Business, Sustainability, and Development

Here you will find tools and resources related to Business, Sustainability, and Development organizations, career pathways and opportunities available to our graduates, and a sample list of courses offered in this track.

This track develops the knowledge and skills needed to deliver targeted environmental and social benefits through sustainable enterprise and innovative sustainable development policy. Focused primarily on frontier and emerging markets, this tracks' interdisciplinary approach draws from the fields of development and international economics, business and financial management, earth and climate science, conflict resolution, policy analysis, and public administration.

Business, Sustainability, and Development is a multi-faceted program which provides an integrated analytical foundation that students can tailor to their specific professional interests. In addition to cutting-edge courses and seminars, students have opportunities for professional development through internships with the Frontier Market Scouts, International Professional Service Semester, and Development Project Management Institute programs. Many students gain additional experience working on the Institutes Sustainable Campus initiatives, as well as with the school's Net Impact chapter. The local sustainability organization, The Sustainability Academy, also hires our students as interns and offers many opportunities for students to get involved in local sustainability initiatives.

This track prepares students to be dynamic leaders in a variety of professional settings: large and small business and financial institutions, social impact investment firms, start-ups, non governmental (NGOs), and organizations and national and international governmental organizations seeking creative ways to partner with business in promoting sustainable development.

Topics

• Business Models for Sustainable Development
• Public/Private Partnerships for Sustainable Development
• Climate and Development
• Social Impact Investment
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Green Accounting
• Sustainability Risk Assessment
• Energy and Development

To learn more about the Business, Sustainability, and Development track, please review the course descriptions below as well as the internship and career opportunities within this field of study.

Course Descriptions

To meet the demands of a fast-paced policy world, our curriculum is constantly evolving and new courses are regularly introduced. This list is a sample of courses that have been offered in the past and does not guarantee their availability every semester. Although students must complete 8 credits within this track to fulfill the concentration requirements, students are encouraged to take elective courses offered outside of their track to develop interdisciplinary skills and to link areas of interest.

Sample Business, Sustainability, and Development Courses

• IPOL 9644 Business Models in Frontier Markets
• IPOL 9643 Understanding Social Investors
• IPOL 8656 Advanced Economic Development
• IPOL 8646 Public Private Partnerships for Sustainable Development
• IPOL 8623 Business Models for Sustainable Development
• IPOL 8514 Managing Non-Governmental & Social Purpose Organizations
• IPOL 8665 Climate & Development
• IPOL 8551 Development Economics
• IPOL 8625 International Environmental Assessment
• IPOL 8661Trade & Development
• IPOL 8534 Organization Sustainability for SCO's
• IMGT 8668 Environmental Risk Management
• IMGT 8626 Poverty, Business Strategies, & Sustainability
• IMGT 8664 Social Entrepreneurship
• IMGT 8688 Finance & Socially Responsible Investing
• IMGT 8601 Green/Sustainability Accounting
• IMGT 8648 Supply Chain Management
• IPOL 8581 Sustainable Field Study: International Agriculture

Explore Careers

From the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to mitigating and adapting to climate change, social expectations of business are on the rise. Demand for Business, Sustainability, and Development graduates is rising too. Our students have developed careers in business, government, and non-governmental organizations, as well as exciting niche fields.

Our graduates are working in Brazil, China, Germany, Laos, Peru, the United States, and other locations around the world. Learn more about Business, Sustainability, and Development positions held by our alumni. Visit the organizations' websites to learn more about internship and job opportunities.