Sustainability
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Sustainability-related issues are now at the forefront of both global society and management practice. Whether it be organizational efforts related to decarbonization, decolonization, or diversity, managers are increasingly tasked with designing, orchestrating, and measuring organizational efforts to engage in more sustainable business practices.
Originally launched in 1991 as the Erivan K. Haub Program in Business & the Environment, the Sustainability Specialization at Schulich is designed to provide students with the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to manage sustainability initiatives across different functional areas. Through a combination of in-class discussions, role-playing exercises, experiential learning opportunities (both domestic and international), and interactions with sustainability professionals, students will learn how to effectively engage with key internal and external stakeholders. Students will also learn how to navigate the increasingly complex set of sustainability-related disclosure and reporting demands facing organizations globally.
Specialization Details by Category
Study Options
View details Hide detailsCourses
View details Hide detailsPlease contact SUST@schulich.yorku.ca to set up an appointment to indicate your interest in the Sustainability Specialization or for more information.
Students must complete 12.00 credits total, consisting of:
- A minimum of 6.00 credits of Required courses (minimum of 2 of 3 required courses)
- Remaining 6.00 credits of Elective courses (a third Required course may also be taken)
Required Courses:
Choose two (2) from the list:
- SUST 6250 3.00 INTEGRATING SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS FUNCTIONS
- SUST 6350 3.00 ORCHESTRATING SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES
- SUST 6450 3.00 SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING & DISCLOSURE
Elective Courses:
Schulich School of Business (Recommended Electives):
- FINE 6880 3.00 SUSTAINABLE FINANCE AND IMPACT INVESTING
- ORGS 6600 3.00 DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN ORGANIZATIONS
- PROP 6550 3.00 SUSTAINABLE CITIES - URBANIZATION INFRASTRUCTURE & STRATEGIC CHOICES
- SUST 6151 3.00 INNOVATING FOR SUSTAINABLE IMPACT
- SUST 6152 3.00 SCALING CLIMATE INNOVATIONS
- SUST 6950 1.50 ETHICS AND FINANCE
- SUST 6900 1.50 INDIVIDUAL STUDY - SUSTAINABILITY
- SUST 6900 3.00 INDIVIDUAL STUDY - SUSTAINABILITY
Graduate Diploma in Business and the Environment
Please contact SUST@schulich.yorku.ca to set up an appointment to indicate your interest in the Graduate Diploma in Business and the Environment or for more information.
Complete 12.00 credit hours of required and elective courses, specifically:
Required Courses
At least 3 SSB credits from:
- SUST 6250 3.00 INTEGRATING SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS FUNCTIONS
- SUST 6350 3.00 ORCHESTRATING SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES
- SUST 6450 3.00 SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING & DISCLOSURE
At least 3 EUC credits from:
- ENVS 5115 3.00 ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
- ENVS 6186 3.00 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT; or
- ENVS 6119 3.00 ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
- An additional 6.00 credits from the recommended course list or from the approved list of electives.
Elective Courses
SCHULICH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
- FINE 6880 3.00 SUSTAINABLE FINANCE AND IMPACT INVESTING
- ORGS 6600 3.00 DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN ORGANIZATIONS
- PROP 6550 3.00 SUSTAINABLE CITIES - URBANIZATION INFRASTRUCTURE & STRATEGIC CHOICES
- SUST 6151 3.00 INNOVATING FOR SUSTAINABLE IMPACT
- SUST 6950 1.50 ETHICS AND FINANCE
- SUST 6900 1.50 INDIVIDUAL STUDY - SUSTAINABILITY
- SUST 6900 3.00 INDIVIDUAL STUDY - SUSTAINABILITY
FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND URBAN CHANGE
- ENVS 5016 3.00 PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT
- ENVS 5070 3.00 EXTRACTION AND ITS DISCONTENTS
- ENVS 5150 3.00 PERSPECTIVES ON GREEN BUSINESS
- ENVS 5178 3.00 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY: INSTITUTIONS, IDEAS, AND INTERESTS
- ENVS 6180 3.00 THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY: SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT AND SYSTEMS DESIGN
Additional Requirements
- Must be taken concurrently with an MBA* or MES* degree
- Students must satisfy both Graduate Diploma and MBA or MES requirements
- The diploma must be completed within one term of completing graduate program degree requirements
- MBA Students must complete an internship or placement of at least 120 hours at an organization or agency with a focus on business and the environment. The internship site must be pre-approved by the SSB Diploma Coordinator prior to the commencement of the internship
- MBA Students are required to conduct their MGMT 6100 3.00 Strategy Field Study with a business client that has a strong environmental focus to their core business. The 601 client must be pre-approved by the SSB Diploma Coordinator prior to the commencement of the 601 Project.
Faculty
View details Hide detailsSchulich’s faculty members are amongst the world’s leading researchers in Sustainability.
Faculty members from the Schulich School, York’s Osgoode Hall Law School and the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change have gained recognition internationally for teaching and research in their respective fields.
Selected faculty members
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Charles H. Cho
Professor of Sustainability Accounting; Erivan K. Haub Chair in Business & Sustainability
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Avis Devine
Associate Professor, Real Estate Finance and Sustainability; Brookfield Centre in Real Estate & Infrastructure
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Burkard Eberlein
Professor of Public Policy and Sustainability; Director, BBA/iBBA Programs
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Geoffrey M Kistruck
Professor; RBC Chair in Social Innovation & Impact; Area Coordinator, Sustainability
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Dirk Matten
Professor of Sustainability; Hewlett-Packard Chair in Corporate Social Responsibility
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Robert Phillips
Professor of Sustainability; George R. Gardiner Professor in Business Ethics; Director, Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business
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Mike Valente
Associate Professor of Business and Sustainability; Director, MBA Program
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Maxim Voronov
Professor of Sustainability and Organization
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Olaf Weber
Professor; CIBC Chair in Sustainable Finance
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Career Opportunities
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Schulich graduates with a specialization in sustainability have many different career paths available to them in today’s business environment. Such opportunities may be more general in nature (e.g., sustainability manager) or much more specific (e.g., ESG analyst, DEI consultant, social procurement specialist). While demand for sustainability professionals continues to grow significantly within the for-profit sector, a number of career opportunities also exist within the non-profit, cooperative, and government sectors.
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“My Schulich MBA allowed me to work abroad and specialize in sustainability, paving the way for a global career.”
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The Schulich Centre for Career Design
Your career is top priority at Schulich. To make career decisions that are right for you, the CCD will help you identify strengths, determine career objectives, develop career plans, hone skills for career management and put your professional development plan into action.
- Our highly experienced CCD Advisors bring a unique combination of first-hand knowledge, experience and diverse perspectives in a wide variety of businesses and industry sectors.
- Take advantage of a series of proven career-building modules, including up-to-date Job Search Techniques, Self-Assessment, Resume and Cover Letter Writing, and Interview Skills to help you stand out from the competition.
- Corporate Information Sessions offer you an opportunity to meet top level recruiters, alumni and executives.
Visit the Centre for Career Design
Student Clubs
View details Hide detailsSchulich Net Impact Club
The Schulich Net Impact club is part of a network of 300+ global chapters of next-generation leaders to connect, learn, and act on the social and environmental issues they care about most. Net Impact has grown a grassroots, global movement of students and emerging impact leaders who want to use their skills to make a positive impact for people and planet. Its mission is to inspire and equip emerging leaders to build a more just and sustainable world. The Schulich Chapter club offers a range of programs to help members broaden their business education, refine their leadership skills, and pursue their professional goals while building their network.