Program Overview
There is a rich diversity of third-sector organizations—co-operatives, credit unions, non-profits, charities, community associations, social enterprises, and more—working alongside the public and private sectors to provide goods and services to individuals and communities. Some of these organizations, such as locally-owned financial services and grocery providers, have operated for decades. Others, are relatively new and work in areas ranging from renewable energy to affordable and supported housing, to mental health and addictions, and more. However, they all share a commitment to inclusive decision-making and concern about larger social-economic problems.
Comprised of three graduate-level classes, the certificate covers a range of topics and issues, including:
- Organizational forms in the social economy sector (including co-operatives, nonprofits, social enterprises and more);
- Principles of good governance in the social economy;
- Management and leadership excellence;
- The interplay between the social economy and public policy;
- Emerging forms of sector-led initiatives and inter-organizational governance; and
- Public and community engagement strategies.
Offered in partnership with the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, the Social Economy, Co-operatives and Nonprofit Sector Certificate is designed for mid-career professionals interested in improving your understanding of the third sector.
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Quick Facts
| Program Type | Certificate Program |
| Program Length | 12 months studying part time (one course per term) |
| Start Date | Entry is possible in any semester (September/Fall, January/Winter, and May/Spring). |
| Application Deadline |
Domestic Students: May 1 (for September entry), October 1 (for January entry), February 1 (for May entry) *International Students: May 1 (for September entry), October 1 (for January entry), February 1 (for May entry) *JSGS does not recommend graduate certificate programs to international students due to complications with maintaining registration across terms and course offerings per term that may affect full-time student status. |
| Tuition | Effective September 1, 2023, the tuition rate per three-credit-unit course for domestic students is approximately $1,598 and $2,492 for international students. Students are also required to pay on-campus graduate student fees. |
| JSGS Scholarship Funding | Yes. |
| GRE/GMAT Requirement | None |
| English Language Requirements | Proof of language proficiency is required. |
| Location | This certificate includes a combination of in-person and/or online courses. Depending on the stream selected, it is possible to complete the entire certificate online. |
| Potential Career Paths |
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Core Learning Outcomes
In consultation with our public sector and community partners, the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy has created a signature JSGS pedagogy to support your development in core competencies and skills needed for success in public administration. This competency framework encourages students to demonstrate the ability to:
- Develop and apply an evidence-informed approach to policy issues and policy options;
- Be able to communicate with different audiences to build relationships and harness diverse perspectives to gain understanding, design, and advance policy solutions; and
- Lead self, teams, and partners to implement policy decisions, manage change initiatives, monitor progress, and support continuous improvement.
As a student enrolled in the Social Economy, Co-operatives, and the Nonprofit Sector Certificate, depending on your course selection, you will be exposed to specific readings, assignments and activities that will help you both acquire and develop the ability to:
- Describe the foundations and principal components of the social economy, including non-profit organizations and associations, co-operatives and credit unions, and social enterprises, and their relationships to both governments and the market;
- Analyze key policy arenas for the social economy, along with emerging movements and phenomena such as corporate social responsibility, community economic development, degrowth, decolonization, the “sharing economy,” and B-corporations;
- Critically assess the primary communications, governance, and policy design challenges for public servants and agencies working with actors and organizations in the social economy; and
- Succinctly and effectively communicate key ideas and information about the social economy.
Depending on the stream selected (Non-Profit Stream, Co-operative Stream, and the Social Economy and Government Stream), you will also have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of and acquire skills specific to each sector.
Upon successfully completing your Social Economy, Co-operatives, and the Nonprofit Sector Certificate, we encourage you to speak with an academic advisor to explore the option of applying your courses to a full master's degree at JSGS.
Courses
Curriculum
Certificate students are required to complete 9 credit units, consisting of one core course (3 credit units) and two elective courses (6 credit units).
All students registered in the certificate program must complete the following foundational course (3 credit hrs), before specializing in one of three streams:
The social economy includes non-profit, community-based organizations, and co-operatives. This course focuses on how these organizations interplay with the public policies of different levels of government. Using case studies, students will examine administrative public policy, such as how the social economy is funded and how it is evaluated and held accountable, as well as substantive public policy, including community capacity building and partnership development. The course also includes a field trip to learn about local social economy organizations at work and guest lecturers, including both researchers and practitioners.
This course is delivered online.
Students interested in the Non-Profit stream must also complete the following two courses (6 credit units)
This course will introduce students to strategic leadership issues in the non-profit sector, focusing on governance, executive leadership and the board of directors' roles in strategy formation and implementation. The course will feature the application of strategic and operational management tools and techniques to non-profit organizations, analyzing external, competitive and internal environments; developing objectives; understanding current strategies; formulating and implementing future directions.
This course is delivered online.
This course examines the increasing role played by the third sector in Canada. Students will examine alternative allocations of responsibility for solving particular social and public problems - voluntary, not-for-profit, for-profit, joint public/private, public encouraged/subsidized, and publicly coerced - along with examples, reasons, and theories for particular forms of organization, new methods of accountability and tensions between the government and its new partners.
This course is delivered online.
Students interested in the Co-operative stream must also complete the following two courses (6 credit units)
This course will introduce students to strategic leadership issues in the non-profit sector, focusing on governance, executive leadership and the board of directors' roles in strategy formation and implementation. The course will feature the application of strategic and operational management tools and techniques to non-profit organizations, analyzing external, competitive and internal environments; developing objectives; understanding current strategies; formulating and implementing future directions.
This course is delivered online.
This course examines how societal institutions and policy shape the role played by co-operatives in the economy, and how co-operative practices and innovations have in turn shaped these institutions and policies. Combining theoretical insights from the areas of institutions, economics, organizational behaviour, law and policy with case studies of co-operative organizations, the course allows students to develop their knowledge of the actions that both the state and co-operatives have undertaken, and provides students with a conceptual framework within which these actions can be viewed.
Students interested in the Social Economy and Government stream must also complete two of the following courses (6 credit units)
There is growing attention being given to executive leadership, applied ethics and efforts to create and sustain trust within and through the profession of public administration. This course descriptively and critically examines these three key concepts in relation to the professional public servant and the environments of public sector decision and policy making.
This course is delivered in person.
This course will introduce students to strategic leadership issues in the non-profit sector, focusing on governance, executive leadership and the board of directors' roles in strategy formation and implementation. The course will feature the application of strategic and operational management tools and techniques to non-profit organizations, analyzing external, competitive and internal environments; developing objectives; understanding current strategies; formulating and implementing future directions.
This course is delivered online.
The purpose of this course is to provide a survey of public sector budgeting and financial management in Canada. Students will the role that financial considerations play in formulating policy and in program management, examine the financial planning cycles of government and the elements of sound financial planning and management in public sector entities, and gain an understanding of financial decision-making processes and elements of financial and program accountability within the context of public decision-making processes.
This course is delivered in person.
Tuition
Effective September 1, 2023, the tuition rate per three-credit-unit course for domestic students is approximately $1,598 and $2,492 for international students. Students are also required to pay on-campus graduate student fees.
If you are offered admission into the Social Economy, Co-operatives, and the Nonprofit Sector Certificate Graduate Certificate program, a non-refundable tuition deposit of $1,000 CAD is required to save your seat. You have 30 days from the date of the offer of admission being made to accept. If you enroll in the program consistent with the terms of the offer, the $1,000 deposit will be applied to your student account. If you do not enroll, the deposit is retained by JSGS.
NOTE: Tuition and fees are subject to change. Should there be a discrepancy between the information posted on the institution's website and information posted on the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy website, the institution's website should be viewed as accurate.
Funding
Through the collaboration with the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, the following funding scholarships and grants have been identified.:
Value: $1,500
Offered through the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, the Leo and Bruce Thordarson Social Economy and Co-operatives Award is offered annually to a student who is enrolled in the school's Graduate Certificate in the Social Economy, Co-operatives and Non-Profit Sector program.
The goal of the award is to support students in becoming the next generation of leaders in the co-operative and social economy sector. The successful applicant will be chosen based on: academic performance, demonstrated financial need, and the merits of the written submission.
Application procedure: Submission of a statement of no more than one page providing personal insight into the role(s) played by co-operatives, non-profits, and social enterprises in shaping your professional and/or academic career, and how this award will assist you in advancing your career.
Application deadline: October 28, 2022
Completed applications can be submitted to jsgs@usask.ca.
Value $5,000
Offered through the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, the Hartley and Margaret Fredeen Scholarship is offered annually to a student who is conducting research on co-operatives, either entering or continuing studies in a master’s or doctoral program at the University of Saskatchewan. Students who are currently enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in the Social Economy, Co-operatives, and Nonprofit Sector (GSECN) are also eligible to apply.
The goal of the scholarship is to support students in creating and sharing knowledge about co-operatives. The successful applicant for the Hartley and Margaret Fredeen Scholarship in Co-operative Studies will be chosen based upon the applicant’s proposed research exploring the ways that co-operatives can make our lives better, whether that be locally or globally.
Application Deadline: November 1, 2022
Completed applications can be submitted to the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives at coop.studies@usask.ca
Please note that the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy does not administer these grants. Any questions about the Canada Job Grant should be directed to the respective provincial application offices.
The Canada Job Grant (CJG) is a Canadian government funding program designed to support the upskilling of new and existing employees so that they can become more valuable to their organization. The funding program:
- Helps public sector employers, non-profit organizations, industry associations, Indigenous government or organizations, and others train new or existing employees for available jobs; and
- Covers 2/3 of the total training costs for existing employees (to a maximum of $10,000 per person per fiscal year). Training costs include tuition fees, mandatory student fees, textbooks, software and other required materials, and more.
- Provides more opportunities for unemployed and underemployed workers to receive training.
CJG maintains a provincial stream for each province, except for Québec. Each individual stream has varying funding amounts for multiple grant applications and eligibility criteria. Please note that to qualify for funding, the employee will need to complete their program within a 52-week period.
Refer to the following CSJ provincial stream pages for specific eligibility criteria and application information.
- Canada-British Columbia Job Grant
- Canada-Alberta Job Grant
- Canada-Saskatchewan Job Grant
- Canada-Manitoba Job Grant
- Canada-Ontario Job Grant
- Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Job Grant
- Canada-New Brunswick Job Grant
Some provincial and territorial stream grant programs have closed. Please refer to the following programs instead:
- SkillsPEI Workplace Skills Training program.
- Working UP (provided through the Yukon Government)
- Employer Training Program (provided through the Government of Northwest Territories)
Please note that the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy and the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives do not administer these scholarships. Any questions should be directed toward Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada, the administrator of these scholarships.
Alexander Fraser Laidlaw Fellowship
Open to graduate students only, this award is sponsored by the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada.
The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada established the Laidlaw Fellowship to honour Dr. Alexander Fraser Laidlaw, the father of the non-profit co-operative housing movement in Canada. The Laidlaw Award, valued at $1,000, is available to graduate students only. The award is based on the applicant’s academic record, as well as on the importance of the proposed research activities to the development of the co-op movement in Canada or abroad.
Click here for more information on the Alexander Fraser Laidlaw Fellowship.
Amy and Tim Dauphinee Scholarship
Open to graduate students only, this award is sponsored by the Ontario Credit Union Foundation.
The Ontario Credit Union Foundation established the Amy and Tim Dauphinee Scholarship in recognition of the outstanding contribution these two leaders made to the development of the credit union movement and the Ontario Credit Union Charitable Foundation. Tim, a retired scientist from the National Research Council, and Amy, who passed away in 2010, had a strong commitment to co-operatives, education and research. Both served as local directors on a number of organizations. Amy was the first woman elected to the board of directors of Credit Union Central of Ontario and served for 22 years. The award, currently valued at $3,000, is available to graduate students only. The award will be based on the applicants' academic records and on the importance of the proposed research activities to the development of the co-op movement in Canada or abroad.
Click here for more information on the Amy and Tim Dauphinee Scholarship.
Lemaire Co-operative Studies Award
Open to undergraduate and graduate students.
Louis Lemaire, a co-operative pioneer, dedicated much of his life to organizing co-operatives in Saskatchewan and willed part of his estate to the Co-operative College of Canada (now Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada) to support co-operative studies. Available to both undergraduate and graduate students, the Lemaire awards are intended to encourage students to undertake studies and research which will help them contribute to the development of co-operatives in Canada or elsewhere. These awards are also intended to support students who have been involved in co-operatives, preferably in leadership positions as volunteers or employees. Eligible candidates will have been involved with co-operatives, must demonstrate reasonable knowledge and understanding of co-op principles and their application, and be able to indicate how the proposed studies and research will contribute to the co-op movement. Full-time or part-time students, taking full- or partial-credit courses at any university or university-equivalent college are eligible to apply. Eligible candidates must take a minimum of one course about co-operatives. The bursaries will be awarded in multiples of $1,000 to a maximum of $3,000. The amount of the awards will be proportional to the significance and contribution of the studies to the advancement of co-operatives.
The Ian MacPherson Legacy Fund
The Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF), in partnership with Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada (CMC) and the Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation (CASC), has established a scholarship fund to commemorate Ian MacPherson and his outstanding contribution to the study and promotion of cooperatives. This fund supports student participation in research conferences, co-operative research, and co-operative involvement. Students at post-secondary institutions under the age of 35 will be given priority, with a preference for those studying or researching co-ops and presenting at an event. Applications are accepted year-round, but we recommend that you apply at least 60 days prior to the date of an event you wish to attend.
Click here for more information on the Ian MacPherson Legacy Fund.
Admissions and Deadlines
Application Deadlines
Applications to Graduate Certificate programs are accepted on an ongoing basis and are reviewed in the order in which they are completed. Therefore, it is to your advantage to submit a completed application as early as possible, as enrollment is limited. The admission process is competitive and late application submissions may be at a disadvantage.
Entry is possible in any semester (September/Fall, January/Winter, and May/Spring).
| Program Entry | Latest Application Deadline for International Students* | Latest Application Deadline for Domestic Students |
| September/Fall | May 1 | May 1 |
| January/Winter | October 1 | October 1 |
| May/Spring | February 1 | February 1 |
To meet these deadlines, ALL components of your application must be received by the dates above. Applications that are incomplete will not be reviewed nor will they be deferred to future terms.
* JSGS does not recommend graduate certificate programs to international students due to complications with maintaining registration across terms and course offerings per term that may affect full-time student status.
Application Qualifications
Please ensure that you meet the entrance requirements of either the University of Regina Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research or the University of Saskatchewan College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (depending on your choice of campus).
| Application Qualifications | |
| University of Regina |
Standard Admission Option - Applicants interested in this program must have completed a four-year undergraduate degree from a recognized university, with a minimum overall GPA of 70 percent in the final two years. Proof of English proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English. Mid-Career Admission Option - There is also a mid-career option for admission, through which prospective students with at least five years of government or non-profit organization management experience may be admitted without an undergraduate degree. Proof of English proficiency is required. |
| University of Saskatchewan |
Standard Admission Option - Applicants must have completed a four-year undergraduate degree from a recognized university. A cumulative weighted average of at least 70 percent must be maintained during the final two years (60 credit units). Proof of English proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English. Mid-Career Admission Option - Applicants who do not meet the standard admission requirements can apply using the non‐standard application process. In this case, applicants must have completed at least one year (18 CUs) of higher education, taken a minimum five-year break from formal higher education, and possess a minimum of ten years of work experience with at least five years of management experience. |
NOTICE: JSGS does not recommend graduate certificate programs to international students for the following reasons:
- The certificates are only 3 courses (9 credit units) in length, and to be considered a full-time student, you must register in 6 credit units (2 courses) per term.
- For example, if a graduate certificate student wants to maintain full-time status, the maximum time in the graduate certificate program would be 6 months if starting in January (encompasses Winter and Spring terms), or 8 months if starting in May (encompasses Spring and Fall terms) or September (encompasses Fall and Winter terms), and a student would need to take a fourth course and pay additional tuition to have full-time status in each term.
- JSGS cannot guarantee that courses required for our graduate certificate programs will be available each term.
- If a required course is unavailable, it can affect the opportunity for full-time studies.
Application Process and Required Documentation
The Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy has aligned its application requirements (where possible) across its two university campuses; however, please note that the application portal varies by campus.
Please apply through one campus only
When applying to the JSGS University of Regina campus, please note that you must submit an application through the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.
You may choose to upload unofficial transcripts, supporting documents, letter of intent, and resume via your online application portal.
You will have the opportunity to enter the names and email addresses of your referees in the online application portal. Once you pay the application fee and submit the application, the system will automatically contact your referees with a link for their submission. Remember to advise your referees to check their spam folder for the auto-email from uregina.ca domain.
To troubleshoot document uploads, referee issues, other technical aspects of the online application, contact the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research at grad.publicpolicy@uregina.ca.
| Required Documents | Description |
| Student waiver form |
Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy is a collaboration between the University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan. To share information between the two universities, please complete and upload the student waiver form. |
| Official Transcripts |
Upload unofficial transcripts for all post-secondary education, that is, from each accredited institution you’ve attended where you’ve received at least one grade for one course for academic credit. If you are registered in such a course presently, upload a transcript even without the course completed. Do NOT upload University of Regina transcripts. FGSR staff will access these internally. JSGS will evaluate applications based on unofficial documents. JSGS only requires official documents after an acceptance letter is issued. Option 2: Is it easy to obtain official transcripts? Is it inexpensive? Is the application deadline at least a month away? If you answer yes to all questions, consider skipping the unofficial transcript upload and send your official documents directly to FGSR. |
| Proof of English proficiency (if required) |
International applicants may need to submit proof of English proficiency in the form of a recognized test. Search for your post-secondary institution on the WHED database. If this database clearly indicates solely English as language of instruction, this will suffice as proof of English proficiency. |
| Resume | An updated resume with scholarly contributions, background information, education history, and relevant employment history. |
| Personal Statement / Letter of Intent |
The University of Regina’s online application form includes a personal statement section where applicants are asked to answer the following four questions:
As you answer these questions, please keep in mind the Admissions Committee is assessing your ability to write in a clear, coherent and professional manner. You should make every effort to ensure your personal statement is free of spelling and grammatical errors, is properly referenced (if applicable) and is concise. Please limit your response to each of the questions to no more than 200 words. |
| Letter of Recommendation |
The University of Regina requires three letters of recommendation. Please choose academic and/or professional people who can comment on your ability to succeed in the program. Applicants can supply name and contact information in the online application portal. |
When applying to the JSGS University of Saskatchewan campus, please note that you must submit an application through the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. The online application takes about 30 minutes to complete. You may start an application, save it and return to it any time before the application deadline.
Once you have completed an online application, you will need to upload a series of documents. Please note that in most cases, you will need to allow one business day after paying your application fee before you are permitted to upload documents.
If your application fee has not been processed after 48 hours after being submitted, please contact grad.studies@usask.ca or phone 1-306-966-5788 for assistance. Please ensure you are checking the status of the application fee before emailing or calling. To check the status, please log into your application profile.
| Required Documentation | Description |
| Transcripts | Preliminary Statement of Marks
Post-secondary Transcripts If you receive an offer of admission, you will then be required to have your official post-secondary transcripts sent (by mail in a sealed envelope directly from the institution) to the address below. Please do not send official documents until we request them. College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
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| Letter of Recommendation |
When applying to the University of Saskatchewan campus, you will need to submit three letters of reference. Two of these referees must be academic, and one must be professional. As an applicant, you are responsible for sending the reference letter links and updating the referee’s contact information. Through your application profile, you can update your referees, change your referee contact information, and send/re-send the link for the letter of reference. |
| Proof of English language proficiency (if required) |
For students who are required to provide proof of English proficiency:
If you receive an Offer of Admission you may be required to have your official language test scores sent to the address below. Please do not send official documents until we request them. College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies |
| Resume | A current resume that includes background and relevant employment history. |
| Personal Statement / Letter of Intent | Personal statement, two pages maximum, that outlines your purpose in applying to the certificate program. The Admissions Committee wants to see that you can clearly articulate your interests and ideas. You should make every effort to ensure your personal statement is free of spelling and grammatical errors, is properly referenced (if applicable) and is concise. For questions about the application process or requirements for the Graduate Certificate program, please contact: Graduate Administrator | jsgs@usask.ca Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy |
Career Focus
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