Program Overview

Introduction to the Graduate Certificate in Social Economy, Cooperatives, and the Nonprofit Sector

The Graduate Certificate in Social Economy, Cooperatives, and the Nonprofit Sector is a program offered by the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (JSGS) at the University of Saskatchewan. Established in 2008 as a joint collaboration between the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina, JSGS has become one of Canada's leading policy schools for educating graduate students and public servants interested in advancing public value.

Program Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Social Economy and Co-operatives is co-delivered with the Centre for the Study of Co-operatives at the University of Saskatchewan. This certificate program is designed for mid-career professionals who work in the third sector or for governments. It aims to improve understanding of third-sector organizations, including co-operatives, credit unions, non-profits, charities, community associations, social enterprises, and more.

Program Structure

• The program is expected to be completed in a minimum of 6 months (full-time).
• It is a course-based program with no project or thesis required.
• The certificate can be taken as a stand-alone program, and students who successfully complete this program may also have their coursework count towards a full master's degree within JSGS.

What You Will Learn

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
• Public and community engagement strategies

All students must complete a foundational course (three credit units) that provides a solid grounding in issues across all third-sector organizational forms:

• JSGS 849 - Foundations in Social Economy and Public Policy (offered online)

After completing this course, students have the option to specialize in one of three possible streams:

Non-profit Stream

• JSGS 810 - Co-operative and Non-profit Governance and Leadership (offered online)
• JSGS 811 - Nongovernmental Organizations and Alternative Service Delivery (offered online)

Co-operative Stream

• JSGS 810 - Co-operative and Non-profit Governance and Leadership (offered online)
• JSGS 846 - Cooperatives in the New Economy Institutions Governance and Policy (offered online)

Social Economy and Government Stream

• Students must complete one of the following three-credit hours elective courses:
  • JSGS 808 - Ethical Leadership and Democracy in Public Service (offered in-person)
  • JSGS 810 - Co-operative and Non-profit Governance and Leadership (offered online)
  • JSGS 838 - Public Sector Financial Management (offered in-person)

Course Delivery and Schedules

• The certificate includes a combination of in-person and online courses.
• Depending on the stream and courses selected, students may have to attend some classes in person.
• The JSGS certificate programs at the University of Saskatchewan schedule an academic break during the Summer term, which runs July through August. There are no course offerings available during this time.

Tuition

• A non-refundable tuition deposit of $1,000 CAD is required to save a seat in the program.
• The non-refundable deposit must be paid within 30 days of the offer of admission being made.
• If a student enrolls in the program consistent with the terms of the offer, the $1,000 deposit will be applied to their student account. If they do not enroll, the deposit is retained by JSGS.

Tuition Fees

• Program: JSGS Graduate Certificates
• Canadian students: $609.80 CAD per credit unit
• International students: $1,164.70 CAD per credit unit
• Tuition is assessed at a rate of $1,829.4 per 3 credit unit course for domestic students.
• International students pay a rate of $3,494.10 per 3 credit unit course.

Student Fees

In addition to tuition, students also pay fees for programs like health and dental insurance, a bus pass, and other campus services. The amount depends on whether the student is taking classes full-time or part-time and if they are on campus or not.

| Fall 2025 | Winter 2026 | Spring 2026 | Summer 2026
---|---|---|---|---
Student fees | $578.45 CAD | $804.73 CAD | $36.75 CAD | $36.75 CAD

Admission Requirements

Graduate Certificate (G.Cert.) - Standard Admission

• Language Proficiency Requirements: Proof of English proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English. A minimum overall TOEFL score of 86 is required with a minimum score of 20 in each area, or a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.0 in each area, or another approved test as outlined in the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Academic Policies.
• A four-year honours degree, or equivalent, from a recognized college or university in an academic discipline relevant to the proposed field of study
• A cumulative weighted average of at least a 70% (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study (i.e., 60 credit units)

Graduate Certificate (G.Cert.) - Non-standard Admission

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 credit units) of higher education
• Taken a minimum five-year break from formal higher education
• Possess a minimum of ten years of work experience with at least five years of management experience

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 the applicant's 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.

Program entry is possible in any term (September/Fall, January/Winter, and May/Spring).

• The latest application deadline for Fall Term entry is May 1.
• The latest application deadline for Winter Term entry is October 1.
• The latest application deadline for Spring Term entry is February 1.

To meet these deadlines, all components of the application must be received by the dates above. Applications that are incomplete will not be reviewed nor will they be deferred to future terms.

Application Process

Submit an Online Application

Before beginning the online application, ensure that all program information and admission requirements have been carefully reviewed.

During the application, applicants will be asked for:

• Personal information such as name, address, etc.
• Contact information of three referees
  • For letters of recommendation, two referees must be academic contacts, and the third may be academic or professional
• Complete academic history from all previous post-secondary institutions

The application takes about 30 minutes to complete. Applicants may save their application and return to it later.

At the end of the application, a non-refundable application fee is required: $125 for domestic students and $145 for international students. The application will not be processed until payment is received.

Submit Required Documents

Once the online application is submitted, applicants will have access to upload required documents and provide contact information for their references. To do this, go to the "Supplemental Items & Documents" tab in the application.

Transcripts

• Preliminary Statement of Marks: Unofficial PDF copies of academic transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended must be uploaded.
• The uploaded transcript can be an unofficial copy of the transcript issued by the university or college and must include a grading key/legend.
• All pages of a transcript must be uploaded as a single PDF document.
• Official copies of transcripts will be required only for applicants offered admission.

Proof of English Language Proficiency (if required)

For students who are required to provide proof of English proficiency:

• Completing a relevant test with the appropriate score is required before the application deadline.
• Tests are valid for 24 months after the testing date and must be valid at the beginning of the student's first term of registration in the graduate program.
• Applicants will be required to upload a PDF copy of any required language test score. Uploaded test scores will be considered unofficial or preliminary.