases, SP2 is able to assist students in setting up independent studies in other countries. In these situations, students must take the initiative with both SP2 and the proposed host institution in conceptualizing and planning the details of an individualized research program. Students will receive substantial assistance in this effort through their SP2 sponsoring faculty member.

Examples of recent international independent research projects successfully completed by students include:

  • Arequipa, Peru: Adoption and Foster Care Systems Among Differing Cultures
  • Refugee Civil Documentation Issues in Jordan
  • Nutrition and Educational Outcomes of Migrant Children in China
  • Adolescent Girls in Rural India: Issues and Paths for Change
  • Social Program Evaluation in Latin America
  • Connecting Global to Local: Race, Gender, Nationality & Immigrant Communities
  • Intimate partner violence among Korean and Korea-American women
    • Conducted in Korea by an MSW student in cooperation with a PhD alum
  • Policy implications of the status differential between men and women in Macedonia
    • Conducted in Macedonia by an MSSP student as part of her internship in Macedonia
  • Comparative perspectives on K-12 education in Greenland and Hawaii
    • Conducted in Greenland by an MSW student
  • ‘Resiliency’ among Burmese refugee women in Thailand
    • Conducted in Thailand by an MSW student in cooperation with a local NGO in Thailand and a Penn PhD alum
Penn’s Global Research & Internship Program

Penn’s Global Research & Internship Program

FLAS Fellowships

FLAS Fellowships

The goals of the fellowship program are:

  • To assist in the development of knowledge, resources, and trained personnel for modern foreign language and area or international studies.
  • To foster foreign language acquisition and fluency.
  • To develop a domestic pool of international experts to meet national needs.