Do you want to make your organization more effective, efficient, and sustainable? The MBA in Sustainability at AUNE will teach you the business and leadership skills needed to manage complex, changing organizational environments. Businesses are increasingly aware of their ecological and social impact. They want managers and leaders who can effectively and strategically plan and implement initiatives that balance economic, environmental, and human sustainability, without compromising communities or the planet for future generations. As a graduate of our program, you’ll be prepared to navigate the dynamics of sustainability at the team, organizational, regional, and global levels. Hands-on application of business skills is central to the MBA in Sustainability curriculum. As part of your coursework, teams of students take on consulting projects to help businesses, often B Corps, solve sustainability challenges and present the findings to clients. Students also participate in local and regional field experiences to observe and network with leading sustainable businesses and nonprofits to test theoretical understanding. Our hybrid-delivery, 2 year, weekend program is structured to balance rigorous study with busy professional and personal schedules. On site classes are scheduled four weekends per semester, with online assignments and group projects between meetings.

As their capstone project, students in the MBA in Sustainability program complete three credits of practicum work in an area of personal and professional interest. Practicum is a facilitated, independent, self-designed project that students may use as an opportunity to explore a chosen topic in depth to gain expertise in a particular area for career and community advancement. Each student identifies learning goals and guiding questions; conducts research including a review of the relevant literature; designs and implements a project to meet the learning goals; utilizes project management tools in the process; and presents their project to the community as a culmination of the program. Students work independently, with an advisor, and in small advisory groups with other students. Projects have included Creating Thriving Communities to help constituent groups work together to solve adaptive challenges facing their community; Sustainability in Affordable Housing, to find ways to create more energy efficient buildings that reduce heat and electricity costs, which lowers the overall cost of living; and Gleaning - A Revived Method for Capturing Modern Agricultural Surplus, and getting the food to those in need.

Students who complete this program find careers in a variety of fields including manufacturing, social services, finance, renewable energy, agriculture, government, and healthcare. Our graduates have gone on to pursue work as executive directors, entrepreneurs, sustainability consultants, educators, facilities directors, marketing managers, sustainable investment analysts, technical advisors, and more.