The graduate Business Sustainability Certificate is a twelve credit hour program that is designed to provide participants with the knowledge and tools to become purpose-driven business leaders. The certificate explores different business models and strategies that companies can use to drive social and environmental change, and explains why purpose-driven businesses are particularly well positioned to tackle the world’s biggest challenges from climate change to DEI. Participants will analyze how sustainable business strategies are used as drivers for innovation, collaboration, and transformation including leading edge business topics from Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) metrics to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, from a global perspective. They will also have the ability to apply those skills to decision making for business.

More Information

Business Sustainability Certificate Website

Applicant Requirements

• Four-year bachelor’s degree (or US degree equivalent) from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Two years of full-time, post-baccalaureate professional employment is required for applicants to certificate programs.
• Standardized test scores (GMAT, GRE) are not required to apply to a graduate management certificate program.
• Maintained a minimum GPA of 3.0 across all certificate-counting classes in undergraduate and graduate work (some exceptions are available for those with graduate studies).
• International applicants who are not in a graduate program at NC State must take the TOEFL or IELTS unless they qualify for a waiver. Email pcom_gradcertificates@ncsu.edu for details.

Applicant Information

• Delivery Method: Online
• Entrance Exam: None
• Interview Required: None

Application Deadlines

• Fall: May 15
• Spring: October 31

Certificate Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours	Counts towards
Required Courses		5
MBA 510	Critical Thinking for Managers
MBA 512	Ethical Thinking for Managers
MBA 582	B Corp Clinic Sustainability Practicum
Poole College Elective Courses 1		4
MBA 547	Sustainable Operations Management
MBA 587	Sustainability in Business
MBA 590	Special Topics In Business Management (Sustainable Business in Emerging Markets Study Abroad to Brazil) 1
MBA 590	Special Topics In Business Management (Business Sustainability in Emerging Markets) 1
MBA 590	Special Topics In Business Management (Marketing and Corporate Social Responsibility)
MBA 590	Special Topics In Business Management (Accounting for ESG)
College of Natural Resources Elective Courses		3
EA 505	Environmental Assessment Law & Policy
EA 520	Renewable Energy Policy and Economics
EA 521	Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Site Assessment
EA 522	Photovoltaic Design and Assessment
EA 523	Assessment of Renewable Energy Storage Systems
FOR 519	Forest Economics
NR 500	Natural Resource Management
NR 560	Renewable Natural Resource Management and Policy
NR 595	Special Topics in Natural Resources
PRT 550	Human Behavior and the Environment
PSE 576	Environmental Life Cycle Analysis
Total Hours 2		12

¹

Students may take either the Business Sustainability in Emerging Markets Study Abroad or the Business Sustainability in Emerging Markets online, but not both to count towards the certificate.

²

A minimum of 9 credit hours within Poole College of Management are required.