As more and more companies focus on environmental stewardship, it’s no longer enough to know about traditional business practices. Many positions now require employees to be knowledgeable about environmentally sustainable, cost-saving measures and socially responsible practices. Developing expertise in this area is essential for advancement.

The undergraduate certificate in Business and Environmental Sustainability is designed to provide historical, economical, legal and ethical knowledge needed to make sound, forward-thinking and environmentally conscious business decisions. The Business and Environmental Sustainability Certificate courses are fully applicable to an undergraduate degree program developed in the business, management and economics area of study.

Who Should Earn An Undergraduate Certificate in Business and Environmental Sustainability?

The set of careers available for individuals with expertise in Business and Environmental Sustainability is growing rapidly.  Most positions in the area referred to as “Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance” (ESG) are looking for individuals with backgrounds in sustainability. Every institutional investor must have an ESG plan.  “The (International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation [IFRS Foundation]) Trustees announced the formation of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) on 3 November 2021 at COP26 in Glasgow. The ISSB will develop—in the public interest—standards that result in a high-quality, comprehensive global baseline of sustainability disclosures focused on the needs of investors and the financial markets.” ^{IFRS - ISSB: Frequently Asked Questions} 

Enroll in the Certificate Program for Business and Environmental Sustainability

Currently enrolled students: Submit the online Degree Add/Change Request Form, select “add”, select “CUG” for degree, and choose “Business and Environmental Sustainability” for program. If you are not currently enrolled, apply online and select the certificate option.

Certificate students who are concurrently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program are eligible to apply for federal financial aid, while those students who enroll only in the certificate program are not.

Certificate Program Coordinator

Duncan P. RyanMann, Ph.D., Professor School of Business
sustainabilitycert@esc.edu

Required courses

The courses must be taken sequentially beginning with an introductory course and culminating with the capstone course. The capstone, Managing Sustainable Organizations, provides an opportunity to synthesize and integrate all that you have learned.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ENSC 2000	Principles of Environmental Sustainability	4
ECON 3020	Ecological Economics	4
BUSN 3055	Ethics & the Ecology of Business	4
MGMT 3040	Managing Sustainable Organizations	4

The certificate serves individuals interested in expanding their expertise so that they may lead environmental sustainability efforts in their organizations. Students who earn the certificate will be equipped to make reasoned and ethical decisions in complex and conflicting situations in which stakeholder values may compete with green initiatives. The certificate provides career related enhancement for students established in their careers or who already have an associate degree and are ready for upper division courses. 

Students will demonstrate the following learning outcomes upon completion of this certificate:

• Demonstrate knowledge in the history of the environmental sustainability movement including what the movement is and why it is important. 
• Understand and apply the Triple E Models of Sustainability: Economics, Environment, and Equity.
• Acquire ethical knowledge and a framework that assists in ethical, moral, and decision-making. 
• Synthesize management, marketing, ethical, legal, and qualitative knowledge to enable effective decision-making. 
• Interpret the difference between stakeholders and shareholders and consider the differences within the student's place of employment. 
• Display familiarity with organizations and key players in the sustainability movement such as the UN Millennium goals.
• Articulate a business case for environmental sustainability within the student's place of employment.
• Make recommendations and/or decisions about products and services with the goal of maintaining and/or incorporating sustainability. 
• Understand the role business plays in the environment as opposed to the role environment plays in business and the difference between these two functions.