There’s a new concept entering the world of Wall Street. Called Sustainability, it’s the method of exploiting a resource so it’s never depleted so that the resource is not permanently depleted. In other words, it’s a fancy way of exploring the concepts of President Obama’s desire for green technology. It’s gaining so much steam that a number of colleges, both on campus and online, have opened up MBA programs on it.
In many ways, it makes sense. Since President Obama made a commitment towards a green economy as part of his election, one should expect actual economists would want to study it. As such, an MBA in Sustainability the positives and negatives of transitioning our current economy out of non-replenishable resources, cleaning up the planet and tackling such issues as overpopulation.
This almost philosophical form of economics believes in three principles bandied about as “the Triple Bottom Line.” The three programs are generally defined to include economic, environmental, and social sustainability. For example, the current oil crisis would be considered an economic issue. Global warming would fall under environmental, while overpopulation would be considered a sustainability matter.
Those interested in this “Green MBA,” still have to go to college and get an appropriate undergraduate degree. From there, they still have to go on and pass the GMAT before enrolling in an MBA program of choice. What the post-grad candidate should now look for is a school that offers an actual MBA in some form of Sustainability. There are a growing number of both on campus and online colleges that offer these programs, and the number is expected to be growing.
Therefore, one should do their own share of research before enrolling in a school offering the program. Not only should they drill career counselors about the program, but do actual research on the school and check for referrals, too. No doubt there are legitimate programs out there but, as with any new program, the buyer should be wary.
One thing one will do if taking the course is expect a number of post-grad courses in such standard classes as accounting, auditing, marketing and traditional business curricula. They should also be ready to take courses in the environmental sciences and their economic implications. One should also be aware that on the technical side there is a degree called Environmental Economics, but this is a STEM-related course load, not business.
There is also some controversy developing over this career tract. More traditional business graduates feel this career tract is should really not be considered an advanced business education. They feel those going for an MBA should only be concentrating on only economic matters; the world’s ecology has nothing to do with it.
As it stands, it should be remembered that this is a very new area for those who once considered themselves the masters of the universe. They realize the economic costs of a global ecologic disaster would make something like the BP Oil spill in the Gulf Coast look picayune in comparison. Those who are entering this field are often using online course programs to do so, along with their peers who are working toward everything from science to online master’s degree in English options.