Academic Affairs and Advising | Sustainable Business and Innovation Specialization

At a time of indisputable societal and environmental change, students specializing in Sustainable Business and Innovation 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.

The specialization provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to create economic value in tandem with social and environmental value at their current and future employers. 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 complete the Sustainable Business and Innovation Specialization, students must complete a total of 9 credits from the following list of courses:

• (Required) The Foundational course Sustainability for Competitive Advantage (BSPA-GB.2305; 3 credits) is a multi-disciplinary course that educates students on the role of business in dealing with today’s societal challenges and introduces them to an effective firm-wide leadership sensibility that drives competitive advantage by integrating sustainability across corporate functions.  *Required for students beginning the MBA program during or after Fall 2020.
• To fulfill the remaining 6 credits, students will choose from the following list of over 25 courses. To guide your decision, we offer the following descriptors for each course:
  • Discipline: These courses enable students to work cross-functionally within organizations and provide skills for leadership and professional competitiveness. The courses provide training in professional disciplines including:
    • Economic Development & Social Entrepreneurship
    • Strategy & Management
    • Finance & Accounting
  • Issue Area: These courses encourage students to pursue interests in specific issues, developing expertise on current and future global challenges. Students will examine the systemic complexities of the issues and how the networks and resources of the private sector can be leveraged to address them, creating both societal and economic value.
  • *Note: Courses with codes that start with “PADM” are offered through the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. Students may complete up to 3 of the 6 credits through these courses. In other words, 6 of your total 9 specialization credits must be earned through courses offered by Stern.
  • For more information visit the Center for Sustainable Business. 

Academic Advisors:
Tensie Whelan, 212-998-0530

Course List

Required: 

BSPA-GB.2305 Sustainability for Competitive Advantage
(For students beginning the MBA program during or after Fall 2020) 

Complete the remaining 6.0 credits from the lists below:

Maximum of 3 credits from this set: 
 

*Work, Wisdom and Happiness is eligible to meet specialization requirements beginning Fall 2019
**This course must be manually pointed in order to fulfill your specialization requirements. Please contact Academic Affairs and Advising for more information. 
***Note: Students may only point Case Study Development in Sustainable Business towards the Sustainable Business and Innovation specialization if they completed the course in Spring 2020 or prior.
*****Note: Students may only point Business, Economy and Policy in the Midst of Covid-19 towards the Sustainable Business and Innovation specialization if they completed the course in Spring 2021 or prior.
******This course is 1.5 credits and a part of the Sustainable Business Hybrid Module for Langone students (INTA-GB 3402.V1)

For course descriptions, please see the Office of Records & Registration website.