Generative Entrepreneurship goes beyond positive social impact to regenerate the commons and further collective transformative learning that impacts future generations.
Complete in 6–12 Months
Build Ventures That Regenerate Communities and the Commons
About the Generative Entrepreneurship Certificate
The Generative Entrepreneurship Certificate is a program offered through Meridian University's Center for Transformative Learning. Designed for aspiring and current entrepreneurs who seek to build ventures that are innovative, sustainable, and socially impactful, the certificate draws on Meridian's graduate curriculum in generative entrepreneurship and creative enterprise to provide a comprehensive foundation in regenerative approaches to venture creation.
As a certificate participant, you will take courses from the anchor and other parts of Meridian's graduate curriculum offered during the period of your enrollment. This means you will engage with the same rigorous, faculty-led coursework that graduate students experience, tailored to the certificate's focus on generative entrepreneurship principles and practices.
What is Generative Entrepreneurship?
Generative Entrepreneurship is an approach to venture creation and business development that goes beyond positive social impact. While social entrepreneurship entails social innovation in the service of positive social impact, Generative Entrepreneurship extends this vision to include regenerating the commons and furthering collective transformative learning that impacts future generations. Instead of exploiting the commons by externalizing costs, Generative Entrepreneurs seed and grow the commons, combining technological and social innovation with cultural innovation.
Meridian's generative entrepreneurship curriculum emphasizes the capabilities required for launching new entrepreneurial initiatives grounded in these principles. Coursework engages practices, methods, and topics including regenerating the commons, transformative innovation, Theory U, and caring and well-being economies. Sample courses such as Generative Dimensions of Innovation, Presence and Purpose, Visioning a Generative Initiative, Regenerative Value Propositions, Economic Value of Caring, and Cultural Innovation and Cultural Leadership provide certificate participants with both the conceptual frameworks and practical tools needed to create enterprises that are commercially viable and aligned with the common good.
The Need for Generative Entrepreneurs
In a global economy marked by rapid change and complex social challenges, entrepreneurship that generates shared prosperity and addresses pressing needs has become increasingly vital. Entrepreneurship is a major driver of social and economic transformation, and generative entrepreneurs serve as catalysts for innovation across sectors -- from technology and healthcare to education and the arts -- building enterprises that regenerate communities and create value for future generations.
Details
Certificate Details
- 16 credits of graduate-level coursework (4 courses at 4 credits each).
- Complete in 6 to 12 months — take 8 credits per quarter (6 months) or 4 credits per quarter (12 months).
- Courses are drawn from Meridian's graduate curriculum offered during the period of enrollment.
- Content and collaboration via Meridian's social learning platform.
Tuition
$476 per credit
Total certificate cost: $7,616 (16 credits)
Credits earned through the certificate may be applied toward a Meridian University graduate degree program, as applicable.
Accreditation
The Generative Entrepreneurship Certificate is part of Meridian University's California state approval and WSCUC (WASC) accreditation. WSCUC is a higher education accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education. WSCUC is also the accreditor for Stanford University, UCLA, and the University of California at Berkeley.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the application requirements?
The documents below are required to complete an application for certificate programs:
- Certificate Application (opens in a new tab)
- Application Fee: A non-refundable application fee of $50 USD is required to process your application at the time of submission
- Official Bachelor's Transcript: Must be received in a sealed envelope and may be mailed directly to the University's Los Angeles Campus (2450 Colorado Avenue, Suite 100E, Santa Monica, CA 90404) from the academic institution. Electronic transcripts are accepted if sent directly from the academic institution to admissions@meridianuniversity.edu
- Personal Statement (500 words): Included as part of the application form and should highlight the formative and significant experiences in your life, and how those experiences have influenced you in choosing to pursue a certificate program
- Information Meeting Attendance: In addition to submitting application materials, it is necessary that applicants attend an information meeting with certificate program faculty prior to moving forward in the application process. Prior to scheduling an information meeting, we require prospects to meet with an Admissions Advisor to discuss their certificate program interests further
- If you have not already done so, please schedule this Advising Appointment using this link. Once you meet this requirement, we will follow up with the next steps to schedule an Information Meeting with the faculty
What is the Generative Entrepreneurship Certificate?
The Generative Entrepreneurship Certificate is a 16-credit program offered by Meridian University that provides a comprehensive foundation in Generative Entrepreneurship. The certificate draws on courses from Meridian's graduate curriculum, offering rigorous, faculty-led coursework aligned with the certificate's focus area.
How long does it take to complete the certificate?
The certificate can be completed in as few as 6 months (taking 8 credits per quarter) or up to 12 months (taking 4 credits per quarter). Each course is 4 credits, and the program requires a total of 16 credits.
How much does the certificate cost?
Tuition for the Generative Entrepreneurship Certificate is $476 per credit. The total cost for the 16-credit certificate is $7,616.
Can I apply these credits toward a Meridian degree?
Yes. Credits earned in the Generative Entrepreneurship Certificate may be applied toward a Meridian University graduate degree program, as applicable. This allows you to build on your certificate work if you choose to pursue further graduate study at Meridian.
Is the certificate accredited?
Yes. The Generative Entrepreneurship Certificate is part of Meridian University's California state approval and WSCUC (WASC) accreditation. WSCUC is a higher education accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education, and is also the accreditor for Stanford University, UCLA, and the University of California at Berkeley.
What courses will I take as part of the certificate?
Certificate participants take courses from Meridian's graduate curriculum that are offered during the period of their enrollment. The specific courses available each quarter are drawn from the anchor and other parts of the graduate curriculum, providing a rich and varied learning experience grounded in the certificate's focus area.
What technology do I need to participate?
You will need an email account, a high-speed internet connection, and access to a computer, iOS or Android device. For live video sessions, you will need a webcam and microphone for your device. Course video calls are conducted with participants video-enabled.
How many courses do I need to complete?
The certificate requires four courses. At Meridian, each course is 4 credits, so the 16-credit certificate is completed by taking four courses. You can take up to two courses per quarter (8 credits) to finish in 6 months, or one course per quarter (4 credits) to finish in 12 months.
How can I reach program support?
The program support team will be available to assist from start to finish. Please send your questions, requests, or issues to admissions@meridianuniversity.edu