Program Overview

Business and Sustainability, BA

Introduction

The State of Washington is a leader in responding to the societal imperative regarding environmental issues. This Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and Sustainability is an action component of the state’s initiatives. This degree combines three areas of study that give graduates the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities 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.

Why Consider a Business and Sustainability Major?

A Business and Sustainability 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. The need for these actions will only grow as environmental issues, including climate change, waste, and pollution become more central in the operations of organizations. This degree complements the state’s initiative involving private enterprise, not-for-profit organizations, and government.

Student Resources

• Department website: Management
• Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
• Career Services Center: Connect major to a career
• Sample careers:
  • Environmental Sustainability Manager
  • Sustainability Design Professional
  • Energy Efficiency Analyst
  • Director of Energy Policy and Programs
  • Supply Chain Analyst

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process)

Students planning to major in Business and Sustainability should declare their major as early as possible, preferably their first year at Western through the College of Business and Economics.

Admission Process

Students must confirm admission to Western Washington University before applying to the College of Business and Economics (CBE). Students are encouraged to submit applications as soon as they meet the requirements to apply, which vary by major/concentration. Applications are submitted using an online form. Some major/concentration applications have quarterly deadlines, while others are processed on a continual basis. Information regarding application deadline dates is listed on the CBE application webpage.

All students with a Western GPA must be in good standing with the University (cumulative Western GPA must be 2.00 or higher). Transfer students with no Western GPA at the time of CBE application must maintain good standing with the University moving forward. See information CBE major/concentration-specific regarding GPA requirements below.

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.

Requirements (105-107 credits)

Foundation Courses (38 credits)

• ACCT 240 - Financial Accounting Credits: 4
• ACCT 245 - Managerial Accounting Credits: 4
• DSCI 205 - Business Statistics Credits: 4
• ECON 206 - Introduction to Microeconomics Credits: 4
• ECON 207 - Introduction to Macroeconomics Credits: 4
• ENVS 203 - Physical Geography Credits: 4
• ESCI 225 - Beginning Ecology Credits: 4
• MATH 157 - Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics Credits: 4
• MGMT 271 - Law and the Business Environment Credits: 4
• MIS 220 - Introduction to Business Computer Systems Credits: 2

Required Courses (67-69 credits)

• UEPP 261 - Planning the American City Credits: 3
• One course from:
  • ECON 383 - Environmental Economics Credits: 4
  • ENRG 384 - Energy Economics Credits: 4
  • or ECON 384 - Energy Economics Credits: 4
• One course from:
  • ECON 482 - Advanced Topics in Environmental Economics Credits: 4
  • ENRG 484 - Clean Energy Economics Credits: 4
  • or ECON 484 - Clean Energy Economics Credits: 4
• One course from:
  • ENVS 303 - Introduction to Environmental Studies I: Human Ecology and Ethics Credits: 5
  • ENRG 350 - Energy Policy and Politics Credits: 4
  • or UEPP 350 - Energy Policy and Politics Credits: 4
• One course from:
  • ENVS 305 - Introduction to Environmental Studies II: History and Policy Credits: 5
  • ENRG 459 - Advanced Energy Policy Credits: 4
  • or ENVS 459 - Advanced Energy Policy Credits: 4
• FIN 341 - Principles of Finance Credits: 4
• MGMT 311 - Introduction to Management and Organizational Behavior Credits: 4
• MIS 320 - Principles of Management Information Systems Credits: 4
• MKTG 380 - Principles of Marketing Credits: 4
• OPS 360 - Operations Management Credits: 4
• MGMT 359 - Business and Sustainability Principles and Practice Credits: 4
  • or UEPP 359 - Business and Sustainability Principles and Practice Credits: 4
• One course from:
  • UEPP 355 - Environmental Law and Policy Credits: 4
  • UEPP 457 - Environmental Dispute Resolution Credits: 4
• One course from:
  • ENVS 466 - Greening Business Applications Credits: 5
  • or MGMT 466 - Greening Business Applications Credits: 5
• One course from:
  • ENRG 360 - Energy Efficient and Carbon Neutral Design Credits: 4
  • or ESCI 360 - Energy Efficient and Carbon Neutral Design Credits: 4
  • ENRG 380 - Energy and Environment Credits: 4
  • or ESCI 380 - Energy and Environment Credits: 4
• One course from:
  • MKTG 384 - Marketing and Sustainability Credits: 4
  • or MKTG 474 - Marketing Strategies for Sustainability Credits: 4
• Minimum of 7 credits of 300- or 400-level advisor-approved electives. Advisor-approved electives must be pre-approved by the Business and Sustainability advisor.
• Take one Communication Focus (CF) course and a minimum of three writing proficiency points in approved upper-division writing proficiency courses (WP-3 points) at WWU with a minimum grade of C-. The CF course must be taken within the College of Business and Economics, while the WP requirement can be met with courses from any of the following: College of Business and Economics, College of the Environment, or the Institute for Energy Studies (for the Energy Studies Concentration). These requirements can be completed as part of the above required and elective credits.

University Graduation Requirements

• General University Requirements
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Minimum Grade Requirements
• Final Quarter Requirement