What Is Transformative Social Change?
Transformative social change is the process of creating meaningful improvements in how human beings live, interact, and cooperate with one another. There is a growing acceptance and development of transformative social change organizing and scholarship, from the United Nations, major foundations, universities, and more. Human rights, public policy, social justice, peace, and educational and environmental organizations are looking for graduates who can think beyond traditional disciplines to respond to the challenges of our world.
Our Transformative Social Change programs prepare students to be policy and advocacy experts focused on the pressing issues of our time, including challenges to democracy and the rise of authoritarianism, political and cultural polarization, economic injustice, climate change, and promoting inclusion around race, gender and sexuality. Our curriculum supports those who have a burning desire for positive social change with the necessary skills to effectively channel that desire into actionable leadership to impact the world around them. Through our programs, our graduates pursue crucial research on issues and subject matter areas closest to them, including, but not limited to:
- Inequality and social justice
- The current challenge to democracy and rise of authoritarianism in the United States and around the world
- Polarization
- Climate change
- Inclusion and belonging around race, gender, class and sexual orientation
What Can You Do With a Transformative Social Change Degree?
Our Transformative Social Change programs prepare you for a career in organizations that focus on advocacy, the environment, human rights, community building, democracy, social justice, peace, and other organizations looking for leaders who have a global and holistic understanding of these issues. Many of our graduates use their degrees to become successful policy advocates, educators, and leaders in nonprofit and community organizations. Our programs also support students who are planning to teach in related university fields, such as sociology, peace and justice studies, education, political science, and more. We emphasize skill and capacity development to enable graduates to be successful collaborators and leaders.
Career Areas and Notable Organizations
- Community organizing and engagement
- Public outreach campaigns
- National and international organization policy advocacy
- Research
- Higher education teaching and transformative learning
- Black Prisoners Caucus and Santa Rosa, CA
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Sonoma-Marin
- NAACP
- Knology
- Virginia Commonwealth University and Honeypot Montessori School
Why You Should Study Transformative Social Change
Our Transformative Social Change faculty meet students where they are. Students are encouraged to bring their own unique academic and vocational goals related to social change. Guided by mentors who have expertise in community organizing, social movements, use of social media for advocacy, conflict resolution, and policy advocacy, you will receive rigorous training on research and advocacy for transformative change and go on to develop specialized expertise in the field that matters most to you.
As a pioneer in online education, our approach combines distanced learning with community and connection, allowing you flexibility to learn at your own pace without sacrificing the opportunities to form lifelong friendships and professional relationships with your future classmates, faculty, and institutional partners.
UNBOUND: Transformative Social Change
Discover the unique ways Transformative Social Change students, alumni, and faculty apply their education to address real world problems in the latest from UNBOUND, our online magazine.
Saybrook Learning Model
Our Transformative Social Change programs offer an enriching, asynchronous online experience with occasional synchronous elements that bring us together as a community for connection, learning, and collaboration. Although most of your time will be online, in-person attendance will be necessary every two years at a five-day University Learning Experience (ULE). Visit the Saybrook Learning Model page to learn more about University Learning Experiences.
