Wilmette Institute is pleased to announce that the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) has accredited the Foundations of Social Transformation Certificate, a new undergraduate-level program designed to strengthen students’ capacity to understand complex social challenges and contribute meaningfully to the transformation of society.
The accreditation marks an important milestone for Wilmette Institute, expanding its educational offerings to include both graduate- and undergraduate-level accredited pathways focused on social transformation.
Foundations of Social Transformation
The Foundations of Social Transformation Certificate is designed for undergraduate students at colleges and universities, bringing together learners from diverse backgrounds and fields of study.
At the heart of the program is the idea that education can go beyond acquiring knowledge—it can help students develop the capacity to apply what they learn to the world around them.
Students explore significant local and global challenges through an interdisciplinary approach that brings together academic inquiry, spiritual principles, dialogue, and engagement with society. They learn to analyze social issues through critical systems thinking, explore the spiritual and material foundations of prosperity, engage in genuine dialogue, and identify constructive ways to contribute to public discourse.
From Learning to Action
A distinctive feature of the program is its emphasis on study, consultation, action, and reflection.
Rather than approaching social transformation only as something to be studied, students connect their learning with experience. Through discussions, research, collaborative activities, and fieldwork, they have opportunities to engage with people and communities beyond the classroom and reflect on what they learn.
The curriculum draws on an evolving Framework for Collective Learning, which provides a foundation for approaching social transformation through collective learning.
Throughout this process, students are encouraged to adopt a humble posture of learning—listening to diverse perspectives, examining assumptions, and recognizing the value of collective inquiry.
Designed for Undergraduate Learners
The certificate consists of two courses offered over two semesters:
- Recasting Our Relationship with the Natural World
- Becoming Protagonists for Social Change
Together, the courses invite students to examine humanity’s relationship with the natural world and explore how individuals and communities can become protagonists in processes of constructive social change.
Delivered fully online, the program is designed to complement students’ existing undergraduate studies while providing sustained opportunities for study, dialogue, action, and reflection.
With DEAC’s approval of the Foundations of Social Transformation Certificate, Wilmette Institute looks forward to working with colleges and universities to bring this new educational opportunity to students seeking not only to understand the challenges facing society, but also to develop their capacity to contribute to its betterment.
