Corporate Sustainability Pathway

Environmental Responsibility

This aspect focuses on minimizing the environmental impact of business operations. Companies work towards reducing their carbon footprint, energy consumption, waste, and water usage. Sustainable practices may also involve using eco-friendly materials and promoting recycling.

Social Responsibility

This can include fair labor practices, diversity and inclusion, community engagement, and contributions to social causes. Companies may also focus on creating products or services that have positive social impacts.

Governance and Ethics

Good governance is a critical component of corporate sustainability. Companies need transparent and ethical decision-making processes. This includes responsible supply chain management, adherence to ethical business practices, and compliance with laws and regulations.

Economic Responsibility

This involves maintaining profitability and financial stability over the long term. Sustainable businesses aim to generate economic value for shareholders and for other stakeholders, including employees, customers, and the broader community.

Suggested Courses

Sustainable Business Practices (ENVM 5078)

This course provides students with the knowledge and tools to drive environmental and social responsibility in the business sector. The class's focus will be creating the case for a new business model by looking at market failures, the environmental crisis, and the critical role businesses play in being a force for good and exploring the practical tools required to implement sustainable solutions.

Corporate Reporting and Strategy (ENVM 6100)

Private and public entities around the world are increasingly taking on sustainability as a core value. Many are driven by a genuine desire for positive change. Others do so out of perceived need from customers, stakeholders, or investors. As a result, the need to be able to use frameworks to develop strategies and communicate progress and impact has been paramount. This class will explore the frameworks and standards used to measure sustainability across different industry sectors, differentiate between “CSR" and “ESG,” and provide an investor's perspective regarding which companies merit financial investment based on their sustainability performance. It will include a review of reporting standards such as GRI, CDP, GRESB, SASB, the process of conducting Materiality Assessments, and showcase how companies across the sustainability spectrum are developing enterprise-wide strategies and communicating their efforts.

GHG Accounting and Management (ENVM 6100)

This course will introduce students to greenhouse gas emissions accounting and management fundamentals, including GHG inventory development, target-setting, reduction planning, and reporting. It will cover GHG emissions scopes 1-3 and review accounting standards such as the GHG Protocol, definitions of zero carbon and net zero, and globally recognized third-party frameworks such as the Science-Based Targets Initiative. We will also discuss the carbon management hierarchy and issues of impact, transparency, and credibility, which will include the application of carbon offsets, RECs, and the role of carbon markets in mitigating climate change. A particular focus will be paid to practical knowledge, with students developing and analyzing a detailed, Excel-based inventory model, and data management framework. Students are strongly encouraged to have at least an intermediate working knowledge of Excel before beginning this course, including familiarity with formulas and functions such as Index Match, If Statements, Pivot Tables, and charts.

Circular Economy and Sustainability (ENVM 5077)

This course is designed for those who will set, implement, track, and communicate progress toward sustainability goals. This course teaches you the fundamentals of a circular economy, the business value in a circular economy, how business models are presently shifting, and most importantly, why businesses should become part of this transformational shift. This course will also cover sustainability measurement and the skills needed to critique and improve sustainability outcomes for businesses and their stakeholders. Knowledge and skills from this course can be used to build sustainability strategies with clear and measurable outcomes, develop sustainability plans, and support existing sustainability agendas with effective measurements to monitor their progress.

Supply Chain Management for Food and Fiber (ENVM 5028)

Supply Chain Management coordinates and integrates the flow of materials, information, and capital as they move in a process from supplier to manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer to consumer, both within and among companies. This course introduces students to the fundamental principles underlying supply chains and focuses on the integration of planning, procurement, production (product/service), distribution & transportation, and sales/return/sustainability. In particular, the course will concentrate on the design and management of efficient, tailored, sustainable supply chains -- those that deliver customer value while balancing cost-effectiveness with environmental and social sustainability.

Consulting in Practice (ENVM 5070)

If you’re curious about a career in consulting, this is the class for you. Great consultants are strategists and problem solvers. They know how to sort through complexity and uncertainty to assess the core issue that a client needs to address. Becoming an expert in the process of consulting is critical for many professions – not just for full-time consultants. From project definition, scoping, and proposal writing, to management of deliverables, contracts, and relationship management – consulting skills are essential skills for managers, changemakers, and arguably anyone who wants to get things done. In this fast-paced class, you will rapidly define and test your skills as a consultant. By the end of the semester, each student will have had a chance to explore why consulting is appealing to them, they will have a consulting portfolio, defined target clients, and will understand the structure and systems needed to provide competent advice in a professional setting.

B-Impact Clinic (ENVM 5061)

Evaluate sustainability and social impact performance for client companies using B Lab’s B Impact Assessment (BIA). The BIA, a prerequisite for B Corp Certification, is used by over 100,000 businesses worldwide. Weekly workshops train students on the BIA, Certified B Corporations, and client engagement skills. Students offer consulting throughout the semester, culminating with the delivery of impact improvement recommendations.

Supply Chain Management (MBAX 6460)

This class explores the key issues related to the design and management of supply chains. Covers the efficient integration of suppliers, production facilities, warehouses, and stores so that the right products in the right quantity reach customers at the right time. The class focuses on the minimization of the total supply chain cost subject to service requirements imposed by a variety of industries. Recommended prerequisite: MBAC 6080.

ESG Reporting and Analysis (MBAX 5820)

Offered irregularly to provide an opportunity for investigation of new frontiers in accounting. Degree credit was not granted for this course and MSBX 5820.

Sustainable Venturing (MBAX 6130)

Focuses on environmentally sustainable business ventures and issues associated with starting and operating a business that solves natural environmental challenges while achieving profitability. This course includes several case studies, topical discussions, talks by environmental entrepreneurs, and an applied or library research project.

Corporate Sustainability Pathway

What is a Pathway?

Career Paths

Capstone Project Examples

Environmental Responsibility

Social Responsibility

Governance and Ethics

Economic Responsibility

Suggested Courses

Search

Other ways to search:

Breadcrumb

Corporate Sustainability Pathway

What is a Pathway?

Career Paths

Capstone Project Examples

Environmental Responsibility

Social Responsibility

Governance and Ethics

Economic Responsibility

Suggested Courses