Santa Clara University will launch a new Master of Arts in Social Impact Leadership Program in fall 2026. A cross-disciplinary offering of the University’s School of Education and Counseling Psychology; Miller Center for Global Impact; and the Leavey School of Business, applications for the inaugural class will open soon.

The M.A. in Social Impact Leadership will meet the demand from those seeking to advance their careers in the social impact sector, including moving into leadership roles in social entrepreneurship, nonprofits, philanthropy, and mission-driven corporate enterprises.

“Our students have told us very clearly that they seek to be not just leaders and innovators, but also for their lives’ work to have measurable and positive impacts on the communities they serve,” said Provost and Executive Vice President James M. Glaser. “This new master’s program responds directly to that, and will graduate effective leaders who have critical thinking skills, a well-discerned dedication to their vocation and leadership abilities, and the ethical framework needed to make a difference in ways our world most needs.”

The M.A. in Social Impact Leadership will equip students with foundational business knowledge and deep understanding of how to lead mission-driven organizations. Santa Clara University is ideally suited for this, with a Jesuit mission focused on using one’s talents for the betterment of humanity; world-class faculty in business and leadership; and Miller Center’s deep engagement and extensive network in the social-impact sector.

The curriculum integrates core business and organizational leadership courses—such as financial management, marketing, and strategic management—with intentional leadership formation that fosters the mindset and competencies needed to drive social change. Social impact and philanthropic leaders are enthusiastic about the need for such a program, tailored to the needs of these specific organizations.

A key feature of the program is an immersive internship with a social impact organization, designed to support vocational discernment, deepen leadership practice, and align mission with each student’s professional goals. Many of these internships will be facilitated through Santa Clara University’s Miller Center for Global Impact, which has supported more than 1,500 social enterprises worldwide. Miller Center will also connect students with leading practitioners and guest speakers on topics such as impact investing, measurement, and management, providing real-world insights and expanding students’ professional networks.

Applications and information can be found on the Social Impact Leadership program page.

About Santa Clara University

Founded in 1851, Santa Clara University sits in the heart of Silicon Valley—the world’s most innovative and entrepreneurial region. The University’s stunningly landscaped 106-acre campus is home to the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asís. Ranked among the top 15 percent of national universities by U.S. News & World Report, SCU has among the best four-year graduation rates in the nation and is rated by PayScale in the top 1 percent of universities with the highest-paid graduates. SCU has produced elite levels of Fulbright Scholars as well as four Rhodes Scholars. With undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, and graduate programs in six disciplines, the curriculum blends high-tech innovation with social consciousness grounded in the tradition of Jesuit, Catholic education. For more information, see www.scu.edu.

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The M.A. in Social Impact Leadership will equip students with foundational business knowledge and deep understanding of how to lead mission-driven organizations.