Graduate

Graduate and doctoral students at the Penn State Smeal College of Business have a number of opportunities to engage with sustainability-related material through program concentrations, courses, seminars, and research.

Andy Kaufman talking to MBA students.

Graduate and doctoral students at the Penn State Smeal College of Business have a number of opportunities to engage with sustainability-related material through program concentrations, courses, seminars, and research.

Smeal MBA Program

Within the full-time, residential Smeal MBA Program, students can choose to complete an option in Sustainability, which provides the skills needed to be change agents within established organizations and to develop new, sustainable business models.

Smeal Business Sustainability Strategy Graduate Certificate

I am pleased to announce that the Graduate Certificate in Business Sustainability Strategy is now live on the Penn State World Campus website. Click on this link to enroll today.

As a student enrolled in the certificate program, your course content will focus on:

  • an exploration of sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and how leading businesses can respond to changes in the regulatory, consumer, and competitive landscape
  • analysis of differences across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas
  • an overview of current topics and trends you must understand, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Global Reporting Initiative, impact/ESG investing, blockchain and sustainability, and social entrepreneurship
  • reducing costs and risks through sustainable procurement and supply chain management
  • the latest business models and sustainable design solutions to drive business value and environmental/social performance up and down the value chain

Smeal Ph.D. Program

The college’s Ph.D. Program offers a course and seminar in business-related sustainability research open to students who specialize in any of the six primary fields that the program offers. The seminar is focused on how to help students integrate sustainability issues or questions within their research.

View a listing of graduate sustainability-related courses available at Smeal.

Professional Development for Individuals and Organizations

As concern for the environment has grown in recent decades, incorporating sustainability practices into core business strategy and operations, from supply chain to marketing to accounting, is no longer an option for companies — it’s a necessity. Now more than ever, businesses must manage their environmental and social impact in order to drive profitability, reduce cost and risk, and build competitive advantage. You need the skills and knowledge to help your organization create transformative change and achieve long-term sustainability.

In 2019, Smeal began offering the Graduate Certificate in Business Sustainability Strategy via the Penn State World Campus. This 9-credit certificate can help prepare you to develop a sustainability plan for any size or type of organization, from startup to global corporation. This program can teach you the skills needed to effectively assess opportunities and measure financial, environmental, and social returns.

Penn State Executive Programs develops leaders across all levels of responsibility through award-winning executive education programs and customized learning solutions. Sustainability and corporate social responsibility is now a key ingredient for building great companies. Our focus is on strategic sustainability: a broad understanding of the costs, risks, opportunities, and obligations of leadership and business growth.