Online MBA Programs in Sustainability

Businesses with sustainable practices, also known as green businesses, aim to reduce their environmental and economic impacts. According to the 2021 Global Sustainability Study, 78% of consumers globally value sustainability, indicating an ongoing trend that may favor green businesses.

An MBA in sustainability qualifies learners to pursue leadership roles in renewable energy and environmental engineering. With a sustainability management MBA, graduates may introduce eco-conscious policies and sustainable products to their organizations.

Sustainability MBA graduates sometimes seek certifications such as sustainability excellence professional or certified climate change professional, depending on their career goals and job requirements.

In this guide, explore what MBA sustainability programs typically offer, how they can propel your career goals, and whether this concentration is right for you.

Why Enroll in a Sustainability MBA Program?

Sustainability is increasingly crucial to today's business models. According to CEO Magazine, businesses that focus on sustainability can reduce costs, improve their reputation with consumers, and attract quality talent.

MBA programs with a sustainability focus require similar time and cost commitments to other MBA programs. The primary difference is the curriculum.

MBA in sustainability students typically complete courses in corporate environmental management, sustainable investing, and circular value chain management. The curriculum may also cover ethics, law, and advocacy for environmentally focused business practices.

MBA sustainability programs emphasize the connection between corporate leadership and social and environmental responsibility. Learners discover how to create and manage a business's sustainable programs and efforts. These policies could benefit current or future leaders who want to drive eco-conscious innovation and change within their organizations.

Sustainability MBA students can learn the following skills:

Why You Should Get Your Sustainability MBA Online

Pursuing an online MBA in sustainability may benefit learners with personal obligations that make in-person schedules challenging. Full-time workers can often continue their career while pursuing an online MBA.

An online MBA program connects students with their peers and instructors through discussion forums, video chats, and other digital formats. This virtual format gives distance learners similar educational opportunities as on-campus students.

Some online sustainability programs offer synchronous learning with students and instructors meeting at specific times through web conferencing platforms. Other programs are asynchronous, allowing students to view course materials and lectures on their own time.

What to Expect From Online Sustainability MBA Programs

An online MBA in sustainability shares many similarities with its on-campus counterpart. Online learners usually receive the same curriculum, have access to similar resources, and complete the same assessments and assignments as on-campus students.

However, distance learning provides different forms of communication and instruction than in-person programs. For instance, online degree-seekers usually interact with peers and instructors via discussion boards, web conferencing, and email rather than face-to-face.

Sustainability MBA programs also differ from general MBA programs in their focus. Sustainability degrees include courses for learners pursuing specific careers, such as sustainability managers or compliance directors.

Some sustainability MBAs require in-person internships or practicums. Prospective learners should consider whether they can commit to these components.

Comparing General MBA and Sustainability MBA Degrees

Source: O-NET, BLS

Curriculum

An MBA in sustainability begins with a core business curriculum covering marketing management, business finance, and other relevant leadership topics.

Learners then move onto concentration-specific courses. These programs typically explore strategies that blend business leadership with sustainability. Students learn how sustainable practices affect business growth, finances, and innovation.

Ecological Economics: This course combines success-driven practices with eco-conscious financial management. Students learn to make investments, source materials, and reduce costs in environmentally and socially responsible ways. The course also introduces real-world economic problems and encourages critical thinking strategies to solve them.
Ethical Practice and Policy: Learners discover how ethical sustainable practices and policies fit into an organization. This course discusses climate change, global sustainability efforts, and social responsibility. Future leaders learn to create ethical policies within an organization that contribute to its overall sustainability and environmental betterment.
Sustainable Business Practices: This course prepares learners to determine the effects of business practices on the environment and global welfare. Students also learn to create effective organizational methods that equally increase sustainability and business success. Programs may also introduce case studies or examples of sustainable business practices.
Corporate and Social Responsibility: Students learn to embrace social responsibility from a business perspective. This course may cover environmental, ethical, economic, and philanthropic commitment. Using their combined knowledge of business and environmental ethics, students navigate potential problems that require sustainable methods and innovative decisions to overcome.
Strategic Innovation: Organizational sustainability requires forward-thinking leadership. Learners study the tools and strategies to manage projects, create marketing campaigns, and scale organizations. The course teaches these concepts while incorporating socially responsible methods that benefit businesses and the environment.

Career Opportunities After Graduating

An MBA in sustainability can lead to many career paths. This degree includes core business classes in finance, leadership, and operations. Therefore, graduates may pursue general business careers, such as chief executives, management consultants, or marketing managers.

However, a sustainability concentration can also open doors to careers as sustainability consultants, supply chain managers, or compliance directors.

Many of these jobs offer higher-than-average salaries. For example, as of March 2022, Payscale reports a $75,470 average salary for business development managers and a $103,780 average salary for compliance directors.

Professional Organizations

Professional organization members can access exclusive resources, including professional development and networking opportunities to propel their careers. Consider the following sustainability-focused professional organizations.

Choosing Between Sustainability MBA Programs

Learning experiences and outcomes vary between sustainability MBA programs. Degree-seekers should explore a few programs and then narrow their options according to the features they prioritize. Consider the following factors when choosing the best MBA in sustainability:

Learning Format: Some students prefer in-person learning over an online program. Determine which learning style best suits your academic needs when choosing a program.
In-person Requirements: Online programs may require in-person experiences like internships, practicums, or orientations. Research these program components to ensure minimal conflict with other obligations.
Curriculum: MBA in sustainability curricula vary between programs, both in content and length. For instance, some programs may offer accelerated options for 12-month completion. Determine if a fast-paced format would suit your needs, especially if you have other commitments.
Tuition: Sustainability MBAs can fit an array of budgets. Explore a school's tuition rates and financial aid options to determine whether a program meets your financial needs.

Common Questions About Sustainability MBA's

Do I need a master’s degree in sustainability?

A sustainability MBA offers diverse career outcomes for forward-thinking leaders. This concentration builds sustainable management skills in operations, supply chain logistics, and economics. Degree-seekers interested in careers like compliance officer or business development manager may also benefit from this degree.

How do I get a job in sustainability with no experience?

Entry-level sustainability jobs typically require at least a bachelor's degree. However, businesses may seek leaders with master's degrees in sustainability and some relevant experience.

Is sustainable management a good career?

Many businesses monitor their carbon footprints, making space for sustainable processes and leaders. Some potential careers come with higher-than-average salaries. For example, an environmental manager earns an average salary of $85,400 as of March 2022.

What can I do with a sustainability MBA?

A sustainability MBA can pave the way to management careers incorporating social responsibility, such as environmental managers and sustainability consultants. Graduates can also become procurement managers, project managers, and sustainability directors.

Top Five Online MBA Programs in Sustainability

Use this guide to explore our ranking of the five best online MBA programs in sustainability for 2022. To learn more about how we rank schools, see the link below.

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