The degree in sustainable business equips students with the skills to impact sustainable business decisions. This nine-month program includes extensive coursework and an application of materials, preparing students for a range of job opportunities. In addition to the academic coursework, enrichment seminars in topics ranging from teamwork and leadership to career exploration to support our commitment to developing the "whole student" by incorporating professional development into the academic experience.
Students cover a spectrum of topics from sustainable systems and natural processes, to measurement and accounting for sustainable systems with focused business coursework in sustainability that will help them leverage the skills to meet current and future demands for sustainability-related careers. Students should expect to gain expertise in key areas like sustainability and data inferences, visualization and storytelling, design and implementation policies and regulations and managing sustainable process and technology transitions. The interdisciplinary nature of the integrated core will prepare students with breadth and depth to drive innovations in sustainability and position them to be thought leaders within their organizations. The program will foster a deep connection to community needs while equipping students with the practical skills necessary to implement sustainable solutions across both public and private sectors. Additionally, graduates will be driven by a commitment to positively impact humanity through sustainable development efforts. They will be well-prepared to advocate for and contribute to sustainability initiatives at local, national, and global levels—serving as agents of positive change and progress in the field of sustainability. Finally, students will learn to work across disciplines strengthening sustainability practices that will shape and influence future business.
This is a highly immersive, nine-month program designed to equip students with the skills and expertise needed to drive sustainable change in the business world. To ensure all students—regardless of background—are fully equipped for the interdisciplinary coursework ahead, the program begins with online bootcamps in programming languages, statistics and durable skills. These foundational bootcamps will help students from both the MS in Sustainable Business and MS in Sustainable Engineering develop the necessary analytical and technical competencies to excel in the integrated program.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ENVS 5005 | Natural Processes of Sustainability Systems | 2.5 |
| ENVS 5006 | Sustainability Policy and Regulations | 2.5 |
| CVEN 5009 | Sustainability Analytics: From Data Inference to Visualization and Storytelling | 2.5 |
| CVEN 5019 | Principles for the Design of Sustainable Technologies | 2.5 |
| MSBC 5710 | Assessing Sustainability Performance | 2.5 |
| MSBC 5715 | Leading Sustainability Transitions | 2.5 |
| MSBC 5790 | Sustainability Capstone | 3 |
| Electives | 12 | |
| Sustainable Venturing | ||
| Sustainable Real Estate | ||
| Commercializing Sustainable Energy Technologies | ||
| Topics in Finance | ||
| Socially Responsible Enterprise | ||
| Social Entrepreneurship in the US and Global Economies | ||
| ESG Reporting and Analysis | ||
| Consumer Packaged Goods Marketing Applied to the Natural & Organic Industry | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
The program does not require a culminating exam with faculty committee.
Plan(s) of Study
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credit Hours | |
| Term A | ||
| ENVS 5005 | Natural Processes of Sustainability Systems | 2.5 |
| CVEN 5009 | Sustainability Analytics: From Data Inference to Visualization and Storytelling | 2.5 |
| MSBC 5710 | Assessing Sustainability Performance | 2.5 |
| Term B | ||
| ENVS 5006 | Sustainability Policy and Regulations | 2.5 |
| CVEN 5019 | Principles for the Design of Sustainable Technologies | 2.5 |
| MSBC 5715 | Leading Sustainability Transitions | 2.5 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MSBC 5790 | Sustainability Capstone | 3 |
| Elective Selection | 12 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Students will select four of the 3 credit-hour electives from the course list in the spring semester to satisfy program requirements.
Learning Outcomes
By the completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Apply core sustainability principles – Understand key environmental, social, and economic sustainability concepts, regulations, and performance metrics to drive responsible decision-making.
- Analyze market, policy and regulatory forces – Evaluate how market dynamics, policy frameworks, and governance structures shape sustainability transitions across industries.
- Develop and implement sustainable business strategies – Design and assess sustainable business models, technologies, and solutions that balance financial viability with environmental and social impact.
- Communicate and influence through data storytelling – Craft compelling narratives that translate complex sustainability data into actionable insights for diverse stakeholders.
- Lead ethical and adaptive change – Integrate ethical reasoning, stakeholder perspectives, and systems-thinking approaches to develop innovative, equitable, and adaptive sustainability solutions.
- Translate scientific knowledge into action – Interpret environmental and social data, scientific research, and technological trends to inform sustainable business, policy, and infrastructure development.
- Leverage data for decision-making – Utilize quantitative analysis, data visualization, and predictive modeling to assess sustainability challenges, measure impact, and inform policy and business strategies.
- Assess and communicate sustainability performance – Apply frameworks such as life cycle assessment (LCA), ESG reporting, and carbon footprint analysis to evaluate corporate sustainability initiatives and effectively communicate insights.