Beginning in the fall 2021 semester, Susquehanna University will offer a minor in sustainability management.
It will require courses from the Sigmund Weis School of Business and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
“There have been ongoing discussions about how to combine business and environmental content in our curriculum, particularly since business sustainability is a rapidly growing employment field,” said Matthew Rousu, dean of Susquehanna’s Sigmund Weis School of Business. “The minor in sustainability management is intended to allow students from any major to study sustainability as applied to business organizations.”
As an interdisciplinary minor, sustainability management will provide students with an understanding of how business practices are interconnected with environmental and social issues, and how to apply best practices in sustainability management. Students will gain a broad understanding of how to integrate sustainable practices throughout and across for-profit, nonprofit or government entities.
“The field of sustainability management continues to grow as the public becomes increasingly aware of the environmental and social impacts of conducting business,” said Kathy Straub, department chair and professor of earth and environmental sciences. “From agriculture to the fashion industry, graduates in this field can help businesses thrive by managing economic viability and the needs of present and future generations.”
Students graduating with a minor in sustainability management will:
- Demonstrate a broad understanding of the interconnected nature of the economy, environment and society.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the scientific principles underlying sustainability and their application to environmental issues.
- Synthesize sustainability models and business practices to propose changes to organizational practices.
- Articulate the ethical reasoning behind corporate social responsibility.
