Beginning in Fall 2019, Georgia Tech undergraduates from any major will have the opportunity to pursue a Certificate in Sustainable Business. The certificate, which will supplement a student’s degree, was approved by the Georgia Tech Faculty Senate in late April.

Students pursuing the certificate will learn about the importance of sustainability for business and develop a sustainability lens through which to evaluate critical issues that businesses are facing. The twelve credits of required coursework may be selected from business classes taught with an environmental and social sustainability lens as well as classes from other disciplines that will help students build their fundamental knowledge of sustainability.

The Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business at the Scheller College of Business invested more than a year’s research in assessing the viability of the certificate. In focus groups facilitated by the Center, undergraduates expressed strong interest in deepening their engagement in sustainability through classes and experiential opportunities.

“Sustainability is part of the toolkit that will be needed for future leaders,” said Saby Mitra, senior associate dean of programs at Scheller College. “It’s imperative that our students are prepared for a world in which companies are increasingly making sustainability part of their fundamental strategy.”

In today’s competitive landscape, more and more companies are realizing that being sustainable is more than an environmental gesture; it makes long-term economic sense.

“We’re excited to offer students this option for gaining breadth and depth in the field. The certificate will help students demonstrate to future employers that they have the skills necessary to contribute innovative sustainability practices across a wide spectrum of business roles,” said Michael Oxman, managing director of the Center.

The certificate is one more step in Georgia Tech’s ongoing commitment to providing solutions to the environmental and social challenges of our times.

Details about the certificate curriculum can be found under Undergraduate Sustainable Business Curriculum at Scheller College of Business.