Center for Sustainable Business | Undergraduate

Concentration in Sustainable Business

At a time of indisputable societal and environmental change, students concentrating in Sustainable Business will examine the unique role of the private sector and gain a broad understanding of how embedding sustainability into core business strategy benefits financial performance and management practices.

Building on the introductory concepts of the Social Impact core, required for all Stern undergraduate students, the Sustainable Business concentration provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to follow career paths that create economic value in tandem with social and environmental value. Students will develop a mindset for proactive citizenship and an expertise in today’s most pressing global issues, increasing their academic and professional competitiveness and positioning themselves at the forefront of thought leadership on the future of business.

To see concentration requirements and full list of courses, click here.

20+ Courses on Sustainable Business

The Business and Society Program offers courses focused on the role of business in social and environmental change that students may enroll in as part of the concentration or simply as electives. Highlighted courses:

• Sustainability for Competitive Advantage (BSPA-UB 68)
• Theory & Practice of Sustainable Investing (BSPA-UB 48)
• Accounting for Sustainability (BSPA-UB 67)
• Marketing for Impact: Strategies for Sustainable Business (BSPA-UB 51)
• Economic Inequality: Perspectives and Practices (BSPA-UB 43)
• See full list of courses in Albert (filter by course codes that start with "BSPA") or on the Concentration page

Experiential Learning and Co-Curricular Opportunities

• Career Development through annual Sustainability Career Boot Camp and recruiting events. Recent partner companies include Goldman Sachs, HSBC, JPMorgan, and PwC.
• The course Sustainability Consulting in Costa Rica (BSPA-UB 45) allows students to work with small businesses to help develop their sustainability programs
• Events on topics ranging from ESG and impact investing to social inequality to climate and food systems. Recent speakers have included business leaders from Bird Electric Scooters, charity: water, Goldman Sachs, KIND Snacks, Nuveen, and SUBWAY.
• Research opportunities at NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business through SPUR. Past topics have included closing the loop on fashion, valuing worker well-being in the apparel supply chain, and financial benefits of green forest certification.
• Social Impact Fellows Program offers programming outside the classroom to students interested in expanding their network and skills in social and environmental impact.
• Social Impact Stipend financially supports students interning with a non-profit, government agency, or social enterprise.
• Student Clubs such as Net Impact and Economic Development Group help to broaden student networks and gain skills through lunchtime events and alumni panels.

In the course "Sustainability Consulting in Costa Rica" (BSPA-UB 45), students work with small businesses to help develop their sustainability programs.