The University of Georgia’s School of Social Work and the Terry College of Business have launched two programs centered on social innovation.

The “stackable” degree programs — an MBA-MSW and an MBA-Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management & Leadership (MA NML) — combine the expertise of two of the nation’s leading schools in their respective fields. Launching the three-year MBA-MSW and the two-year MBA-MA NML stackable programs reflects an ongoing effort to expand degree offerings and better prepare graduates for today’s dynamic workplace.

“A key focus of the Terry College of Business is to prepare our graduates to be effective and ethical leaders within their organizations and communities,” said Terry College Interim Dean Santanu Chatterjee. “The collaboration with the School of Social Work gives us a strong platform within which we can expand our academic offerings with a focus on improving the communities we live in.

“Together, these programs intend to build the kind of future changemakers that we need today — changemakers with purpose, responsibility, and strategic edge.”

School of Social Work Dean Philip Hong echoed the excitement toward these programs, noting the forward-thinking nature of the new offerings.

“We will be bringing synergy and contributing not just to respective units but also serving as a benchmark as a way to offer UGA students at large these types of high-profile programs,” said Hong. “These are areas that will be crucial in the world of technology and AI that students will be able to apply to support and help our world and society grow to be a better place for everyone.”

The new programs represent a continued effort to expand cross-campus partnerships. In 2017, the Terry College of Business launched a dual MBA-Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree program with the UGA College of Engineering, one of several stackable and dual MBA programs including an MPH and PharmD, and Juris Doctor and MFA. The School of Social Work also offers dual degree programs, including MSW-MPH and MSW-JD options.

“It just adds to the diversity of thought within our program,” said Jake Mosley, director of student services in Terry’s Full-Time MBA program. “Engineering may be different from social work, but we have students who are very much interested in having a positive impact through their business acumen.

“Connecting them to students who are like-minded in terms of social work gives our students a chance to really learn from more of the experts in that necessary domain while they are learning the business skills.”

Social Innovation as a driver

The launch of these stackable degree programs coincides with a time when many corporations and business entities boast robust social innovation initiatives. Hong has touted a vision to expand degree offerings to integrate this topic into SSW offerings since he became dean in 2022, and a partnership with the business school aligns perfectly with both programs.

Hong noted the practice of corporate social responsibility (CSR) — when large companies give money or earnings to social and community causes — and the extension of general investments by smaller companies toward public and private partnerships that benefit the communities around them.

The programs provide an opportunity for students to investigate CSR and the full impact organizations are making and, more importantly, how to create a more positive one. It will enable students to delve into venture capital, leverage investments, analyze the analytics of social impact, and expand services in the public and private domains.

Hong further contextualized the importance of these programs, citing the current age of public dollar constraints and the need for a surge in innovation to meet increased needs on multiple levels of society. He also spoke to the relationship between social work, the community and the impact of social programs.

“It often starts with empathy to those who are in the community,” Hong said. “Social work brings a lot of that to relationships and connections to the community. By having more people with different disciplines coming together to look at the same issue from different angles, the human and physical resources can be increased to build advocacy and better serve these communities.”

Building Better Leaders

Gaurav Sinha, SSW coordinator for the new stackable degrees, addressed the relevance of these programs in today’s job market.

“The programs add credibility and depth in areas where companies and nonprofits are increasingly judged: social impact, equity, and sustainability,” said Sinha. “And in fact, in today’s job market, employers want leaders who can ‘speak both languages’ — finance and impact. That’s the competitive edge of these programs.”

Identifying problems from different perspectives helps graduates in the MA NML level up as they lead philanthropic organizations in the future.

“The Institute of Nonprofit Organizations at the School of Social Work focuses on improving the leadership and effectiveness of nonprofit organizations,” said Sinha. “These new programs directly support that mission by training graduates who can both understand people and lead organizations.”

Adding to Skillsets

These programs will prepare future social workers for the skills to operate their practices or plug into smaller operations through their time in the workforce.

“People in social work and nonprofits tend to wear many hats throughout their career and there is a need for them to become a generalist,” Mosley said. “They need to know the ins and outs of running a business. They have to manage the budget; they have to manage the marketing themselves. They have to manage all the communications; they also have to manage people. I think our MBA degree adds a great benefit to these social work and nonprofit degrees.”

Both degree programs include a year of MBA coursework in addition to two-years of MSW or a year of MA NML coursework. Traditional MBA and MSW degrees include a year of general courses followed by a year of specialization, but the stackable degree gives students one year of general courses in social work combined with the core year of competencies of each program where they’ll take critical coursework for success.

“Nonprofits and social organizations are also business entities,” said Chatterjee. “They have to run their operations, improve efficiency and impact, develop budgets and raise revenues. This is where business administration can help create more successful and sustainable business plans for social and nonprofit organizations. At the same time, business students have a lot to learn from this partnership as well, especially how society and communities intersect with markets, products, and services.”

Emphasis on Service

The programs provide a pathway for Terry students to become more involved in the local organizations and nonprofits with which the SSW holds partnerships. The students will engage in experiential learning initiatives with these groups, leaving a legacy of service when they complete their programs.

“We’re always looking for ways to tap into our MBA students’ strong interest in social impact and in contributing to the community they’re part of,” said Cara Sonnier, director of admissions for Terry’s Full-Time MBA and MSBA programs. “Most of our students aren’t from Athens, so we want them to not only make their mark in the program but also leave a lasting impact on the local community. This partnership will help us to continue to build connections and deepen our relationships with local organizations.”

The MA NML degree program addresses an important gap in nonprofit leadership development. Lori Tiller, director of the MA NML program, spoke to the lack of similar degree programs in the vicinity and how the new offering will help graduates be better positioned to lead effective organizations.

“As one of the only dedicated master’s programs in Nonprofit Management and Leadership in the region, we combine in-person learning with instruction from successful practitioners,” Tiller said. “This approach toward developing business-minded nonprofit leadership—leaders who understand both mission and financial stewardship—represents an important evolution in the sector.”

Another key driver in these programs is the high status that both schools hold in their respective fields. In September, the University of Georgia ranked 19th among public universities in the U.S. News & World Report 2026 rankings. U.S. News & World Report also ranked the School of Social Work 20th overall and 10th among public institutions, while Bloomberg Businessweek ranked the Terry College of Business MBA 23rd overall and 7th among publics.

Those accolades extend to the School of Social Work and the Terry College of Business, which made their respective top 20 lists, providing a one-of-a-kind, top-tier experience for tomorrow’s practitioners.

“A key focus of the Terry College of Business is to prepare our graduates to be effective and ethical leaders within their organizations and communities,” said Chatterjee. “The collaboration with the School of Social Work gives us a strong platform within which we can expand our academic offerings with a focus on improving the communities we live in.”