Sustainable Management
Student Organizations/Clubs:
Biology Club, Geosciences Club, Geography Club, Environmental Club
Career Possibilities:
Sustainable management emphasizes the triple bottom line of achieving positive financial, social, and environmental outcomes. Careers vary greatly. Possibilities include environmental consulting, environmental law, product management, waste management, corporate sustainability, green public relations, sustainable business development, entrepreneurship, natural resource management, environmental impact analysis, transportation efficiency analyst, landscape designer, community development, recycling, energy management, water conservation, systems thinking specialist, and green marketing.
Program Overview
Our Sustainable Management bachelor of science degree is a collaborative, online completion program. The development of sustainable business models is one of our most pressing needs in society today. Our economic, environmental, and social well-being all rely on providing goods and services to an ever-increasing population at present, while maintaining the integrity of these systems for future generations. To accomplish this goal, our graduates are trained in the theoretical concepts of sustainability and practical skills needed in a business setting.
The Sustainable Management Program began in Fall 2009. This unique online program is a three-campus consortium that includes UW-Parkside, UW-River Falls, and UW-Superior, and with administrative oversight through University of Wisconsin Extended Campus.
This program is a collaborative, online bachelor of science degree completion program. Program participants will have completed 60 credits including most if not all of their General Education and required courses from any of the UW System campuses (or elsewhere), whereupon they complete the 21 courses (63 credits) in the SMGT program. Transfer students are welcome in the sustainable management program.
Program-Level Outcomes
Upon completion of the program students will be able to:
- identify human reliance and impacts on natural systems;
- understand basic eco-system principals and identify risks to ecosystem resources;
- identify the financial implications in utilization of natural systems;
- develop resilient business strategies that reduce social vulnerability and improve stakeholder outcomes;
- develop business practices that support and enhance natural systems stability and resiliency;
- develop triple bottom line accounting practices for businesses and organizations;
- facilitate change management in organizations; provide leadership to encourage and inspire sustainability commitment in stakeholders;
- facilitate appreciation for the capacity of business and organizations to affect positive change;
- facilitate the ability to quantify and demonstrate the benefits of sustainability to stakeholders of the organization.
Courses in Sustainable Management
SMGT 115 | Environmental Science and Sustainability | 3 cr
Overview of the interrelationships between humans and the environment. The material presented in the first one-third of the course focuses on important ecological concepts. The remainder of the course deals with human influences on the environment and sustainable practices to avoid or ameliorate the negative impacts. The ecological concepts are used throughout to identify, understand, and provide a basis for proposing possible solutions to contemporary environmental problems. Overall, this course will provide the student with a better understanding of how humans can more positively affect the environment in which they live.
Prerequisites: Admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 220 | Systems Thinking | 3 cr
Students will use systems thinking to apply the concepts of sustainability in various business, social, and scientific contexts. Rather than looking at a problem by analyzing their component parts, students will learn to analyze whole systems. Students will then model the relationships and behaviors to identify leverage points for change.
Prerequisites: College Math, admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 230 | Triple Bottom Line Accounting for Managers | 3 cr
Students will be introduced to the discipline of financial and managerial accounting and learn how this information is used. Students will gain a basic knowledge of the preparation of financial statements and their analytical use. Further, students will explore how this accounting information is applied by managers in the decision-making process helping organizations meet the triple bottom line (strong profits, healthy environment, and vital communities).
Prerequisites: College Math, admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 235 | Economics in Society and Sustainability | 3 cr
General introductory course highlighting economics, social and environmental issues facing society. In addition to covering traditional issues such as markets and prices (microeconomics), government economic management (macroeconomics), and international trade, it also introduces economic content into the analysis of selected topics such as poverty and discrimination, the environment, and the provision of government services. Critiques of conventional economic thought, within the context of systems thinking and ecological economics, are integrated throughout the course.
Prerequisites: College Math, admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 240 | Business Communications for Sustainable Management | 3 cr
Interdisciplinary professional and technical communication course that applies knowledge of sustainability principles and develops rhetorical skills for a variety of audiences in social, economic, and environmental contexts.
Prerequisites: Admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 250 | Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security | 3 cr
This course offers an in-depth assessment of the economic, social, and environmental considerations of production agricultural systems that provide safe, reliable, and affordable food supplies for a growing human population. In addition to the maintenance of the economic viability of production agricultural systems, course topics will focus on: the maintenance of soil, water, and air resources; addressing issues of biodiversity loss; and, maintenance of rural community character and economics. Economic, regulatory, and public entity tools that promote sustainability in production agriculture will also be addressed.
Prerequisites: SMGT 115; admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 305 | Climate Change and Sustainability | 3 cr
This course focuses on climate change science and greenhouse gases, natural and human impacts of climate change, and sustainable and efficient strategies to limit carbon emissions. The course is divided into three major areas: 1) climate science and measured impacts, 2) modeled predictions and mitigation/adaption strategies, 3) sustainable and carbon neutral practices. This course will emphasize not only the economics of carbon budgeting and increasing efficiency but also the human role in creating and solving climate change and the discrepancies in who, where, and what will be impacted by both climate change and the necessary solutions.
Prerequisites: College Math, admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 310 | Ecology for Sustainable Management | 3 cr
Interrelationships of organisms with each other and their environments. Investigation into composition and dynamics of populations, communities, ecosystems, landscapes, and the biosphere with emphasis on sustainability.
Prerequisites: Introductory Biology or SMGT 115; admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 320 | Renewable Energy for Sustainable Management | 3 cr
Discusses sustainability as it relates to the world's increasing use of energy. Considers the potential harm done via greenhouse gases and prospects for large-scale implementation of more benign sources. Covers basic engineering principles and applications.
Prerequisites: College Math; admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 325 | Natural Resource Management | 3 cr
Examines the interdependence between natural resources associated with land, air, and water. Explores significant environmental issues regarding the policies and problems in the use and management of natural resources related to soils, vegetation, landscape within the context of social needs and sustainability..
Prerequisites: Admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 330 | Marketing for a Sustainable World | 3 cr
Analyzes an organization's opportunities to develop sustainability practices as they relate to the development of product, pricing, supply and distribution channels (retail, wholesale), promotion (advertising, sales promotion, public relations), target markets and reporting methodologies.
Prerequisites: SMGT 235; admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 331 | Sustainable Organizational Finance | 3 cr
An introduction to the theory and methods of sustainable organizational finance. Topics include financial statements; discounting and budgeting; uncertainty and risk/reward trade-offs; and assessing the financial implications of the triple bottom line (e.g. climate change, carbon trading, human resource management, and creating environmentally-conscious shareholder value).
Prerequisites: Sustainable management major or program advisor consent.
Offered: Fall, Spring.
SMGT 332 | Economics of Environmental Sustainability | 3 cr
Provides an examination of the interaction between market activity and the environment as well as the use of economic decision making to manage the environment. This course applies economic analysis to the efficient and sustainable management of environmental goods and resources, and examines how economic institutions and policies can be changed to bring the environmental impacts of economic decision-making more into balance with human desires and the needs of the ecosystem. The last unit of the course serves as an introduction to the theory, methods, and application of sustainable organizational finance. Topics include financial statements, discounting and budgeting, uncertainty and risk/reward trade-offs, and assessing the financial implications of the triple bottom line (e.g., climate change, carbon trading, human resource managements, and the creation of environmentally conscious shareholder value)..
Prerequisites: Admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 335 | Management and Environmental Information Systems | 3 cr
This course presents an overview of different technologies and information systems used in modern organizations. It covers various information systems for analyzing organizational data and processes. It presents tools for managing projects, promoting collaboration, and teamwork in the workplace. This course provides students hands-on experience with the information systems and technology tools. It also covers technologies that promote sustainability, and includes topics such as green computing and low-carbon technologies.
Prerequisites: SMGT 230; admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 340 | Organizational Behavior and Sustainability | 3 cr
Management principles and theories underlying human behavior in organizations are investigated. Topics include personality, motivation, communication, decision-making, leadership, teamwork, ethics, power, diversity, and work stress. Constraints and opportunities of an "eco" friendly organization are realized.
Prerequisites: Public Speaking; admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 360 | Environmental and Sustainability Policy | 3 cr
Topics include the spectrum of historical, theoretical and technical issues applicable to sustainable management of natural resources, environmental quality standards and risk management. Administrative structures that form the basis for selecting appropriate responses to complex management problems faced by industry, government and non-governmental agencies are identified. The historical development and current framework of public policy are investigated and specific foundational legislation is critiqued..
Prerequisites: SMGT 115; admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 370 | Logistics, Supply Chain Management and Sustainability | 3 cr
An introduction to the concepts, functions, processes, and objectives of logistics and supply chain management activities. It covers those activities that are involved in physically moving raw materials, inventory, and finished goods from point of origin to point of use or consumption. It covers the planning, organizing, and controlling of such activities, and examines the role of supply chain processes in creating sustainable competitive advantage with respect to quality, flexibility, lead-time, and cost. Topics include customer service, inventory management, transportation, warehousing, supply chain management, reverse logistics, green supply chains and international logistics. Prior knowledge of Excel spreadsheet applications is recommended.
Prerequisites: Statistics course; admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 410 | Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability | 3 cr
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the organization. First and foremost, this course will enable students to understand the rationale behind CSR and sustainability. This course takes students through an evaluation of risks and potential impacts in decision making, enabling them to recognize the links between the success of an organization and the well-being of a community/society. Additionally, methods and standards of integrating CSR throughout an organization, creating metrics and communicating CSR policies internally and externally will be discussed an analyzed. Students will develop an understanding of best practices of CSR in its entire breadth within an organization as well as delve into economic structures designed to foster more responsibility and accountability.
Prerequisites: Admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 420 | The Built Environment and Sustainability | 3 cr
This course addresses the impacts of the human-built environment on natural systems and opportunities available to mitigate them through thoughtful planning, design, and implementation techniques to provide desirable, affordable, and sustainable living and working spaces. Topics focus on providing critical infrastructure for economic development, housing, transportation, and utilities while protecting and enhancing environmental assets through effective site and building design, public input, and use of regulatory tools. Additional attention is given to the maintenance of community character and the economic and social interdependence of rural, exurban, suburban, and urban areas.
Prerequisites: Admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 430 | International Management for a Sustainable World | 3 cr
Analysis of the theory and practice of managing international organizations including socio-cultural aspects and group dynamics of international business and service organizations through the study of sustainable management practices. Implementation of a triple bottom line solution to organizational problems will be emphasized.
Prerequisites: SMGT 235; sustainable management major or program advisor consent.
Offered: Fall, Spring.
SMGT 435 | International Development and Sustainability | 3 cr
This course examines the international sustainability concerns. It explores interrelationships of sustainable management practices with population growth, health, food security, poverty, inequality, urbanization, international trade, technology and environmental change at local, regional, and global levels. Contemporary issues and alternatives will be explored to identify sustainable management practices that can lead to strong profitability, healthy environments, and vibrant communities.
Prerequisites: SMGT 235; admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 460 | Environment and Society | 3 cr
Introduces the fundamentals of human-environmental interaction; a grasp of how these interactions create problems; and how the elements of social, technological, and personal choices combine to overcome them.
Prerequisites: SMGT 115; admitted sustainable management majors only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.
SMGT 495 | Sustainable Management Capstone | 3 cr
An application and study of sustainable management through the solution of an industry-based project. Implementation of a triple bottom line solution to industrial problems will be emphasized.
Prerequisites: Senior standing; instructor consent, admitted sustainable management major only or program advisor consent on space available basis.
Offered: Occasionally.