Sustainable Business

Environmental accounting is increasingly being used in business and government to support the development of sustainable global solutions and government policy. Students in this course will learn how environmental accounting can show how different sectors of the economy affect the environment and how environmental policy affects the economy. The course will cover what environmental accounting is and why is it useful to business, how can environmental accounting help decision-making, what are the key policy questions in relation to accounting, and what are the practical considerations professionals need to address to make environmental accounting an enduring reality for business and governments around the world. 

Since business plays an important role in developing environmental financial solutions for future generations, this course considers how the tools of finance can address environmental challenges and how market processes can be used to ensure long-term sustainability. Students will learn an overview of business financial management, with an emphasis on financial statement analysis, management of cash flow, risk and return, and sources of finance. Upon completion, students will be able to interpret and apply principles of financial management to develop sustainable business solutions.

This course introduces students to business with a focus on an organization’s environmental and social impact. Students will learn about the basics in corporate social responsibility, supply-change management, finance, and non-financial reporting and accounting. Students will obtain knowledge about how small businesses and corporations integrate corporate social responsibility models in order to identify new markets and opportunities, communicate with their stakeholders, compete in a global marketplace, and address social and environmental sustainability expectations and requirements.

The course covers the processes of starting a small business from ideation to implementation, with an emphasis on designing a sustainable business model, writing a business plan, learning forms of ownership, and exploring funding opportunities. Students learn how to meet high standards for social and environmental impacts for small businesses. Upon completion, students will be able to bring all the tools and lessons discussed to launch their own business.  

This course introduces students to strategic management through case analyses and provides students with the tools to consider the basic direction and goals of an organization, the environment (social, political, technological, economic, and global factors), industry and market structure, and organizational strengths and weaknesses. The course emphasizes the development and successful implementation of strategy in different types of organizations across industries. With a focus on non-profit, students will put themselves in the shoes of top management and make important, “Big Picture,” decisions. Students will learn skills to analyze complex business situations and present findings both orally and in writing. Finally, students will learn how to develop strategies to promote social change and the sustainability movement.

In this course, students will learn how to integrate global logistic, purchasing, operations and market channel strategies. The course covers the fundamentals and logistics of network management, consisting of network suppliers, manufacturers, warehouses, distribution centers, wholesalers, and retailers. This course develops the student’s understanding of the design, control, and operation of supply chains through the lens of sustainability management.

This course introduces students of sustainability management to the data analysis techniques and statistical methods that are indispensable to sustainable business management. Students learn how to use statistical information in the context of evaluating environmental issues. Possible topics will include environmental monitoring, impact assessment, environmental valuation techniques and analyses of sustainable development.

As businesses become more aware of the need to be sustainable, being green will be the future, and professionals need to help companies with marketing sustainable business practices. This course covers an overview of concepts and techniques related to marketing opportunities, strategies, communication, and effective marketing campaigns within the context of sustainability. Through case studies, students will analyze marketing strategies, plans, and decisions. Students will also explore why environmental marketing is a key aspect in business today.