Program Overview

Business and Sustainability Program

The State of Washington is a leader in responding to the societal imperative regarding environmental issues, and Western's degrees in Business and Sustainability are action components of the state"s " initiatives. By combining three areas of study, students will gain the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to operate in a changing economic and social environment.

What is Business and Sustainability?

The program combines business practices with the principles of sustainability, preparing students to analyze environmental and social issues from multiple perspectives, decide on action steps to deal with those issues, and then implement those action steps successfully.

Business and Sustainability Degree(s)

Business and Sustainability, BA

• Degree Type: Interdisciplinary
• Description: Western's Business and Sustainability program combines business practices with the principles of sustainability. This major prepares students to analyze environmental and social issues from multiple perspectives, decide on action steps to deal with those issues, and then implement those action steps successfully.

Business and Sustainability Energy Studies Concentration, BA

• Degree Type: Interdisciplinary
• Description: The energy concentration in the Business and Sustainability major gives graduates a strong blend of analytic and communication skills, along with energy-related expertise that industry and government experts have identified as essential to workforce needs in the emerging energy economy.

Related Majors

• Urban Sustainability
• Environmental Studies
• Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management
• Energy Studies
• Environmental Science

Related Minors

• Energy Policy Minor
• Environmental Studies Minor
• Sustainable Design Minor
• Sustainability Studies Minor
• Business Administration Minor
• Energy Science Minor
• International Business Minor
• Disaster Risk Reduction Minor
• Environmental Justice Minor

Student Experiences

Scholarships

The College of Business and Economics offers annual scholarships, which students apply for in Winter quarter and are awarded the following academic year. The college is committed to supporting BIPOC students, LGBTQ+ students, women, students with disabilities, and more.

Organizations and Clubs

The College of Business & Economics hosts a variety of student clubs that provide avenues of professional growth, networking, fun, and camaraderie. Some of the clubs include:

• American Production Inventory Control Society
• Artificial Intelligence Association
• Beta Alpha Psi
• Collegiate DECA
• Financial Management Association
• International Business
• Management Information Systems Association
• Net Impact
• Student Economics Association
• Student Marketing Association

What can you do with Business and Sustainability?

The program combines three areas of study that will give students the knowledge and skills to operate in a changing economic and social environment. Graduates from this program will possess:

• A fundamental knowledge of economics, giving them the skills to apply economic analysis to problems in sustainable business faced by modern organizations.
• A fundamental knowledge of environmental science and policy, giving them the ability to understand the social and political climate as well as the scientific issues involved in sustainable business.
• An extensive knowledge of business and management in the context of business sustainability, giving them the basic skills needed to succeed in organizations.