Sustainability

Please 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

  This course will explore how to integrate the diverse set of functional sustainability-related issues across the entire organization. More specifically, students will examine how the various sustainability issues manifested within human resources (e.g., DEI), operations (e.g., social procurement), finance (e.g., ESG reporting), and marketing (e.g., responsible advertising), can present both opportunities and barriers when integrated at the cross-functional level.

  Admission to this course requires the successful completion of SUST 5200 as a prerequisite, or special approval of the instructor.

• SUST 6350 3.00 ORCHESTRATING SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES

  The purpose of this course is to ensure students develop the skills necessary to successfully design and implement sustainability initiatives in collaboration with key stakeholders. Students will learn to source credible information from a diverse range of stakeholders with commensurate/competing perspectives, and to effectively communicate and engage with various stakeholders to mobilize systemic change.

  Admission to this course requires the successful completion of SUST 5200 as a prerequisite, or special approval of the instructor.

• SUST 6450 3.00 SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING & DISCLOSURE

  This course will focus on the skills associated with compiling, analyzing, and disclosing sustainability data using the following three modules: (1) the initial 5 weeks with students familiarizing themselves with the range of mandatory and voluntary reporting requirements; (2) the next 5 weeks engaging in completing a materiality assessment for a partner organization, and; (3) the final 2 weeks contrasting peer experiences.

  Admission to this course requires the successful completion of SUST 5200 as a prerequisite, or special approval of the instructor.

Elective Courses:

Schulich School of Business (Recommended Electives):

• FINE 6880 3.00 SUSTAINABLE FINANCE AND IMPACT INVESTING

  Sustainable finance exhibits one of the strongest trends in capital markets around the world. At the end of 2020, professionally managed sustainable investment strategies encompassed approximately 36% (US$35.3 trillion) of all total global assets under management. The course provides an overview of the global sustainable finance market and its different variations and explores how financial players (institutional investors, asset managers, and corporations) can manage capital and generate value through Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) lenses. It provides insights into the sustainability challenges and how finance can address these challenges with sustainable investing. Sustainable finance integrates ESG criteria into financial decisions to allocate funding to its most productive use, whereas traditional finance focuses solely on financial return and risk. Students will gain a foundation in understanding the principles underlying sustainable and responsible decision-making in finance, the guidelines on how to apply them in business and investment practice, and how regulations and market forces provide incentives that encourage desired corporate and investor behaviors.

  FINE 5200 3.0, or MFIN 5100 3.0, or permission of the instructor.

• ORGS 6600 3.00 DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN ORGANIZATIONS

  This course examines diversity (broadly defined to include culture, gender, race, sexual orientation, ability, etc.,), the individual experience of diversity including identity and
  authenticity, and how organizations can leverage opportunities of diversity and also navigate challenges that diversity can bring if mismanaged. Students will have the
  opportunity to critically reflect on topics such as intersectionality, building relationships across difference, the business case for diversity, and supporting organizational goals
  through inclusion.

• PROP 6550 3.00 SUSTAINABLE CITIES - URBANIZATION INFRASTRUCTURE & STRATEGIC CHOICES

  The course provides an understanding of issues related to the pace of urbanization across the globe and the impact on the demand for new infrastructure. The challenges for both developing and developed countries is examined from the perspective of potential new strategies, new technologies, new business models and new financing techniques that can begin to make a difference in addressing a full range of infrastructure needs. In terms of sustainability, this will include an understanding of the demand side and supply side, cultural factors, and the policy framework.

• SUST 6151 3.00 INNOVATING FOR SUSTAINABLE IMPACT

  The purpose of this course is to explore how social innovation can be used to build more sustainable and impactful solutions to pressing environmental and social challenges. Despite the incredible progress in the overall level of human development over the past century, a number of significant global challenges persist in both developed and developing countries, including generational poverty, discrimination, corruption, and climate change. This is primarily a project-based course with a focus on working directly with disadvantaged populations in Costa Rica to collectively identify innovative business models that are capable of providing meaningful work to such individuals.

• SUST 6152 3.00 SCALING CLIMATE INNOVATIONS

  This course explores how new technologies and practices intended to tackle climate change can be adopted and scaled. Primarily a project based-course course focused on learning how to map out existing socio-technical systems and landscapes, identify barriers to adoption and formulate a strategy for overcoming barriers. It is an experiential education opportunity in partnership with the MaRS Discovery District.

• SUST 6950 1.50 ETHICS AND FINANCE

  This course will examine the role of ethics in the finance industry. It will look at the need for ethics in finance, codes of ethics, and ethical decision making. Tools for identifying ethical issues and making ethical decisions will be introduced and evaluated alongside an examination of ethical issues in financial services, financial markets, and financial management in non- financial organizations.

• SUST 6900 1.50 INDIVIDUAL STUDY - SUSTAINABILITY

  A student may work with an individual faculty member on a topic of mutual interest. These studies are co-designed by the student and the faculty member based on: 1) learning objectives 2) means of achieving these objectives 3) method of evaluation.

• SUST 6900 3.00 INDIVIDUAL STUDY - SUSTAINABILITY

  A student may work with an individual faculty member on a topic of mutual interest. These studies are co-designed by the student and the faculty member based on: 1) learning objectives 2) means of achieving these objectives 3) method of evaluation.

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

  This course will explore how to integrate the diverse set of functional sustainability-related issues across the entire organization. More specifically, students will examine how the various sustainability issues manifested within human resources (e.g., DEI), operations (e.g., social procurement), finance (e.g., ESG reporting), and marketing (e.g., responsible advertising), can present both opportunities and barriers when integrated at the cross-functional level.

  Admission to this course requires the successful completion of SUST 5200 as a prerequisite, or special approval of the instructor.

• SUST 6350 3.00 ORCHESTRATING SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES

  The purpose of this course is to ensure students develop the skills necessary to successfully design and implement sustainability initiatives in collaboration with key stakeholders. Students will learn to source credible information from a diverse range of stakeholders with commensurate/competing perspectives, and to effectively communicate and engage with various stakeholders to mobilize systemic change.

  Admission to this course requires the successful completion of SUST 5200 as a prerequisite, or special approval of the instructor.

• SUST 6450 3.00 SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING & DISCLOSURE

  This course will focus on the skills associated with compiling, analyzing, and disclosing sustainability data using the following three modules: (1) the initial 5 weeks with students familiarizing themselves with the range of mandatory and voluntary reporting requirements; (2) the next 5 weeks engaging in completing a materiality assessment for a partner organization, and; (3) the final 2 weeks contrasting peer experiences.

  Admission to this course requires the successful completion of SUST 5200 as a prerequisite, or special approval of the instructor.

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

  Sustainable finance exhibits one of the strongest trends in capital markets around the world. At the end of 2020, professionally managed sustainable investment strategies encompassed approximately 36% (US$35.3 trillion) of all total global assets under management. The course provides an overview of the global sustainable finance market and its different variations and explores how financial players (institutional investors, asset managers, and corporations) can manage capital and generate value through Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) lenses. It provides insights into the sustainability challenges and how finance can address these challenges with sustainable investing. Sustainable finance integrates ESG criteria into financial decisions to allocate funding to its most productive use, whereas traditional finance focuses solely on financial return and risk. Students will gain a foundation in understanding the principles underlying sustainable and responsible decision-making in finance, the guidelines on how to apply them in business and investment practice, and how regulations and market forces provide incentives that encourage desired corporate and investor behaviors.

  FINE 5200 3.0, or MFIN 5100 3.0, or permission of the instructor.

• ORGS 6600 3.00 DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN ORGANIZATIONS

  This course examines diversity (broadly defined to include culture, gender, race, sexual orientation, ability, etc.,), the individual experience of diversity including identity and
  authenticity, and how organizations can leverage opportunities of diversity and also navigate challenges that diversity can bring if mismanaged. Students will have the
  opportunity to critically reflect on topics such as intersectionality, building relationships across difference, the business case for diversity, and supporting organizational goals
  through inclusion.

• PROP 6550 3.00 SUSTAINABLE CITIES - URBANIZATION INFRASTRUCTURE & STRATEGIC CHOICES

  The course provides an understanding of issues related to the pace of urbanization across the globe and the impact on the demand for new infrastructure. The challenges for both developing and developed countries is examined from the perspective of potential new strategies, new technologies, new business models and new financing techniques that can begin to make a difference in addressing a full range of infrastructure needs. In terms of sustainability, this will include an understanding of the demand side and supply side, cultural factors, and the policy framework.

• SUST 6151 3.00 INNOVATING FOR SUSTAINABLE IMPACT

  The purpose of this course is to explore how social innovation can be used to build more sustainable and impactful solutions to pressing environmental and social challenges. Despite the incredible progress in the overall level of human development over the past century, a number of significant global challenges persist in both developed and developing countries, including generational poverty, discrimination, corruption, and climate change. This is primarily a project-based course with a focus on working directly with disadvantaged populations in Costa Rica to collectively identify innovative business models that are capable of providing meaningful work to such individuals.

• SUST 6950 1.50 ETHICS AND FINANCE

  This course will examine the role of ethics in the finance industry. It will look at the need for ethics in finance, codes of ethics, and ethical decision making. Tools for identifying ethical issues and making ethical decisions will be introduced and evaluated alongside an examination of ethical issues in financial services, financial markets, and financial management in non- financial organizations.

• SUST 6900 1.50 INDIVIDUAL STUDY - SUSTAINABILITY

  A student may work with an individual faculty member on a topic of mutual interest. These studies are co-designed by the student and the faculty member based on: 1) learning objectives 2) means of achieving these objectives 3) method of evaluation.

• SUST 6900 3.00 INDIVIDUAL STUDY - SUSTAINABILITY

  A student may work with an individual faculty member on a topic of mutual interest. These studies are co-designed by the student and the faculty member based on: 1) learning objectives 2) means of achieving these objectives 3) method of evaluation.

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.