Program Overview

Sustainability and Financial Management Program

The Sustainability and Financial Management program is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into financial decision-making. This unique program combines a premier accounting and finance education from the School of Accounting and Finance with a deep understanding of sustainability from Canada's largest Faculty of Environment.

Program Overview

The program focuses on redefining the bottom line by moving beyond traditional approaches to financial management. Students will learn to make financial decisions that consider the impact on people and the environment, leading to a more sustainable future.

Courses

The program includes a range of courses that provide an integrated approach to learning about financial management and sustainability. Some of the courses include:

• AFM 112 – Analytic Methods for Business 1
• AFM 191 – Introduction to Financial Reporting and Managerial Decision Making 1
• SFM 101 – Introduction to Sustainability and Financial Management
• ENVS 195 – Introduction to Environmental Studies
• ENBUS 103 – Economics and Sustainability 1

Sample Upper-Year Courses

• AFM 205 – Introduction to Financial Services
• SFM 205 – Advancing Sustainability: A Systems Approach
• SFM 403 – Integrated Planning, Reporting, and Risk Management for Sustainability
• ENBUS 410 – Engaging Stakeholders

Customizing Your Degree

After the second year, students can choose to specialize in one of three areas:

• Corporate Sustainability: This specialization prepares students to work in the financial departments of companies or to establish sustainable practices. It also provides the skills necessary to pursue the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation and/or take the required courses for the Master of Accountancy Program (MAcc).
• Government Policy and Financial Markets: This pathway prepares students to work within governance channels, creating policy and regulations or leveraging financial market mechanisms to achieve sustainability objectives. It also provides the required skills and knowledge to pursue the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
• Indigenous Entrepreneurship: This specialization provides Indigenous students with foundational training in financial management and sustainability, enabling them to start their own business ventures or contribute to the growth strategies of existing organizations.

Co-op Program

The program is available as a co-op only, providing students with 16 months of paid co-op work experience. This experience allows students to explore potential careers, learn to interview for jobs, and graduate with valuable skills and up to two years of work experience.

Co-op Work-Study Sequence

The co-op work-study sequence typically starts in the second year, with students alternating between school and work every four months. The sequence is as follows: | Year | September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | First | Study | Study | Off | | Second | Study | Co-op | Study | | Third | Co-op | Study | Study | | Fourth | Study | Co-op | Co-op | | Fifth | Study | - | - |

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Sustainability and Financial Management program can pursue a variety of careers, including:

• Accountant
• Financial consultant
• Sustainability analyst
• ESG policy analyst
• Internal auditor

Admission Requirements

Ontario students must have six Grade 12 U and/or M courses, including:

• Any Grade 12 U English (minimum final grade of 75%)
• Advanced Functions (minimum final grade of 75%)
• Calculus and Vectors (minimum final grade of 75%) Recommended courses include Principles of Financial Accounting and Mathematics of Data Management. The anticipated admission average is in the mid-80s.

Related Programs

• Accounting and Financial Management
• Computing and Financial Management
• Science and Financial Management
• Environment and Business