Degree
Sustainability and Business, B.S.Contact
Jeremy Pare, LP.D.
Program Director, Sustainability and Business
Assistant Professor, College of Business
jpare@une.edu
Learn More
Mission
The Sustainability and Business program considers and applies environmental, social, and financial concerns to create a more sustainable world. You gain the knowledge, experience, and ethical grounding to play a leadership role within a public or private company, nonprofit organization, or an entrepreneur.
More specifically the program:
- Prepares you for ethically and socially responsible roles in sustainability and business professions and society.
- Develops your ability to recognize, analyze, and solve problems with an awareness and appreciation of human connections with the rest of nature.
- Helps you achieve personal and career goals.
- Prepares you for entry-level positions in either the private or public sector and/or to prepares you for coursework at the graduate level.
Major Description
The B.S. with a major in Sustainability and Business is offered by the College of Business. It is designed to be interdisciplinary and to offer students numerous opportunities for collaboration and experiential learning, and for applying their skills in real-world settings. The first-year experience includes an opportunity to participate in the Blue Green Learning Community.
Curricular Requirements
| Nor’easter Core Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 40 |
| COB Foundation Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| BUEC 203 – Macroeconomics | 3 – Fulfills Power Knowledge & Justice - Social Science Core |
| BUEC 204 – Microeconomics | 3 – Fulfills Power Knowledge & Justice - Open Core |
| BUMG 120 – Innovation Through Technology | 3 – Fulfills Creativity and the Arts Core |
| MAT 120 – Statistics or MAT 150 – Statistics for Life Sciences or MAT 151 – Statistics for Environmental Sciences | 3 – Fulfills Quantitative Reasoning Core |
| Total Credits | 12 |
| Other COB Foundation Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| BUAC 201 – Financial Accounting | 3 |
| BUFI 315 – Business Finance | 3 |
| BUMG 200 – Management | 3 |
| BUMG 325 – Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| BUMG 495A – Internship | 3 |
| BUMG 498 – Strategic Management | 3 |
| BUMK 200 – Marketing | 3 |
| Total Credits | 21 |
| Sustainability and Business Major Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIO 105 – Introduction to Ecology and Evolution | 4 – Fulfills Scientific Method Core |
| BUEC 390 – Environmental Economics | 3 |
| BUFI 205 – Intro Data Analysis or DSC 225 – Computer Programming I | 3 |
| BUMG 101 – Introduction to Business/Excel | 3 |
| BUMG 295 – Internship | 3 |
| BUMG 313 – Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship | 3 – Fulfills Deeper Dive or Power Knowledge & Justice - Open Core |
| BUMG 315 – Tripple Bottom Line Reporting | 3 |
| BUMG 371 – The Sustainable Business | 3 |
| BUMG 410 – Creating Social Enterprises Through Design Thinking and Innovation | 4 |
| ENV 105 – Introduction to Environmental Issues | 3 |
| ENV 124 – Literature, Nature, & the Environment | 3 – Fulfills Human Experience - Open Core |
| ENV 200 – Environment and Society: A Global Perspective | 3 – Fulfills Health of Natural Ecosystems Core |
| ENV 208 – Climate Change: Cause, Cons, Solutions | 3 |
| ENV 240 – Env Sustainability Lab | 3 |
| ENV 250 – Environmental Policy | 3 |
| ENV 499 – Senior Capstone | 3 |
| Six (6) Credits of Environmental Studies Elective (see below) | 6 |
| Total Credits | 56 |
| Open Elective Courses (as needed to reach 120 credits) | Variable |
| Minimum Total Required Credits | 120 |
|---|
Program-Specific Electives
| Environmental Studies Electives | Credits |
|---|---|
| ENV 204 – Urban Forestry | 3 |
| ENV 309 – Sustainability and Ecological Restoration | 3 |
| ENV 313 – Wetland Restoration: Science and Policy | 3 |
| ENV 316/316L – Land Conservation Practicum w/Lab | 4 |
| ENV 321 – Environmental Communication: Expert Practices for Ecosystem Management | 3 |
| ENV 328 – Environmental Pollution: Ecosystems, Wildlife and Human Health | 3 |
| ENV 340 – Environmental Movements and Social Change | 3 |
| ENV 341 – Indigenous Ecology, Conservation Biology, and the Politics of Knowledge | 3 |
| ENV 348 – Environment, Health & Community Development in East Africa | 4 |
| ENV 357 – Sustaining Water: Social and Global Perspectives | 3 |
| MAF 200 – Introduction to Marine Pollution | 3 |
| MAF 210 – Introduction to US Ocean Governance | 3 |
| MAR 316 – Science in Society | 3 |
Please note: While some courses can fulfill both core and program requirements, the credits earned do not count twice towards the minimum total required credits for the degree.
Additional Information
- Students may choose to tailor the last two (2) years of course selections to their specific interests. For example, in close consultation with their Academic Advisor, they may select upper-level business and environmental studies electives that would result in an informal concentration in one (1) or more areas, including Non-Profit Sector, Corporate/Public Sector Sustainability, Small Business/Entrepreneurship.
- Students are strongly encouraged to participate in study abroad. Academic advisors will help tailor a student’s program to create opportunities for study abroad.
Students in this major can participate in the pre-health graduate school preparation tracks.
Learning Outcomes
The Sustainability and Business learning outcomes are as follows:
- Know fundamental principles of business and ecology and apply these to sustainability initiatives within private, public, and/or civic organizations/enterprises.
- Integrate the environmental, social, and economic aspects of sustainability and apply that integration to solve concrete challenges.
- Identify and measure the economic, social, and environmental risks and rewards (triple bottom line) of new ventures in sustainability, and compare short-term economic risks and returns with long-term expected benefits.
The Blue Green Learning Community
All entering first-year Sustainability and Business Students, together with other environmental students, participate in a year-long learning community focused on the fundamental themes of environmental studies. The Blue Green Learning Community integrates courses as follows: four (4) credits of biology, three (3) credits of literature (or an appropriate substitute), three (3) credits of economics, and three (3) credits of environmental issues for a total of thirteen (13) credits over two (2) semesters. This interdisciplinary approach enables students to understand more clearly the complexity of environmental issues and at the same time improve skills in critical thinking, writing, oral communication, research, and the use of computers. Experiential learning activities are central.
For more information, the application, important deadlines, and orientation dates, please visit the Division of Student Affairs webpage
Internships and Careers
Internships provide students with an opportunity to practice learned skills in an actual work environment with the guidance of the Internship Coordinator, who helps students match their interests with a work experience that might take place locally, regionally, nationally, or internationally. Internships provide career exploration and can help establish professional networks that lead to career opportunities upon graduation. The particularly applied focus of the Sustainability and Business majors requires students to do two (2) internships during their four (4)-year undergraduate degree. The interdisciplinary nature of the Sustainability and Business major is reflected in the wide variety of careers open to graduates in the non-profit, corporate, and public sectors. Employment opportunities include Corporate or Municipal Sustainability Officer, Green Business Manager, Community Economic Development Manager, Environmental Affairs Officer, Green Entrepreneur, and Sustainability Program Developer.
Transfer Credit
See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
Admissions
See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
Financial Information
TUITION AND FEES
Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.
Notice and Responsibilities Regarding this Catalog
This catalog outlines the academic programs, degree criteria, policies, and events of the 91AV for the 2025–2026 academic year and serves as the official guide for academic and program requirements for students enrolling at the University during the Summer of 2025, Fall 2025, and Spring 2026 semesters.
The information provided is accurate as of its publication date on April 30, 2025.
The 91AV reserves the right to modify its programs, calendar, or academic schedule as deemed necessary or beneficial. This includes alterations to course content, class rescheduling, cancellations, or any other academic adjustments. Changes will be communicated as promptly as possible.
While students may receive guidance from academic advisors or program directors, they remain responsible for fulfilling the requirements outlined in the catalog relevant to their enrollment year and for staying informed about any updates to policies, provisions, or requirements.