About Lipscomb
Sustainability Concentration
As the first degree of its kind in Tennessee, the“Green MBA” at Lipscomb is a joint partnership with the Graduate Studies in Business and the Institute for Sustainable Practice at Lipscomb University. The partnership provides the opportunity to combine the growing field of sustainability with the business core.
The sustainability field is exploding rapidly. There are many major corporations, such as GE, Dupont and Louisiana Pacific, who have begun producing more green products and services and implementing sustainable business operations. Many governments also are even encouraging companies to “go green.” The MBA/PMBA with a sustainability concentration at Lipscomb will prepare students to enter careers in corporate, government and non-profit sustainability administration, construction, sustainability consulting and entrepreneurship and community environmental education.
Courses prepare professionals from a wide variety of career backgrounds to integrate ecological, social and economic issues into the daily decision-making process. The business core in the MBA/PMBA programs combined with groundbreaking coursework in sustainability provides students a firm foundation to enter into the sustainability field with the business skills and applicable knowledge to help them succeed.
Did you know?
- Lipscomb MBA/PMBA students may elect to take additional 6 hours from Institute for Sustainable Practice to complete 15-hour Certificate of Graduate Studies in Sustainability in addition to a MBA degree.
- Graduate students can also pursue professional certifications such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accredited certification and other approved options within graduate credit.
- The Institute for Sustainable Practice at Lipscomb offers students exposure to multiple on- and off-campus events, like the annual Green Business Summit, and opportunities to network with business and environmental leaders.
- Travel opportunities to notable sustainability destinations, conferences and cultural experiences are available to “Green MBA” students.
“At a time when most sectors of the American economy are slowing, green industries are projected to see a major boom. Between 1998 and 2007, the clean energy economy grew by 9.1 %, compared to growth of just 3.7 % in traditional jobs, and the future of the industry looks brighter still. The Obama administration has estimated that occupations in clean energy and sustainability will grow by an impressive 52 % between 2000 and 2016.”
“The Clean Energy Economy,” Pew Charitable Trust report, 2010
Concentration Coursework
SU 6003 Sustainable Natural Resources
The course focuses on the sustainable design of the planet and its water, atmosphere, land and life systems through study of earth sciences and the natural engineering of their structure and function. Assignments and team projects draw from an enhanced knowledge of the aforementioned information and from “Cradle to Cradle” and “Biomimicry” concepts to analyze, design and apply sustainable practices and approaches to human support systems.
SU 6013 Sustainable Society
The course focuses on people and society by addressing the history sustainability leadership, ethics, sociology, culture change, policy, and consumer response. The course also addresses recent progress in renewable energy, alternative transportation, recycling and waste avoidance, pollution elimination, smart growth, LEED certification, low impact development, climate change, natural resource management, urban and sustainable forestry, organic farming, nutrition and social responsibility. These approaches are contrasted with an audit of each student’s lifestyle and traditional environmental management tools.
SU 6023 Sustainable Enterprise
This course explores the economic and business sector of sustainability and its consideration of the “triple bottom line” – the simultaneous delivery of financial, social, and environmental performance. The course addresses new and emerging business strategic models, tools, and frameworks used to incorporate social and natural dimensions in a competitive and profitable manner. The course draws from case studies, green entrepreneur and business executive lectures and a green business project.
*Concentration coursework is offered primarily on weekends and may be offered at times that conflict with core classes. Check with the Institute for Sustainable Practice for a class schedule.
For more information about the Lipscomb MBA/PMBA with a sustainability concentration, visit the online catalog with the most current course and prerequisite information, and faculty profile. For more information on the Institute for Sustainable Practice, call 615-966-1771 or visit sustainability.lipscomb.edu.