Sustainability and business is an interdisciplinary minor between the environmental and sustainability studies program and the Offutt School of Business.
Minor in Sustainability and Business
This minor provides a holistic understanding of the intersection between business practices and environmental and ethical responsibility. Courses cover scientific foundations, cultural dimensions, and ethical decision-making. Students gain insights into regulatory frameworks and learn sustainable practices in logistics and global supply chains. The program equips graduates with practical skills and a deep understanding of the ethical considerations necessary for navigating the global business environment responsibly.
Degree Requirements and Courses
Benefit From Interdisciplinary Study
Programs combining business and sustainability are relatively rare, especially at small liberal arts colleges. This unique collaboration at Concordia will prepare students to meet the interconnected environmental, social, and economic challenges shaping today’s global marketplace.
Because many of the required courses for this minor satisfy requirements of the Core Curriculum courses that are required of all Concordia students and either the environmental and sustainability studies or business majors, this allows students to fulfill their Core requirements while also working toward the minor alongside nearly any major — and still graduate within four years.
Coursework
The requirements for a sustainability and business minor are 22 credits:
- One science course (4 credits)
- One environmental policy course (4 credits)
- One humanities/ethics course (4 credits)
- 6 credits of business-related courses
- 4 credits in interdisciplinary research or an internship with a significant sustainability and business component
- Plus prerequisite courses
Dr. Jennifer Sweatman, Director of Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program
By integrating perspectives from the environmental and sustainability studies program and the Offutt School of Business, the minor provides an interdisciplinary framework that benefits students, strengthens the curriculum, and supports the broader community.
Attain a Career Advantage
Students gain a comprehensive understanding of how sustainable principles inform responsible business practices, giving them essential competencies for careers in fields where environmental literacy and ethical decision-making are increasingly expected. Coursework equips them with practical knowledge of supply-chain sustainability, regulatory frameworks, cultural dimensions of global markets, and the ethical implications of organizational decisions. This combination enhances students' professional readiness and gives them a competitive advantage in a job market that values sustainability leadership, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) awareness, and systems thinking.
Career Paths
The skills that students in this program will learn pair well with majors such as business, economics, environmental and sustainability studies, marketing, political science, or communication studies and would be valuable in any career. A sustainability and business minor is especially useful because many employers now want to hire employees who can balance environmental responsibility with financial and operational realities. Graduates with this minor will be prepared to pursue careers in the following fields:
- corporate sustainability & ESG (environmental, social, governance)
- business consulting
- marketing and communications
- finance and investing
- supply chain operations
- government and nonprofits
- renewable energy and clean tech
- entrepreneurship and startups
Environmental and sustainability studies graduates are employed by a variety of companies, including:
Contact
Dr. Jennifer L. Sweatman
Associate Professor, Biology; Program Director, Environmental and Sustainability Studies
Biology, Environmental and Sustainability Studies