Master of Business Administration: Sustainable Business
Master of Business Administration: Sustainable Business
Sustainable Business Concentration in Rowan's MBA
Why an MBA Concentration in Sustainable Business?
“Promote Prosperity While Protecting the Planet”
—from the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
A Concentration in Sustainable Business is an ideal option for innovative, forward-thinking problem-solvers ready to combine a business mindset with a passion for creating positive environmental and social impact while increasing global prosperity.
The need for expertise in sustainable business is growing rapidly across industries, from technology and manufacturing to agriculture, infrastructure and transportation, clean energy, marketing and corporate social responsibility. And sustainability methodology is becoming increasingly fundamental in all sectors: corporate, government, and nonprofit as human consumption and production threatens to outstrip natural resources. Carve out a career in this exciting sector and become an agent for change.
Finance, Data Analytics, and Supply Chain and Logistical Systems Concentrations, as well as the core business knowledge and strategic thinking embedded in the MBA program, pair with sustainability studies to position future leaders to make a significance difference, for organizations, future generations, and humanity.
Using real-world immersion and project-based learning and inquiry, the Sustainable Business Concentration prepares students to participate in global environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) efforts by collaborating with multinational leaders and executives to analyze sustainability issues and propose solutions.
Some areas where this expertise is needed include:
- impact reporting and assessment (for the carbon footprint);
- data collection;
- sustainability consulting, marketing and PR;
- and finance—investment firms, financial performance, and cost analysis.
Some in-demand positions for sustainable business leaders include:
- sustainable finance director;
- ethical trade manager;
- green building professionals;
- finance manager for sustainability solutions; and
- chief sustainability officer.
MBA Curriculum Requirements and Options
Core, Customizable, and Foundational Course Requirements
Rowan MBA students complete 18 credits of required coursework to satisfy the core requirements of the 36-credit curriculum. The core requirements can be completed in an individualized order, depending on the student’s needs.
Rowan MBA students also enjoy the freedom to customize the remaining 18 credits (6 three-credit courses) to meet their individual career pursuits. The 18 customizable credits (6 courses) can be arranged to include two areas of concentration or one area of concentration plus three elective courses.
Some foundational coursework may be required, which can be done in a variety of ways, such as equivalent undergraduate courses, noncredit tests, online courses, and community college classes. To see a full list of admission requirements, visit the Rowan Global MBA website page and click Admission Requirements or review our foundation fact sheet. Contact our program coordinator at graduatebusinessstudies@rowan.edu for pre-admission academic advising if you’d like help planning your pathway.
How do Specialized Concentrations Work?
Possible Ways to Customize MBA Concentrations at RCB:
Sustainable Business Concentration Coursework
Examine the impacts of “green” industries, products, and business practices. Gain expertise on how to implement sustainability in areas ranging from operations and product design to finance, marketing, and human resources management.
Rowan MBA students select 3 courses, or 9 credits, from the courses below to build the specialized Sustainable Business Concentration of their choice.
MBA Students have the potential to take more than three classes from the list below, depending on their interests and goals and the flexibility and space available in their individual course of study. Contact an academic advisor from the Graduate Business Studies office at graduatebusinessstudies@rowan.edu if interested in adding any of these classes to your course schedule.
Click on the course titles to review the descriptions.
Required Coursework—Choose 2 of the Following:
MGT 06530 - Sustainable Commerce
MGT 06530 - Sustainable Commerce (3 credits)
- Students will examine the notion of “sustainable business” in this course. Students will learn about different types of ‘green’ and sustainable businesses and evaluate many case studies of businesses that have been successful in improving their environmental and social performance while also remaining profitable. Students will gain an understanding of social venturing and continue to develop their entrepreneurial skill set and mindset. Students will develop their own approaches to evaluating the sustainability of a business while also learning about emerging norms and frameworks. Students will examine sustainability as a concept impacting all aspects of a business, from operations and product design to finance, marketing, and human resources management. The impacts of “green” industries, products, and business practices are also examined. This course may be offered online.
MGT 06531 - Sustainability Assessment
MGT 06531 - Sustainability Assessment (3 credits)
- Students will learn different approaches for setting sustainability goals, measuring progress towards sustainability outcomes, and managing so-called “sustainability transitions.” Students will learn about the increasingly important role of sustainability officers in different firms and gain exposure to concepts and practices in sustainability reporting for both shareholder, regulatory, and scientific purposes. This course may be offered online.
MGT 06532 - Topics in Sustainability Innovation and Problem Solving
MGT 06532 - Topics in Sustainability Innovation and Problem Solving (3 credits)
- Students in this seminar/practicum type class will study the implementation of sustainability transitions in the context of current events and emerging ideas related to sustainability studies. Students will identify industries and/or societal challenges that could benefit from sustainability thinking and develop plans for implementing a new product, system, or structure. This course may not be offered every year. This course may be offered online.
Elective Coursework—Choose 1 of the Following:
MGT 06530 - Sustainable Commerce (If not taken as required coursework)
MGT 06530 - Sustainable Commerce (3 credits)
- Students will examine the notion of “sustainable business” in this course. Students will learn about different types of ‘green’ and sustainable businesses and evaluate many case studies of businesses that have been successful in improving their environmental and social performance while also remaining profitable. Students will gain an understanding of social venturing and continue to develop their entrepreneurial skill set and mindset. Students will develop their own approaches to evaluating the sustainability of a business while also learning about emerging norms and frameworks. Students will examine sustainability as a concept impacting all aspects of a business, from operations and product design to finance, marketing, and human resources management. The impacts of “green” industries, products, and business practices are also examined. This course may be offered online.
MGT 06531 - Sustainability Assessment (If not taken as required coursework)
MGT 06531 - Sustainability Assessment (3 credits)
- Students will learn different approaches for setting sustainability goals, measuring progress towards sustainability outcomes, and managing so-called “sustainability transitions.” Students will learn about the increasingly important role of sustainability officers in different firms and gain exposure to concepts and practices in sustainability reporting for both shareholder, regulatory, and scientific purposes. This course may be offered online.
MGT 06532 - Topics in Sustainability Innovation and Problem Solving (If not taken as required coursework)
MGT 06532 - Topics in Sustainability Innovation and Problem Solving (3 credits)
- Students in this seminar/practicum type class will study the implementation of sustainability transitions in the context of current events and emerging ideas related to sustainability studies. Students will identify industries and/or societal challenges that could benefit from sustainability thinking and develop plans for implementing a new product, system, or structure. This course may not be offered every year. This course may be offered online.
ENT 06505 - Entrepreneurship & Innovation
ENT 06505 - Entrepreneurship & Innovation (3 credits)
- This course provides a broad framework for understanding the nature of entrepreneurship in multiple organizational settings. The course introduces students to the innovation and idea generation process and helps students apply an alternative way of "thinking" to assist in solving difficult issues for government, business, and the nonprofit sector.
ENT 06506 - Corporate Entrepreneurship
ENT 06506 - Corporate Entrepreneurship (3 credits)
- This course provides an overview of the potential for innovation and entrepreneurial opportunities or new ventures within a corporate environment. The course covers various aspects of corporate entrepreneurship. Major topics include understanding the corporate entrepreneurial revolution, learning about the nature of entrepreneurship within established organizations (intrapreneurship), understanding the requirements for setting up an environment conducive to being intrapreneurial within a corporate setting, and learning about the entrepreneurial direction of firms as they grow and evolve. Among the issues discussed are the role of creativity within corporate entrepreneurship, the relation to product innovation and technology, the importance of corporate strategy within an entrepreneurial framework, and what it takes to create an entrepreneurial culture in a corporate setting.
ENT 06601 - Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing for Change
ENT 06601 - Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing for Change (3 credits)
- This course presents an overview of social entrepreneurship through the lens of effective altruism. Students learn, at a global level, how to approach and solve some of society's biggest challenges, as framed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Topics include defining and evaluating impact, building sustainable and scalable business models, and challenges including poverty, health care, childcare, disaster relief, sweatshops, and more.
ACC 03507 - Government and Not-For-Profit Accounting
ACC 03507 - Government and Not-For-Profit Accounting (3 credits)
- This financial accounting course focuses on the contemporary accounting issues of governmental and nonprofit organizations. It includes financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting and strategic planning in the environments of local, state, and federal government, colleges and universities, hospitals, and voluntary health and welfare organizations.
She wants to save the planet.
Not by herself, mind you, but with the knowledge and skills she’s developed in the Environmental and Sustainability Studies major through Rowan University’s School of Earth & Environment, additionally she is now enrolled in an innovative 4+1 program, Aarushi Gupta, who carried a 3.99 GPA heading into her final
undergraduate semester, will stay at Rowan to earn a Rohrer College of Business MBA in 2023-24. She seeks to help limit the effects of climate change and will likely do so from within corporate America. “I don’t think companies necessarily want to save the world, but many realize it’s no longer feasible to maintain their current business practices,” she said. “Business, by definition, seeks profit, and that’s OK. When there are people within an organization who have the moral framing of wanting to help, they can make a difference slowing down climate change.” Considering the influence big corporations have on society and the environment at large, Aarushi believes her greatest impact might be approaching the existential threat of climate change from the business side.
Learn More About Aarushi Gupta's Journey to fight climate change
Explore More Concentration Options
Students in the MBA program can choose two Concentrations or one Concentration plus three electives. Students also choose their electives from the courses listed in the Concentrations.
To explore other Concentrations in the MBA program, review examples of Concentration combinations, or learn more about courses, click below.
Net Impact—Rowan Chapter
Rowan invites graduate business students to join the Rowan Chapter of Net Impact, a student club focused on sustainable business and the circular economy. Net Impact supports a grassroots global movement for emerging leaders with a passion for making a positive impact on people and the planet.
Interested in joining Net Impact? Contact Jordan Howell, Associate Professor of Sustainable Business.
Admissions Information
View admissions requirements, tuition rates, and application deadlines. Connect with Admissions or contact an Admissions Recruiter who can directly answer your questions.
Attend an Information Session
During our Program-Hosted Info Sessions, you'll learn about curriculum options, how our programs fit into a variety of career paths, admissions requirements, tuition and financial aid, and other important points for your planning and decision-making needs.
Learn More About Our Students and Alumni
Our MBA, MS Finance, Certificate students and alumni bring a wide range of industry experience and varied career goals to the Rohrer College of Business (RCB). To learn more about some of our brightest RCB students and alumni, check out these select stories to get a sense of who might be your new contacts if you join us as a student or the type of talent you might hire if you’re looking to grow your team.
