The Patricelli Center offers courses through Wesleyan's Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life (CSPL). Offerings vary from year-to-year and are open to students from all classes and majors. For more information about enrollment, syllabi, etc., contact us.
FALL 2023 COURSES
NEW: CSPL252: Leadership & Social Innovation: Patricelli Center Impact Fellowship
In this cohort-style class, student Fellows will be introduced to a select, intergenerational group of global leaders working at various levels of government, academia, media, and the arts--and across subject areas like storytelling, climate action, social justice, youth representation, museums, and more. Fellows will engage with leading CEOs, journalists, diplomats, and artists, and directly explore their work and lived experiences across scales of impact, personal growth, and institutional transformation. Course content will be delivered via the case-method and will feature facilitated conversations, live simulations, and direct engagement between global leaders and student Fellows. Assessment will be via discussion/case preparation (reviewing background content and drafting 3-5 questions per week), in-class contribution (engaging with guests and peers), attendance (all sessions are mandatory), weekly reflections (350 words, or audio/video recording), and a final 10-15-page Personal Social Impact Plan.
CSPL239 Startup Incubator: The Art and Science of Launching Your Idea
The Startup Incubator is a one-semester, experiential learning program designed to teach and enable student entrepreneurs to develop sustainable business models from their ideas. The program will bring together an ambitious, committed, and diverse group of individuals from all classes and majors who are passionate about developing successful solutions to challenges; identify as entrepreneurs, disruptors, and thought leaders; and have the tenacity, work ethic, and ability to succeed. All participating students should have a promising business idea and take the course with the intention of launching or running their own venture. Student Incubator students actively participate in one cohort meeting a week: most are "classes" that take the form of lectures or workshops, and some are "practice days" that provide time to practice theories and methods necessary for success. Students also dedicate at least 10 additional hours per week to assignments, self-directed work, customer discovery, networking, and mentoring sessions. This course will feel like a combination of a college class and a rigorous startup incubator program. Success is a student using theories learned in class to validate their ideas by developing and accurately testing business assumptions, identifying and researching their target market, and pivoting to develop a sustainable business model. By enrolling, students make a commitment to themselves, the instructor, and the other members of the class. Note: This course is offered by the Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship (wesleyan.edu/patricelli/) in partnership with the MEWS+ (themewsplus.co/)