A New Kind of MBA: Sustainable Business
MBA programs preparing leaders in sustainability
As word of the gold rush made its way across the states in days of the 49ers, masses of people flocked to the west in search of work and fortune. Similarly, with an environmental revolution on the horizon, now is a perfect time to invest in a green education.
From a two year degree to a doctorate, collegiate level green programs are available and growing. Universities throughout America are adding new academic programs for aspiring, environmentally-conscious individuals.
UCI and Sierra Club Green Home Partner Up
Fundamentals for Green Spas, Green Marketing Principles, Climate Action Planning for Local Governments, these are just some of the green course choices for students pursuing the Sustainability Leadership Certificate offered by the University of California Irvine-Extension School. The Sustainability Leadership Certificate mixes business management strategy with sustainability and environmentalism for students hoping to bring environmental and social responsibility to the business world.
To receive this certificate, students must complete 15 units (or 5 courses) from the offered courses in the Sustainability Leadership program, have a desire to work in the sustainability field, and have a passion for going green. During the program, students will learn the tools needed to implement sustainability and environmental practices in business, while creating success and profits. The program will allow students to have hands-on experience creating business plans, examine current businesses and the government, and utilize marketing strategies for green businesses.
SCGH, a proud supporter of UCI’s program, values higher education in the green business field, believing that the world will become a greener place if more businesses become properly green. To achieve this requires individuals to be educated in sustainability and business strategies. Jennifer Schwab, Director of Sustainability at SCGH, has had direct experience with UCI’s program and asserts that the quality of the program is top-notch.
More Reasons to Graduate Green
As the green revolution continues, more and more jobs are opening up. A recent report by the Clean-Tech Market Authority showed that careers in the green industry are on the rise and paying as well, if not better than current industry jobs. Green energy such as solar is booming and jobs that were once flirting with minimum wage are now paying $36,100 a year in insulation work and $112,000 a year for design engineering managers in alternative energy. Many entry-level positions only required high school diplomas or associate’s degrees and pay more than $40,000 a year. There is also good news for those currently working on getting degrees in the environmental field; most of the jobs mentioned in the report required bachelor’s degrees and of those, one-third were engineering jobs.
Book smart hippies
Since 2006, sustainable MBAs have been popping up in colleges all over America. From Michigan State to San Francisco State University, many want the opportunity to participate in this growing career field. The green movement is being backed up by eco-wise leaders and graduates. The following are some of the available sustainable or Green MBA programs:
- Alliant International University- Marshall Goldsmith School of Management – Green MBA
- Anaheim University Kisho Kurokawa Green Institute
- Antioch University New England
- Bainbridge Graduate Institute
- Colorado State University – Global Social & Sustainable Enterprise program
- University of Colorado Denver – MBA with Managing for Sustainability specialization
- Green MBA at Dominican University of California
- Duquesne University – Donahue – Palumbo Schools of Business – MBA – Sustainability Program
- Green Mountain College
- Griffith University – Australia – Griffith Business School- MBA – Sustainability Specialisation – Triple Bottom Line
- Lipscomb University Sustainability MBA – Institute for Sustainable Practice
- Maharishi University of Management – MBA in Sustainability and Consciousness-Based education
- Marlboro College MBA in Managing for Sustainability
- Marylhurst University – Online MBA in Sustainable Business
- Portland State University – MBA with concentration in Sustainability
- Presidio School of Management of Alliant International University
- San Francisco State University -MBA in Sustainable Business
- University of British Columbia – Sauder School of Business – MBA – Sustainability and Business Specialisation
- University of East Anglia – Norwich Business School: MBA – Strategic Carbon Management
- University of Michigan – Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise
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October 12th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
ive been thinking about environmental degrees for a while now..after reading this i might just make the switch. great article!!
October 14th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
I’ve been thinking about a green degree recently, and this article gives some good options.
October 14th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
The UCI program sounds pretty good. I’m still in undergrad, and I’ve been thinking about a green MBA. Good article.
October 21st, 2009 at 5:35 pm
hmm…ive never considered a science degree of any kind but this seems pretty cool.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:14 pm
jerry, i don’t think this is a science degree, as it is much more focused on business strategies I assume. I wonder how hard it is to get into.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
This is a list for like MBA degrees focusing on sustainable business practices. There is a lot of econ and sciences associated.
November 6th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
I wish i had the money for these kinds of programs. how much are they on average?
November 6th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
If only I knew about this sooner…I wouldn’t have gotten a degree in mechanical engineering then. LOL. Still, I’m thankful I have a job.
November 11th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
I definitely think that green degrees will become more and more popular in the next few years. It’s great that sustainability is becoming more and more popular.
November 12th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
I applaud anyone getting a green degree right now. Not only are they intelligent when it comes to books, but they know that the green trend is going to the future, and are thus preparing for it. Very smart.
December 11th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Top notch info. I’m and undergrad and this is right up my alley.
January 26th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Im so glad stuff like this is popping up, were starting to get a lot of green majors and minors at my school and at lots of other universities.