Master's in Sustainable Business Curriculum

Program begins with a set of bootcamps in statistics, Excel/Python and communication skills. These foundational courses will help students from both the MS in Sustainable Business and MS in Sustainable Engineering develop the necessary analytical and technical competencies to excel in the integrated program. Ìý

In the fall semester, students will transition into the integrated core curriculum, a collaborative and interdisciplinary learning experience developed by three partner schools: the College of Arts and Sciences; the College of Engineering and Applied Science; and the Leeds School of Business. Ìý

Each college/school offers two, 2.5-credit-hour courses, totaling six courses (15 credit hours) across two 7-week terms within the 14-week fall semester. Ìý

This first-of-its-kind integrated curriculum blends sustainability knowledge with business and policy, scientific processes and engineering principles. Ìý

This integrated core will include integration days providing experiential learning projects, industry panels, and policy discussions tying together the more theoretical course content with practical application.Ìý

In the spring semester, students will shift from the integrated core to 12 credit hours of business-specific sustainability courses. These courses will provide a deeper dive into corporate sustainability strategies, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), sustainable finance, circular economy models, and impact-driven leadership.Ìý

The program culminates in a three-credit-hour capstone project, where business and engineering students will collaborate on a real-world, project-based sustainability challenge. This hands-on experience allows students to apply and integrate their skills, preparing them to innovate, lead, and drive change in sustainability-focused careers.Ìý

Fall Term - 15 credits
(August to December)

Term A

This course examines the natural systems and planetary boundaries that underlie all sustainability issues. It will provide an overview of foundational environmental science processes (e.g. biogeochemical cycles, the hydrologic cycle, atmospheric circulation, energy distribution), as well as the impacts of anthropogenic land changes, agricultural systems, industrialization, and development. Data of past and present environments will be examined to understand and shape expectations of future environments and climates.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles, frameworks, and quantitative methods used to assess organizations’ sustainability performance. Students will explore concepts such as carbon accounting, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) metrics, life-cycle assessment, and triple bottom line reporting. Through this course, students will learn to produce and rigorously assess information related to organizations’ environmental and social sustainability performance.

Sustainability Analytics: From Data Inference to Visualization and Storytelling: Build coding pipelines to analyze sustainability data through statistical inference, visualization, and storytelling. Unlike design-focused or Tableau-driven courses, this class emphasizes programming in Python (or R) for data wrangling, modeling, and reproducible visual analytics. Students integrate statistical and machine learning methods with visualization to generate actionable insights for sustainability challenges. Designed for business and engineering students, the course develops coding, analysis, and communication skills to transform raw data into strategies for decision-making.


Term B

This course will provide a theoretical understanding of how environmental policies are made and how scientific information can be used to influence and support reasoned decision-making. The course will cover the evolution of modern environmental regulations (e.g. emissions and air quality, water quality, waste management) at local, national, and international levels.

This course prepares students to lead these transitions by exploring frameworks that can assist in implementing sustainable process and technology improvements within organizations. Students will examine factors influencing the adoption of sustainability improvements, including projected environmental, social and economic impacts, regulatory and policy pressures and subsidies, stakeholder expectations, and operational feasibility. The course will also cover commercialization strategies for emerging sustainability technologies, addressing barriers to adoption, business model innovation, and scaling sustainable solutions.

Explore principles and methods for designing technologies that support long-term sustainability goals. This course introduces greenhouse gas accounting with digital measurement, reporting and verification (DMRV), and process-level lifecycle assessment to evaluate impacts across supply chains and technology transitions. Students investigate strategies for sustainable procurement and pathways to net zero with attention to justice and equity. Designed for business and engineering students, this course emphasizes assessing environmental, social, and economic impacts to guide technology decisions.

Spring Term - 15 credits
(January to May)
Students will select four of the 3 credit-hour electives plus the CAPSTONE from the course list in the spring semester to satisfy program requirements.Ìý

Focuses on environmentally sustainable business ventures as well as issues associated with starting and operating a business that solves natural environmental challenges while achieving profitability. Includes a number of case studies, topical discussions, talks by environmental entrepreneurs, and an applied or library research project.

Explores techniques, processes, tools, and capabilities required to manage growth and land use change in the light of shifts beginning to transform the way we approach land use and real estate development.

Addresses the opportunities and problems of commercializing new renewable energy technologies. Focuses on energy markets, opportunity identification, life cycle analysis, policy economics, project financing and economic analysis as they relate to bringing renewable energy technologies to market.

Course materials draw from finance, economics, and law studies that analyze the theoretical and actual impact of ESG forces on firm outcomes. The course will be divided into two primary topics, namely (1) sustainable capital allocation (i.e. how firms manage their capital budgeting choices given ESG goals & the influence/role of activist investors in those decisions); (2) sustainable financing (i.e., how firms raise capital given ESG goals & the influence/role of passive socially responsible investing).

Prepares future managers for confronting the truly difficult situations that arise when deploying economic resources, altering the physical environment, and making decisions that affect the lives of investors, employees, community members and other stakeholders. Case-based challenges will be examined in a broad range of contexts, and essential ethical concepts will be explored by drawing on theories from ethics, sociology, economics, political science and philosophy.

Social entrepreneurs adopt business approaches to solving global, social and environmental problems that have not been effectively addressed by government, business or traditional nonprofits. The course provides a framework for student teams to assist social entrepreneurs in developing countries, helping them achieve their social mission while operating sustainably and with measurable impact.

This course introduces students to the current state of corporate sustainability reporting through the lens of accounting and reporting concepts. The course has three basic elements. We will cover (1) data and measurement issues associated with corporate sustainability reporting, largely at the conceptual level, (2) current disclosure frameworks and the evolving regulatory landscape, and (3) other topics including ESG assurance, ESG ratings and the role of ESG information in sustainable investing.

Explores the world of consumer packaged goods (CPG) and brand management skills needed to successfully launch and manage products in a retail environment, applied to the natural and organic product industry. The course will be split into three parts: 1) CPG and Brand Management principles and techniques, 2) shopper insights to manage CPG products at retail, 3) brand and retail management principles applied to the Natural & Organic industry.

Description forthcoming

Integrated capstone inclusive of MS Sustainable Business and MS Sustainable Engineering programs. Students will collaborate in teams to tackle a real-world sustainability challenge through an extended project experience. This course provides an opportunity to apply sustainability theory and practice in a practical context, drawing on diverse perspectives and knowledge from each member’s particular MS degree program. Together, students will integrate insights across key sustainability principles to design and implement solutions that address complex, real-world problems.

MS Sustainability begins in AugustÌý
*all dates are subject to change

  • Program–Specific Bootcamps – August 3 – 7, 2026
  • Mandatory All Student OrientationÌý– August 3- 13, 2026
  • Classes StartÌý– August 15, 2026

*dates are subject to change

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