Georgetown McDonough MBA students have a unique opportunity to earn a Certificate in Sustainable Business. The purpose of the certificate is to equip students with knowledge and practical experience to lead and manage successful businesses with a deep understanding of the complex social, economic, and environmental challenges of the 21st century.
Companies competing in today’s socio-economic context increasingly face new and urgent environmental and societal challenges and opportunities that materially affect their operations and business models. For instance, the global nature of supply chains, including presence in some countries with weak regulation and institutions, requires firms to undertake new approaches to supplier management in order to protect worker safety and rights, as well as safeguard their reputations. Geographical disparities in water, climate, and energy risks are inducing firms to redesign their supply chains and operations. Also, employees are engaged in the social and environmental policies and practices of their firms, as are community members and other stakeholders with vested interests in business operations.
For companies to thrive in the current socio-economic context, executives are aware of the need to anticipate and respond to environmental and social sustainability concerns, while more proactive leaders will incorporate sustainability approaches into their competitive strategies to create value.
Previously, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns were largely relegated to the spheres of corporate philanthropy or corporate social responsibility and were viewed as part of compliance or community relations concerns, peripheral to the core business. Today, companies understand the need to incorporate sustainability approaches into all business activities and functions, including supply chains, product design and innovation, strategy, finance, and investor relations, operations, and human resources. Accordingly, companies are developing integrated ESG approaches in response to changing consumer demand, shifting employee interests, increased volatility in supply chains, and greater exposure to public scrutiny in an age of greater transparency facilitated by digital networks and other factors.
Whether students go on to lead a Fortune 500 company, launch a startup, or pursue careers that span all three sectors — nonprofit, public, and private — students who earn the MBA Certificate in Sustainable Business will be prepared to address these challenges and identify opportunities to create value by making their businesses and industries more sustainable.
Questions about the certificate? Contact Vishal Agrawal, academic director, at Vishal.Agrawal@georgetown.edu. For questions related to your course planning during the program, refer to MyHoyaMBA and connect with your cohort advisor.
Coursework
Students focus a portion of their MBA electives to build an understanding of challenges and opportunities related to sustainable business and how to address them. Upon graduation from the MBA Program, students will receive a notation on their official university transcript along with a certificate of completion.
Two Required Electives
- Environmentally Sustainable Operations and Business Models (OPAN 6571, 1.5 credits): This course focuses on a business-oriented perspective by focusing on voluntary or economically-motivated sustainability considerations and initiatives. Among the questions addressed include:
- How do you analyze product and process performance through life-cycle thinking and assess different types of sustainability initiatives?
- How do product design, operations, and supply chains have environmental consequences that can enhance or hurt a firm’s economic performance?
- How can managers create value by making their operations and supply chains more environmentally sustainable?
- What are some new business models that utilize product and process innovation to enhance environmental and economic performance?
The course covers various tools and frameworks that can aid managerial decision making in this context, and introduces a broad range of environmental sustainability issues, such as climate change, supply chain sustainability, circular economy, waste, energy, and water.
- Business of Sustainable Energy and Technology (OPAN 6572, 1.5 credits): Companies are actively seeking out innovative ways to generate economic value from sustainable energy sources and technologies. Several startups and established companies are adopting innovative business models to elevate their profits while also increasing the adoption of new technologies, such as rooftop solar panels and electric vehicles. Motivated by the ambitious goal of meeting their energy need entirely from renewable sources, such as wind and solar energy, large corporations are sourcing unprecedented levels of renewable energy. With a vision to increase reliable energy access in the developing world, several startups are implementing innovative solutions, including smart grids. This course analyzes these exciting developments in sustainable energy and technology. The primary objective of the course is to equip students with the tools and frameworks to assess economic and environmental viability of innovative business models for sustainable energy and technology.
The course focuses on the current challenges and the opportunities associated with the transformation to a sustainable energy future.
Choice of 3 additional electives from a list that includes topics such as:
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Sustainable Investing
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Understanding Social Innovation
- Social Marketing for Global Good
- Project Finance
- Food, Water, and the World
*This list of MBA electives serves as a guide. It is subject to change and does not represent a guarantee that specific courses will be offered in specific academic years.
Participation
The certificate program is designed for and limited to enrolled McDonough MBA students. Students are responsible for registering for certificate electives during each MBA registration period on a first-come, first-serve basis. Completing certificates requires in-person class attendance and careful course planning. Flex Online students are not eligible to complete a certificate unless they are able to enroll in and attend classes in Washington, D.C. Current students should view MyHoyaMBA for full details.