Certificate in Sustainable Business

Lead organizational sustainability initiatives.

Our Sustainable Business Certificate is a credited certificate for people interested in integrating sustainability practices into their businesses and nonprofits. It introduces the concepts of sustainability in a systems approach for students who want to learn how to apply sustainability to finance, human resources, and organizational development. Guide your business towards sustainable practices to foster a cleaner and healthier future for generations to come.

New England is no longer accepting applications for this certificate. Please check back for new Management certificate offerings.

We invite you to explore our Leadership, Management, and Business programs across the University.

Program Overview

The certificate is ideal for people who have been asked to lead a sustainability initiative, integrate sustainability into a business, or be accountable for sustainability initiatives. For individuals new to sustainability, it’s the perfect program through which to obtain a solid understanding of triple-bottom-line thinking and sustainable operations. This program is also well-suited to small- to mid-size business entrepreneurs who want to integrate best practices for sustainability into their strategic planning and operations.

Degree Requirements

Program Length

The program is designed to be completed in 2-3 semesters.

Requirements

Students complete three required courses and one elective from the MBA in Sustainability curriculum. The courses are offered during the MBA in Sustainability’s weekend program (four weekends per semester).

Required courses:

• Principles of Sustainable Systems
• Financial Management Fundamentals
• Teamwork & Diversity OR Developing People & Performance

Options for Electives:

• Earth Systems & Climate Change
• Ecological Economics, Public Policy & Social Change
• Sustainable Finance for Positive Impact
• Operations & Value Chain Management
• Leadership, Ethics & Change

Career Outlook

Students who complete this certificate work in a variety of fields including environmental consulting, human services, education, and nonprofit development.

Learning Outcomes

The Certificate in Sustainable Business has established learning outcomes that outline the goals of our program. When you earn your certificate, you can expect to have competency in all of the following areas:

• Evaluate, synthesize and apply the foundational concepts of the evolving sustainability paradigm.
• Implement integrated strategies to strengthen the financial sustainability of organizations.
• In collaboration with others, develop an organizational culture and implement practices that support both human well-being and successful performance at individual, team, unit, and organizational levels.
• Advocate for wise use of earth resources and develop organizational strategies that balance the needs of ecological, economic, and social systems on a local and global scale.
• Develop and master analytical, strategic, and collaborative decision-making skills in order to successfully communicate sustainability within multiple systems.
• Develop interpersonal and intrapersonal skills to become a more effective, resilient, self-aware leader.
• Apply change theory and leadership theory in guiding organizations towards a sustainable multiple bottom line.
• Synthesize and apply knowledge, metrics, and skills to promote sustainability systems.