Learning Outcomes

The Doctor of Social Innovation (DSI) program prepares graduates to lead innovation, navigate complexity and create measurable social impact across organizations, industries, communities and societies. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to: 

1. Lead Innovation and Change 
   Lead organizational and systems change by applying innovative thinking, strategic leadership and evidence-informed decision-making to address complex challenges.
2. Design Human-Centered Solutions 
   Apply human-centered design principles to develop, implement, evaluate and scale innovative programs, policies, products, services, and systems that improve outcomes for individuals, organizations and communities.
3. Apply Systems Thinking 
   Analyze complex organizational and societal challenges using systems thinking to identify root causes, leverage points and opportunities for sustainable change.
4. Advance Ethical and Responsible Leadership 
   Demonstrate ethical leadership by integrating principles of equity, inclusion, accountability, transparency and human well-being into innovation and decision-making.
5. Lead Across Disciplines, Sectors, and Cultures 
   Collaborate effectively with professionals from diverse disciplines, professions, organizations, sectors and cultures while demonstrating intercultural competence in addressing complex organizational and societal challenges.
6. Evaluate Innovation and Impact 
   Design and implement evaluation strategies that assess the effectiveness, scalability, sustainability and measurable impact of innovative initiatives using qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method approaches.
7. Translate Evidence into Practice 
   Synthesize research, data, and interdisciplinary knowledge to inform strategic decision-making, organizational transformation and innovation.
8. Communicate Vision and Influence Change 
   Communicate complex ideas effectively to diverse audiences and build support for innovation through strategic engagement, collaboration and leadership.
9. Demonstrate Scholarly and Professional Practice 
   Integrate theory, research, innovation and professional expertise to produce an applied doctoral capstone that addresses a significant organizational or societal challenge and contributes to meaningful, measurable social impact.
10. Leverage Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies 
    Critically evaluate and responsibly apply artificial intelligence, data, and emerging technologies to enhance innovation, organizational performance and social impact while addressing ethical implications. 

Advanced Leadership for Innovation 

Students strengthen their ability to lead change across complex organizations, systems and environments. Coursework emphasizes strategic, ethical and collaborative leadership; organizational transformation; systems thinking; and the ability to engage stakeholders and build support for new approaches. Students learn to lead across disciplines, professions and sectors, bringing together people with different areas of expertise and perspectives to advance shared goals and lead complex change. Students also develop the intercultural competence needed to lead effectively across diverse cultural, organizational and global contexts. 

Students develop competencies in:

• Strategic Leadership
• Ethical Leadership
• Systems and Change Leadership
• Organizational and Community Transformation
• Strategic Communication
• Interdisciplinary and Cross-Sector Leadership
• Global Leadership and Intercultural Competence 

Leading Social Innovation 

Students develop the mindsets, frameworks and design capabilities needed to identify opportunities for change and create new approaches to complex organizational and societal challenges. Through social innovation, human-centered design and systems thinking, students learn to work collaboratively across disciplines and sectors and with key stakeholders, drawing on diverse expertise and perspectives to explore challenges from multiple perspectives and develop and advance innovations that respond to real needs and opportunities. 

Students develop competencies in:

• Innovative Thinking
• Social Innovation
• Human-Centered Design
• Systems Thinking
• Interprofessional Collaboration
• Technology-Enabled Innovation
• Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies
• Implementation and Scaling 

Applied Inquiry 

Students develop the applied inquiry and evaluation skills needed to build on existing evidence, test assumptions, evaluate innovations and use findings to strengthen decision-making and impact. Through design-informed evaluation, students learn to select and apply qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method approaches to test, assess and refine innovations as they move toward implementation and broader impact. 

Students develop competencies in:

• Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed-Method Approaches
• Design-Informed Evaluation
• Evaluation of Innovation and Impact
• Data-Driven Decision-Making and Leadership