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Master of Business Administration - Sustainability
Vermillion, South Dakota
INTAKE: Jan, May & Aug
Program Overview
The MBA in Sustainability at USD aims to equip graduates with the knowledge and skills to identify needs, drive innovation, and foster sustainable practices within various agencies and corporations. It explores complex, interdisciplinary systems, emphasizing the interconnectedness of business with environmental and social factors. The program recognizes the growing demand for professionals who can strategically integrate sustainability into business operations, offering a pathway for career advancement or change. It is available in flexible formats, including on-campus and online delivery, catering to a diverse student body. The curriculum typically comprises 36-42 credit hours for students with a business undergraduate degree, with additional "Essentials coursework" for those from non-business backgrounds, resulting in a 48-credit hour program.
Curriculum: The specialization in Sustainability typically requires 9 credit hours within the broader MBA curriculum. Core courses in this specialization often include "Sustainability & Complexity" and "Sustainable Futures." Students then select an additional course from options such as "Sustainability Innovations, Opportunities, & Challenges," "Research for Sustainability," "Seminar," or "Internship." The curriculum is designed to teach students how to analyze business issues through a sustainability lens, fostering critical thinking about the interplay between economic structures, environmental factors, legal frameworks, and socio-political forces. The program also integrates general business administration core coursework, providing a holistic understanding of management, marketing, accounting, and finance, all informed by sustainability principles.
Research Focus: While the MBA in Sustainability is primarily applied and professional, the program encourages students to engage with research that is interdisciplinary and solutions-oriented. The faculty within the Beacom School of Business and the broader university, with expertise spanning ecology, behavior change, hydrology, energy, and climate change, inform the curriculum with current theories and best practices in sustainability. Students may have opportunities to engage in community-based research, utilizing the campus as a learning laboratory or working on projects related to local ecosystems and environmental impact. The research focus is on finding practical solutions to sustainability challenges and applying them to real-world business scenarios.
Industry Engagement: USD's Beacom School of Business emphasizes strong connections with industry partners to provide students with practical experience and networking opportunities. Although specific, dedicated industry engagements solely for the MBA in Sustainability are not extensively detailed, the overall approach of the Beacom School of Business, such as the Coyote Business Consulting Group, offers avenues for students to apply their knowledge to real business problems. The program aims to prepare graduates for roles in governmental, corporate, and university sustainability offices, as well as sustainability consulting, indicating a strong awareness of industry needs. The faculty often bring practical experience to the classroom, further bridging the gap between academic learning and industry demands.
Global Perspective: The MBA in Sustainability at USD inherently adopts a global perspective, as sustainability challenges and solutions transcend national borders. The program prepares graduates to understand the complexities of global environmental issues, social responsibility in multinational corporations, and the economic opportunities in developing sustainable practices worldwide. By recognizing that sustainability is a key driver for both business development and growth on a global scale, the curriculum encourages a holistic view of business operations. The AACSB accreditation of the Beacom School of Business ensures a high standard of education that is recognized internationally, equipping graduates to contribute to sustainable development in various global contexts.
Location
Vermillion, South Dakota
Score
IELTS 6.5
Tuition Fee
USD 12800
Postgraduate Entry Requirements
Application Fee: $38
Academic Qualifications: Applicants for postgraduate programs typically require a minimum academic achievement of 70% or above in their bachelor's degree.
English Language Proficiency:
- IELTS: Overall band score of 6.5 or 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.
- TOEFL: Overall score of 79 or higher.
- PTE: Overall score of 53 or higher.
- DET (Duolingo English Test): Minimum score of 110.
The University of South Dakota (USD) offers a variety of scholarship opportunities specifically designed to support international students in achieving their academic goals. These scholarships help reduce the financial burden of studying abroad and make quality education at USD more accessible to talented students from around the world.
Merit-Based Scholarships: USD awards merit-based scholarships to international students based on their academic achievements, leadership potential, and extracurricular involvement. These scholarships recognize outstanding high school or previous college performance and are renewable for multiple years, provided students maintain satisfactory academic progress.
International Student Academic Scholarships: These scholarships are specifically tailored for international undergraduate students and can cover a significant portion of tuition fees. Eligibility is typically based on a combination of academic excellence and the completion of the admission process by specified deadlines. Many of these scholarships are automatically considered upon application, so no separate application is required.
Graduate Assistantships and Fellowships: For international graduate students, USD provides graduate assistantships and fellowships that offer financial support alongside valuable professional experience. These opportunities often include tuition waivers and a stipend in exchange for research, teaching, or administrative work within the university.
Departmental Scholarships: Certain USD academic departments and colleges offer specialized scholarships for international students pursuing specific fields of study, such as business, health sciences, or fine arts. These scholarships often reward exceptional talent and dedication within those disciplines.
Graduates of the University of South Dakota's (USD) MBA with a specialization in Sustainability are uniquely positioned to address the growing global demand for professionals who can integrate environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic viability into business practices. This specialization equips individuals with a strategic mindset to drive sustainable change across various sectors.
Sustainability Manager/Director: These professionals lead an organization's sustainability initiatives, developing and implementing strategies to reduce environmental impact, improve social performance, and ensure economic viability. They often work across departments to embed sustainability into core business operations.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Manager: Focused on ethical and philanthropic practices, CSR Managers develop and oversee programs that align a company's operations with its social and environmental responsibilities, enhancing brand reputation and stakeholder trust.
Environmental Consultant: Working for consulting firms, these experts advise businesses and governments on environmental regulations, risk assessment, impact mitigation, and the adoption of sustainable practices. They provide strategic guidance on complex environmental challenges.
Sustainable Business Analyst: This role involves analyzing a company's operations, supply chain, and products to identify opportunities for sustainability improvements, cost reductions, and increased efficiency through sustainable practices. They often focus on data analysis and reporting on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics.
Renewable Energy Project Manager: With the surge in renewable energy adoption, these managers oversee the planning, development, and execution of projects related to solar, wind, geothermal, or other clean energy sources, ensuring they are financially viable and environmentally sound.
Supply Chain Sustainability Specialist: These professionals work to integrate sustainable practices throughout the supply chain, from sourcing raw materials to manufacturing and distribution, aiming to reduce environmental footprint and improve social equity in procurement.
Green Marketing Manager: This role focuses on developing and executing marketing strategies for environmentally friendly products, services, or brands. They communicate a company's sustainability efforts to consumers and stakeholders, building a positive green image.
ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Analyst: Within financial institutions or rating agencies, ESG Analysts assess companies' performance on environmental, social, and governance factors to inform investment decisions and risk assessments, aligning financial returns with sustainable impact.
Non-Profit Program Manager/Director (Environmental/Social Focus): Graduates can leverage their business acumen to lead programs in environmental conservation organizations, social justice initiatives, or community development non-profits, managing resources and driving impactful projects.
Sustainable Development Specialist (Government/NGOs): Working with government agencies or international non-governmental organizations, these specialists contribute to policy development, program implementation, and community engagement initiatives focused on sustainable development goals at local, national, or global levels.
