Graduate Certificate in Global Sustainable Business Practices

This certificate program is designed to prepare the next generation of business leaders to seize opportunities to profit while making a positive contribution to the well-being of our society. Our program provides managers of small-to-medium size enterprises with the knowledge and tools necessary to successfully implement environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable business practices. The program is open to current MBA students as well as those who already have a graduate degree.

Curriculum

The 16-credit certificate program includes four courses: two required and two electives. Electives may be chosen from among seven courses listed below, three of which are recently added to the curriculum. Two courses are now open for enrollment; MBA 651 Applied Sustainable Business Practicum and OSM 652 Sustainable Supply Chain Management.

Required Courses

• MBA 650 Principles of Sustainable Business Practices (4-credit hours)
• MBA 651 Applied Sustainable Business Practicum (4-credit hours)

Elective Options (minimum 8 credit hours required)

• IST 601 IT for Competitive Advantage (3 credit hours)
• MBA 653 Sustainable Business Venturing (4 credit hours)
• MBA 654 Sustainable Social Entrepreneurship (4 credit hours)
• MKT 607 Product Management (4 credit hours)
• MKT 608 Global Marketing (4 credit hours)
• OSM 517 Principles of Lean Operations (4 credit hours)
• OSM 652 Sustainable Supply Chain Management (4 credit hours)

Course Descriptions

IST 601 IT for Competitive Advantage
Provides an understanding and appreciation of the role of information technology and how this technology is leading changes in an organization. Discusses the competitive role of IT and how it affects the strategy and operation of modern business organizations nationally and internationally. Enables students to lead technology-enabled organizational change involving collaboration technologies.

MBA 650 Principles of Sustainable Business Practices
Explores threats and opportunities created by persistent problems of environmental degradation and its economic consequences to businesses.  The course addresses compliance strategies as well as entrepreneurial opportunities created by the sustainability movement. The goal of this course is to provide an overview of the core concepts, strategies and practices of sustainable businesses. 

MBA 651 Applied Sustainable Business Practicum
Application of sustainable business strategy decision-making and solutions. Applies sustainable business principles, concepts and theories to a field experience, and analyzing and solving practical, real-world problems that sustainable business ventures as well as established corporations tackle while achieving profitability.

MBA 653  Sustainable Business Venturing
In this course students will become familiar with sustainable business ventures and with businesses that tackle sustainability challenges while achieving profitability. The focus will be on understanding how to turn sustainable business opportunities into viable ventures. Sustainable venturing opportunities will be examined from the perspective of entrepreneurial startup firms, as well as from the perspectives of established companies. Topics included are: diffusion of innovation and sustainable entrepreneurs, market failures and sustainable venturing, and venturing opportunities in renewable energy, natural and organic products and sustainable consulting. 

MBA 654 Sustainable Social Entrepreneurship
Provides students with a working knowledge of the concepts, opportunities and challenges of social entrepreneurship in emerging markets; to demonstrate the role of social entrepreneurship in creating innovative responses to critical social needs (e.g., hunger, poverty, inner city education, global warming, etc); to engage in a collaborative learning process to develop a better understanding of the context and domain of social entrepreneurship in emerging and transition economies.

MKT 607 Product Management
Provides a managerial introduction to special problems encountered in the evaluation, introduction and management of consumer and industrial products. Focuses on market analysis, new product development and product planning.

MKT 608 Global Marketing
Emphasizes the marketing mix (product, promotion, distribution, and pricing) within the international context, particularly strategic marketing management. Uses cases, readings, films and textbook. Learning materials are selected based on their pragmatic value to managers. Includes lectures, discussions and individual/group presentations.

OMS 517 Principles of Lean Operations
The primary focus of this course is to present techniques that are intended to synchronize and streamline the production/operations process, including inventory management. Non-value added activities and waste are the targets of these techniques. Topics include value stream mapping, 5S, set-up time reduction, six sigma, maintaining and improving equipment, small lot production and level scheduling in pull production.

OSM 652 Sustainable Supply Chain Management
In this course, students will become familiar with the processes and environmental strategies to develop or "green" an organization's supply chain.  The emphasis is on the coverage of improving logistics operations using the green efficiency principles. Topics included are: green product standards and labeling; green supplier programs, manufacturing practices to reduce carbon footprint; identifying energy efficiency in third party logistics operations; and integrating green supply chain practices across the supply chain network.

For More Information, Contact the OSM Department: