phd in sustainable business management

PhD in Sustainability Management

Scholarship in applied sustainable development

The PhD in Sustainability Management (SUSM) prepares future sustainability innovators with interdisciplinary research skills, management approaches, strategies and processes to realize sustainable outcomes with business, government and third sector organizations.

Students contribute to the creation of academic knowledge by developing methods, systems, concepts, and tools for sustainability management. Data and analysis consider environmental, social and governance areas in sustainable development.

Graduates prepare for career paths both inside and outside academia, including employment in government, business and third sector organizations. Through professional development seminars, students gain skills to mobilize their knowledge and develop skills for careers outside of academia.

Contact: Anastasiya Saparaliyeva Graduate Program Coordinator PhD in Sustainability Management

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Doctor of Philosophy in sustainability

About the doctor of philosophy degree.

The PhD in sustainability, offered only on ASU’s Tempe campus, engages scientists and leaders in research to investigate the urgent sustainability challenges of this century.

The flexible, interdisciplinary nature of the program allows students to focus on problems of interest to them, drawing upon relevant knowledge from a variety of disciplines.

Students may be admitted to the PhD program with either a bachelor’s or a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent of a US bachelor’s degree from an international institution officially recognized by that country.

Learning outcomes

PhD graduates will have an advanced understanding of the dynamics of coupled socioecological systems and will be able to lead others in research and providing adaptive solutions to specific sustainability challenges. In addition to the common learning outcomes, PhD students will be able to:

• Understand the concepts and methods of a number of critical disciplines bearing on the sustainability of systems at different spatio-temporal scales.
• Lead others in applying these concepts and methods to developing sustainable strategies for water, land, air, and urban management at the local and global level.
• Lead others in the analysis and design of the built environment and institutions’ policies, regulations, and technologies to support sustainable development.

Requirements and electives

Courses and electives, core courses.

• SOS 510 – Perspectives on Sustainability
• SOS 520 – Research Design
• SOS 525 – Social-Ecological-Technical Systems: Domains & Interfaces
• SOS 589 – Community of Scholars (taken twice)

Solutions workshops

Solutions workshops are listed under SOS 594 and are designed to provide students with experience solving real-world problems that involve multiple sustainability challenges. As such, they will be problem-based and not specifically attached to one of the main themes.

Some example workshops include:

• SOS 594 – Sustainability Short Form Documentary
• SOS 594 – Sustainable Development in Action
• SOS 594 – Sustainable Neighborhoods for Happiness
• SOS 594 – Urban Sustainability – Best Practices/Case Studies
• SOS 594 – Operationalizing Corporate Sustainability through ESG Programs

Elective courses

Students may choose courses from any discipline at ASU that relate to their research project or dissertation. Electives must be approved by a student’s supervisory committee.

Research and dissertation

At least 12 credits of the approved PhD program of study must be SOS 792 Research and at least 12 credits must be SOS 799 Dissertation. After completion of the dissertation, the student must pass an oral examination in defense of the dissertation.

• SOS 792 – Research
• SOS 799 – Dissertation

Exams and Dissertation

When students have completed the coursework, they must pass a comprehensive examination and begin a prospectus (proposal) for their dissertation. After passing the prospectus defense, students enter candidacy. The culminating experience for the doctoral degree program is publication of the dissertation, accompanied by a dissertation defense. The non-coursework portion of the program usually lasts 2 years.

Have a question about the PhD in sustainability?

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Learn together with your colleagues

Participants report that enrolling in a program with colleagues fosters collaborative learning and amplifies their impact.

Please provide your details to get more information about the group-enrollment pricing.

The benefit of learning together with your friend is that you keep each other accountable and have meaningful discussions about what you're learning.

Congratulations!

Based on the information you provided, your team is eligible for a special discount, for Sustainability Strategies starting on June 20, 2024 .

We’ve sent you an email with enrollment next steps. If you’re ready to enroll now, click the button below.

Sustainability Strategies: Develop Initiatives to Transform Your Business

Get your brochure.

June 20, 2024

8 weeks, online 4–6 hours per week

PROGRAM FEE

US$2,800 US$2,576 and get US$280 off with a referral

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Application Details

Program fee, us$2,800 us$2,576, sustainability leadership starts with you.

A survey of recent headlines and research reports reveals the ways that consumers, employees, investors, and other stakeholders are using their influence to demand solutions to our global climate crisis. The majority of business leaders have sustainability on their radar, but what do sustainability initiatives look like in practice, and how can we make progress when the challenges seem insurmountable?

of S&P 500 organizations publish ESG reports in some form, as do approximately 70 percent of Russell 1000 organizations.

(SOURCE: MCKINSEY SUSTAINABILITY) August, 2022

of millennials consider an organization’s social and environmental commitments when deciding where to work.

(SOURCE: DELOITTE) May, 2022

of global consumers are willing to pay higher-than-average prices for products made with sustainable materials, and demand for sustainable products is expected to grow exponentially in emerging markets.

Key Takeaways

• Develop an understanding of the impacts and root causes of climate change to communicate the value of sustainable business practices to key stakeholders.
• Learn to identify business opportunities that arise by transitioning to an environmentally sustainable organization.
• Understand the interdependence between innovation and sustainability as a guiding force for developing your own sustainability initiatives.
• Develop a proactive mindset to lead change effectively, with an eye toward positioning the organization as an agent of change.

This Program Is Ideal for Professionals and Leaders Who Are:

Building strategies that move the needle on sustainability efforts within their organizations or industries

Developing and communicating the vision and value of a sustainable business future

Striving to be on the leading edge of environmental sustainability or transitioning from a legacy business model to a more innovative approach to business

Driving strategies at the business unit or organizational level, where maintaining a competitive advantage is critical

Program modules.

• Develop your understanding of the climate challenges at hand and key terminology, including the carbon cycle, energy buildup, tipping points, and cumulative emissions.
• Reflect on how climate change is impacting your organization and what you can learn from your competitors.
• Make a pitch for sustainability as part of a communication exercise.
• Understand the components of a business model using the business model architecture framework.
• Examine Tesla’s business model as part of a case study deep dive.
• Explore where your business model intersects with sustainability issues and identify opportunities.
• Learn how Little’s law—a numerical theorem—is applied to understanding circular economies and their relationship to the value chain. Map your organization’s value chain in relation to sustainability.
• Propose short and long-term actions that impact your organization's value chain as it relates to climate change.
• Identify opportunities to lead sustainability change at any level of your organization and learn how to become an agent of change.
• Understand how leadership can be leveraged to support and grow sustainability goals across the organization.
• Explore the interdependency between innovation and accomplishing sustainability goals.
• Understand the role of leadership in managing the risks associated with change.
• Examine several use cases, including Toyota Prius, Boeing 787, and Tesla, using the DICE framework—a unified framework for business model innovation.
• Analyze the impacts of political risks from private political groups, such as nongovernmental organizations, individual activists, and the media, using Citigroup's case study as a practical example.
• Investigate the influence of location-based political risks on business decision making through Tata Motors' case.
• Apply practical tools to mitigate and manage political risks in various business contexts.
• Utilize a structured framework to systematically assess the responses of various interest groups to environmental policies.
• Examine the intricacies of global environmental policy development and implementation and evaluate an organization's existing sustainability strategy.
• Use the triple bottom line framework to measure, evaluate, and communicate sustainability performance for your organization.
• Analyze sustainability-related strategic performance and how it relates to your organization’s value creation activities and create your action plan for sustainability.

Program Walk-Through

Access to Stanford Graduate School of Business proprietary strategy tools and frameworks

Manageable time investment (four to six hours/week)

Live sessions with faculty

Assignments for you to apply learnings to your own role or industry

Networking with global peers

Featured case study and cross-industry examples

Feedback on assignments to ensure the relevance of the program material

Certificate of completion from Stanford Graduate School of Business

Featured Program Elements

Capstone project designed to jump-start your sustainability efforts

Create an action plan that will positively impact sustainability in your organization. Using your weekly workbook exercises, you will identify your priorities based on where you can make an immediate difference for your organization.

Original strategic frameworks and tools from Stanford faculty

The proprietary frameworks are tools that help leaders support an organization's value chain and become efficient in leading sustainability initiatives and driving business change.

Featured case studies

Gain insights from Tesla, Lego, General Motors, and Citigroup’s business models and other successful businesses through case studies.

Testimonials

“I appreciated the way each module was shown as part of a bigger theme and how the concepts built on top of and across each other to provide a wide understanding of sustainability from different angles. The required workbooks and the capstone project helped put everything together.” — Nadia Szeinbaum, Innovation Scientist at Beyond Meat

“The program content was taught by faculty with impressive expertise and a diversity of teaching methods that helped us to learn new concepts and immediately put them into practice.” — Marco Luchsinger, MBA Candidate

“The module workbooks really forced me to think deeply about my organization.” — Andrea Wong, board member at Liberty Media

Meet the Faculty

William Barnett

The Thomas M. Siebel Professor of Business Leadership, Strategy, and Organizations

Chris Field

The Perry L. McCarty Director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and the Melvin and Joan Lane Professor for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies at Stanford University

Saumitra Jha

Associate Professor of Political Economy

Haim Mendelson

The Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers Professor of Electronic Business and Commerce, and Management

Joseph Piotroski

The Robert K. Jaedicke Professor of Accounting

Erica Plambeck

The Charles A. Holloway Professor of Operations, Information and Technology

Stefanos Zenios

The Investment Group of Santa Barbara Professor of Entrepreneurship and Professor of Operations, Information & Technology

William Barnett The Thomas M. Siebel Professor of Business Leadership, Strategy, and Organizations

Chris Field The Perry L. McCarty Director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and the Melvin and Joan Lane Professor for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies at Stanford University

Saumitra Jha Associate Professor of Political Economy

Haim Mendelson The Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers Professor of Electronic Business and Commerce, and Management

Joseph Piotroski The Robert K. Jaedicke Professor of Accounting

Erica Plambeck The Charles A. Holloway Professor of Operations, Information and Technology

Stefanos Zenios The Investment Group of Santa Barbara Professor of Entrepreneurship and Professor of Operations, Information & Technology

Certificate

Upon completion of this program, you will receive a certificate of completion from Stanford Graduate School of Business that you can share with your professional network.

How do I know if this program is right for me?

After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend that you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email [email protected] , and a dedicated program advisor will follow up with you very shortly.

Are there any prerequisites for this program?

Participants must be 18 years old or above to apply to this program. Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page and in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at [email protected] for assistance.

Note that, unless otherwise stated on the program web page, all programs are taught in English, and proficiency in English is required..

What is the typical class profile?

More than 50 percent of our participants are from outside the United States. Class profiles vary from one cohort to the next, but, generally, our online certificates draw a highly diverse audience in terms of professional experience, industry, and geography—leading to a very rich peer learning and networking experience.

At what other dates will this program be offered in the future?

Check back to this program web page or email us at [email protected] to inquire whether future program dates or the timeline for future offerings has been confirmed.

How much time is required each week?

Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.

How will my time be spent?

We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities, including:

• Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty
• Attending webinars and office hours as per the specific program schedule
• Reading or engaging with examples of core topics
• Completing knowledge checks/quizzes and required activities
• Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers
• Completing your final project, if required

The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and demonstrating an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please contact us at [email protected] if you need further clarification on program activities.

A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.

How do I interact with other program participants?

Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.

What are the requirements to earn the certificate?

Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life. This program is scored as a pass or no pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please contact us at [email protected] if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.

What type of certificate will I receive?

Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter or resume or display it on your LinkedIn profile. The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program end date, once grading is complete.

Can I get a the hard copy of the certificate?

No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

Do I receive alumni status after completing this program?

No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.

How long will I have access to the learning materials?

You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 12 months following the program start date . Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants as per the terms of the agreement.

What equipment or technical requirements are there for this program?

Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.

Do I need to be online to access the program content?

Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device. Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any live stream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection as well. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.

Can I still register if the registration deadline has passed?

Yes, you can register up to seven days after the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.

What is the program fee, and what forms of payment do you accept?

The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and is usually referenced in the program brochure as well. Flexible payment options are available (see details below as well as at the top of this program web page next to FEE).

What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another method of payment accepted?

Yes, you can do a bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor or email us at [email protected] for details.

I was not able to use the discount code provided. Can you help?

Yes! Please email us at [email protected] with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.

How can I obtain an invoice for payment?

Please email [email protected] with your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.

Is there an option to make flexible payments for this program?

Yes, the flexible payment option allows participants to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.

How can I obtain a W9 form?

Please email us at [email protected] for assistance.

Who will be collecting the payment for the program?

Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.

What is the program refund and deferral policy?

For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here .

Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at [email protected] or Schedule a call with one of our Academic Advisors or call us at +1 401 443 9709   (US) / +44 127 959 8043  (UK) / +65 3129 4367 (SG)

Still Not Sure?

Continue exploring available programs.

Early registrations are encouraged. Seats fill up quickly!

Flexible payment options available. Learn more.

Doctoral (PhD)

I'M READY TO APPLY I WANT TO LEARN MORE    

The 2023 PhD cohort next to Douglas Lake at the University of Michigan Biological Station.

Through the research-based doctoral program in Environment and Sustainability, students may choose between a highly specialized course of study or one that broadly addresses complex, interdisciplinary issues.

It is strongly recommended that Ph.D. applicants contact SEAS faculty members prior to submitting an application.  It is important to establish a connection with faculty members to discuss mutual research areas. These interactions are helpful in determining fit with our faculty and SEAS community. Faculty research profiles and their contact information can be found here . 

Each student's course of study is tailored to their scholarly interests and guided by their faculty chair and committee. Broad areas of specialization reflect the expertise and research interests of faculty.

The doctoral program's goal is to develop the creative abilities of exceptional students, thereby training them for independent work that contributes to original research and scholarship at the forefront of their chosen fields. Students will become leaders in research, teaching and training others, and developing the scientific knowledge base needed to formulate policies and practices that help sustain natural resources.

Program Milestones

• Upon admission, you are assigned an advisor and faculty member(s) to serve on your interim Guidance Committee.
• In your first year, you prepare a "course of study" document that will guide your coursework and scholarly development.
• By the end of your second year, you will complete your qualifying exam and advance to doctoral candidacy.
• By the end of your fifth semester, you will submit your full dissertation proposal.
• By the end of your fifth year, you will defend your dissertation.

Your PhD will be granted by the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies . The school's Doctoral Handbook provides key information, such as a timeline and outline of expectations and requirements. For more information, contact [email protected] .

DOCTORAL FORMS AND MATERIALS

PhD in Sustainable Development

Ph.d. curriculum.

The distinctive and innovative nature of this program requires a core set of courses that provide an interdisciplinary grounding. Each of these courses is taught at the level expected of first- or second-year Ph.D. students in the affiliated departments. The course structure is designed to provide students with PhD-level training in economics and a natural science field, complemented by integrative courses in sustainable development designed specifically for this program and courses in social sciences. The course structure combines flexibility to pursue an individual field of study with broad-based skills and knowledge development. The core curriculum consists of around ten core courses, listed below. Students must also complete two social science electives and a coherent sequence of four natural science courses for a minimum total of 60 credits and should maintain an overall B+ average with no lower than a B- in any of the core classes. In addition to course work, students participate in integrative seminars  Sustainable Development Seminar I ( SDEV U9200 ) / Sustainable Development Seminar II ( SDEV U9201 ) throughout the first three years of the program, and complete the MA thesis and take an Orals Exam (leading to the MPhil Degree), in addition to presenting and defending a Ph.D. dissertation.

Due to the unique interdisciplinary content of the program, students entering with a master’s degree earned at Columbia University or elsewhere are still required to complete all MA and MPhil course requirements and examinations.

Advanced Standing for previously held degrees may occasionally be accorded at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) after successfully completing the first year.

Students must select an advisory committee before the end of the fourth semester, ideally earlier, with the help and approval of the DGS and Program Faculty. The committee ideally comprises 2 to 3 members, one of whom is the academic advisor and must be a member of the SIPA faculty. The remaining advisors can be from other Columbia University schools and departments or from other universities. An advisor from a different university cannot be the main academic advisor. The advisory committee should include faculty whose expertise covers both the social and natural sciences.

For the first year or (at most) two academic years, the DGS will have the role of academic advisor. The role of the advisor is to guide and monitor research progress, including reporting to GSAS on the progress of the student, sitting in on Orals and Defense committees, and other associated duties .

Service Requirements

In addition to completing the requirements for the MA and the MPhil, students have to fulfill a teaching and research requirement. This entails six semesters of work as a teaching fellow (TF) or a graduate research fellow (GRF), as assigned by the director of the program. Students typically serve as TFs in SIPA master-level courses as well as a few undergraduate courses. Students who secure external fellowship funding may reduce this requirement with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies. Still, in all cases, every student must TA at least two semesters .

The Ph.D. in sustainable development is designed and supported as a five-year program. It is recognized that some students may need to extend their studies for all or part of a sixth year. While this can be accommodated administratively, students cannot assume that funds will be available to support the sixth year of study, and they are urged to make efforts to secure fellowship support or obtain funds through their advisors or from outside sources. Sixth-year extensions may be granted as exceptions and must not be assumed.

John Mutter , Professor  Director of the Ph.D. in Sustainable Development [email protected]

Tomara Aldrich Program Coordinator for the Ph.D. in Sustainable Development  [email protected]

John Mutter , Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences and of International and Public Affairs; Director of the PhD in Sustainable Development program

Douglas Almond , Professor of International and Public Affairs and of Economics

Scott Barrett , Lenfest-Earth Institute Professor of Natural Resource Economics

Geoffrey Heal , Donald C. Waite III Professor of Social Enterprise in the Faculty of Business and Professor of International and Public Affairs

Cristian Pop-Eleches , Professor of International and Public Affairs

Jeffrey Sachs , Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development; Professor of Health Policy and Management; Director of the Earth Institute

Wolfram Schlenker , Professor of International and Public Affairs

Jeffrey Shrader , Assistant Professor of International and Public Affairs

Rodrigo Soares , Lemann Professor of Brazilian Public Policy and International and Public Affairs

Joseph Stiglitz , University Professor

Requirements for the MA Degree

Sustainable development courses.

These courses are designed and taught specifically for the PhD students in Sustainable Development, although they may be open to students from other programs.

Core Economics Courses

All core economics courses are taught in the Economics Department and are drawn from the Economics PhD syllabus. More information about these courses can be found from the Economics department Web site .

Social Science Courses

Students must take at least 3 social science courses. 

Natural Sciences Courses

Students must also take 3 natural science electives drawn from the following departments:

Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology (E3B)

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DEES)

Department of Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) at the Mailman School of Public Health

Department of Earth and Environmental Engineerin g (DEEE) at the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS)

The master’s thesis should be completed by May 1 in the fourth semester and should address a problem in sustainable development using data and methodologies from the four natural science courses completed in the first two years of the program. The thesis consists of an article (around 30 pages long), which would be publishable in an appropriately refereed academic journal reflecting the disciplinary orientation of the project.  Students should submit the Masters paper to their research advisor(s) with a copy to the DGS. The advisor later meets with the student and submits a pass/fail grade to the Assistant DGS for processing. For titles of MA thesis projects previously completed by students in the program please see here .

Requirements for the MPhil Degree

Completion of the MA requirements with a minimum of 60 credits and a B+ average.

Complete 4 out of 6 semesters of service requirements (Teaching Assistant, TA or Research Assistant, RA appointments) . Students with outside funding need to complete a minimum of 2 TA appointments.

Fulfillment of research tools requirement

Core courses in quantitative methods (Introduction to Econometrics I and II, and a third Quantitative Analysis course).

Either a two-course sequence in GIS or other analytic modeling systems or a proficiency examination in a non-English language, as selected with the approval of the academic adviser.

Submission of a final draft of the dissertation prospectus , approved by the adviser, to the MPhil Examining Committee three weeks prior to the MPhil examinations. The prospectus should:

be a single, 10-page document

be distinct from the Master’s thesis though it can build on similar research

cover the methods and objective of the research project

Two-hour long oral exam designed to examine the candidates’ formal learning and their capability to do independent research, including the presentation of a dissertation prospectus/proposal. The examination committee will consist of three faculty members, normally from the Sustainable Development core faculty, and will be chaired by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), who will lead the discussion of the prospectus. Examinations are conducted as follows:

5 minutes: the candidate will give a formal presentation of the prospectus

30 minutes: all members of the examining committee, led by the DGS, will ask questions.

30 minutes: examination of proficiency in fields most relevant to the proposed research, from within the following subjects:

Natural Science

Sustainable Development

(Optional) An elective field, such as study of a region

Each component will be graded on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest. If the average grade is 3.5 or above the student receives a clear pass. If the average grade is below 3.0 the student will be required to leave the program by the end of the current semester. If the average grade is between 3.0 and 3.5 or if any individual grade is below 3.0 the committee require the student to take further courses, revise their prospectus, or provide a revised research paper.

Requirements for the PhD Degree

Phd dissertation.

The PhD dissertation will be on a social science topic in sustainable development. The social science research will be informed by an understanding of physical and natural science constraints and opportunities influencing economic development.

Students with a regional area of interest to their dissertation may wish to do research abroad, so as to conduct field studies, use archives, improve language skills, or confer with local experts. In order that students may complete the PhD program without delay, it is preferred that they make use of summers to conduct such research. Students who feel they require a longer period of field research or language training need the approval of their advisor, and of the DGS. Students may not receive extended residence credit for study or research away from Columbia before the completion of all course work requirements and comprehensive examinations.

PhD Defense

Complete the GSAS deposit application and pay the $85 processing fee;

Submit the required Survey of Earned Doctorates online;

Upload and submit a PDF copy of your dissertation;

Obtain a signed Approval Card that certifies you have made all required revisions and that the dissertation has been approved for deposit by your sponsor and by your doctoral program.

Open defenses (optional)

If both the candidate for a defense and the Advisory Committee choose to have an “open” defense, the following will apply:

The candidate will have a maximum of 40 minutes to present major conclusions of the thesis research, with at least half of the time devoted to a description of new findings or insights in the field discussed that directly resulted from research by the student.

 Any member of the University community or other interested parties can attend the first part of the thesis defense.

Questions following the initial presentation are permitted for a maximum of 10 minutes.

Following the oral presentation by the candidate and the brief period for general questions, the defense committee will question the candidate in closed session for a period of up to 90 minutes.

If either the candidate or the Advisory Committee prefer, the procedures for “closed defense” (i.e., 20-minute oral presentation followed by questions from the defense committee in closed session for a period of up to 90 minutes) will be followed.

Candidates must consult with their advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies about scheduling the defense. Every Ph.D. student must submit the Intent to Distribute and Defend form directly to GSAS.

The final examination will not be scheduled until the Director of Graduate Studies has recommended the dissertation for defense. A five-person examining committee will be appointed by the department and must be approved by GSAS. The DGS will then officially invite the examiners.

The Application for Defense must be completed by the Candidate and the Director of Graduate Studies and submitted by the program’s office to the GSAS Dissertation office.

Members of the PhD examining committee must be given a minimum of three weeks to read the thesis, so the defense may comfortably be scheduled after submission of the thesis to the Advisory Committee. Before being recommended for defense, the candidate must submit to his/her Advisory Committee draft copies of the thesis, including figures, plates and tables and obtain the Advisory Committee’s written approval of the draft. (Written approval by the Advisory Committee indicates only that the thesis as it stands or with revisions suggested by them is in good enough form to justify scheduling the defense.)

After the Advisory Committee has given its preliminary approval in writing, and the candidate has made any revisions suggested by them, he/she must distribute copies of the dissertation to the external readers. Instructions for the correct form for preparing the manuscript and information on publication options may be obtained via the Graduate School’s website ( http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gsas/ )

The candidate must see that outstanding fees or loans to the University are paid and make sure that he/she has fulfilled all other Departmental requirements. When these requirements have been fulfilled and the examining committee has been appointed by the DGS, the candidate is notified of the examination date, usually about two weeks in advance.

After passing the final examination, the candidate must see to any minor revisions and their approval by the examining committee before final deposit. If major revisions were called for (a defense-vote of “incomplete”), these must be made and submitted within a stated period (usually no fewer than three months and no longer than one year from the date of the defense) to the supervising committee, whose approval will have to be certified in writing before the candidate can be recorded as having passed the final examination. From the time of the “pass” vote, the student has a maximum of six months to deposit the thesis. There are four steps to completing your deposit -- the steps can be done in any order, but your deposit is only considered complete when all four steps are done.

Doctorate degrees are awarded in October, February, and May. Check the academic calendar for specific deadlines for the final deposit of the dissertation. (You may, however, call yourself “Dr.” as of the day of your deposit, since that date will appear on your official transcript.)

PhD in Sustainable Development Courses

SDEV U6240 Environmental Science for Sustainable Development. 3.00 Points.

Category: EE, EPD:Sustainable

This course provides a rigorous survey of the key areas of natural science that are critical to understanding sustainable development. The course will provide the theories, methodological techniques and applications associated with each natural science unit presented. The teaching is designed to ensure that students have the natural science basis to properly appreciate the co-dependencies of natural and human systems, which are central to understanding sustainable development. Students will learn the complexities of the interaction between the natural and human environment. After completing the course, students should be able to incorporate scholarly scientific work into their research or policy decisions and be able to use scientific methods of data analysis. This is a modular course that will cover core thematic areas specifically, climate, natural hazards, water management, public health/epidemiology, and ecology/biodiversity. To achieve coherence across lectures this course will emphasize how each topic is critical to studies of sustainable development and place-based case studies in recitation will integrate various topics covered. In the lectures and particularly the recitation sections this course will emphasize key scientific concepts such as uncertainty, experimental versus observational approaches, prediction and predictability, the use of models and other essential methodological aspects

SDEV U9200 Sustainable Development Seminar I. 1.50 Point.

This course is restricted to PhD in Sustainable Development

SDEV U9201 Sustainable Development Seminar II. 1.50 Point.

SDEV U9240 Human Ecology ＆ Sustainable Development. 4.00 Points.

Category: EPD:Sustainable, PhD in Sustainable Development Open to PhD Students Only

This course has two primary objectives: first, to provide a structured way to think about—and conduct research in—the field of sustainable development. Second, to introduce formal models of dynamic, coupled human and environmental systems

SDEV U9245 Environment ＆ Resource Economics. 3.00 Points.

This course aims to introduce you to the basic concepts of environmental economics

SDEV U9248 Collective Action for Global Sustainable Development. 3.00 Points.

Category: PhD in Sustainable Development Registration restricted to PhD Students

When externalities go uncorrected, and public goods go undersupplied, the reason is not that the market fails; the reason is that governments are unable or unwilling to intervene effectively. The biggest problem is with transnational externalities and regional and global public goods. This is partly because of the scale of these problems, but it is also because the institutional arrangements at this level make effective intervention difficult. There is no World Government. Instead, there are around 200 sovereign states. To support sustainable development globally, states must cooperate, and yet states' self-interests often conflict with their collective interests. This is why all countries agree that collective action must be taken to limit climate change, and yet, though they try and try again, countries seem unable to muster the individual action needed to meet their own collective goal. The aim of this course is to develop an apparatus for understanding international collective action for sustainable development. By an apparatus, I mean a theory, a structured way of looking at and understanding the world. Rather than just present the theory, my aim is to show you why theory is needed, how it has been constructed, and what its strengths and weaknesses are. Basically, in addition to teaching you principles and tools, I want you to come to see how this field has developed, what it has achieved, and where it has fallen short. Throughout the course, we shall also be looking at tests and applications of the theory-empirical and experimental papers in addition to case studies. The course draws from a number of disciplines, especially economics, game theory (analytical and experimental), and international relations-but also international law, philosophy, history, the natural and physical sciences, and engineering. The focus will be on institutions, and the way that they restructure the relations among states to cause states to behave differently-that is, to cause them to undertake collective action. In terms of applications, the course will address not only climate change but also depletion of the ozone layer, trans-boundary air pollution, pollution of the oceans, over-fishing, biodiversity loss, and the emergence and spread of infectious diseases

ECON GR6211 MICROECONOMIC ANALYSIS I. 4.00 points .

Prerequisites: the director of graduate studies' permission. Corequisites: ECON G6410. Consumer and producer behavior; general competitive equilibrium, welfare and efficiency, behavior under uncertainty, intertemporal allocation and capital theory, imperfect competition, elements of game theory, problems of information, economies with price rigidities

ECON GR6212 MICROECONOMIC ANALYSIS II. 4.00 points .

Prerequisites: the director of graduate studies permission. Corequisites: ECON G6410. Consumer and producer behavior; general competitive equilibrium, welfare and efficiency, behavior under uncertainty, intertemporal allocation and capital theory, imperfect competition, elements of game theory, problems of information, economies with price rigidities

ECON GR6411 INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMETRICS I. 4.00 points .

Corequisites: ECON G6410 and the director of graduate studies' permission. Introduction to probability theory and statistical inference

ECON GR6412 INTRODUCTN TO ECONOMETRICS II. 4.00 points .

Corequisites: ECON G6410 and the director of graduate studies permission. Introduction to the general linear model and its use in econometrics, including the consequences of departures from the standard assumptions

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PhD AND DOCTORAL PROGRAMMES Global DBA in Sustainability

Global dba in sustainability, skema global dba, programme outline, programme aims, the programme is designed to:.

Provide doctoral-level research skills for senior managers and executives.

Develop capabilities to identify timely solutions to suitability or related challenges from applied research.

Provide support to make a meaningful impact by addressing a wide variety of sustainability or related questions. 

Develop competencies and new knowledge to help graduates to transform existing business practices towards a sustainable future.

Enhance the professional and scientific networks of our students.

The learning outcomes:

Identify and frame difficult societal and business challenges.

Develop capabilities to solve these challenges and disseminate solutions among different audiences.  

Apply doctoral-level management research competencies to make a lasting impact.

Design and execute rigorous research linked to business, social and environmental issues.

Embrace change and transform organisations as usual to sustainable organisations for tomorrow. 

Why choose this programme:

A supervision experience which is supported by the best research faculty in a highly ranked global business school with campuses and research laboratories in all five countries and which is customised to the needs of each individual student in which the supervisor is at times your critic, your coach, and your mentor.

The opportunity to learn in a global business and research environment and build an international network of researchers, executives, and leaders in the rapidly growing field of sustainability. 

Mentors from world-renowned institutions at the forefront of solving Grand Challenges of today.  

A novel pedagogical approach that builds doctoral research competencies combining problem solving, innovation and benefit delivery resulting in a thesis, publishable papers, simulations, software or other research artifacts of value to an organisation.

Rigorous focus on making a meaningful and lasting impact to tackle the suitability issues of today. 

SKEMA Business School

Global bba, esdhem, master in management (pge), mastère spécialisé®, masters of science, executive education, executive mba, doctorate, phd/dba….

DISCOVER THE INNOVATIVE WORK WE ARE DOING ON:

• Air, Food & Water
• Art & Culture
• Cities & Towns
• Climate Change
• Energy & Technology
• Environmental Justice
• Law & Policy
• Nature & Conservation
• Sustainable Business

Ph.D. in Environment and Sustainability

Our Environment and Sustainability Ph.D. equips students with diverse perspectives to develop profound new ideas, knowledge and approaches to the most important concerns facing people and the planet. The program provides training to develop deep understandings of the structures of current environment and sustainability issues today and to develop analytical research to address them. This requires learning in multiple disciplines and how they, together, can better provide greater knowledge to bear to the social, environmental, political, scientific and economic factors creating the situation we face today. Our goal is to prepare students for a range of careers in academia, as well as public and private sectors.

Climate Strategies

Talking solutions with Marilyn Raphael, director of UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

Dangerous combination of extreme heat and smoke affected 16.5 million Californians

“as a passionate environmentalist and social justice organizer, students with diverse views helped me value mainstream and economically-framed solutions”.

​​Cassie Gardener-Manjikian

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Students and faculty in the Sustainability subgroup recognize that the role of business is to create and distribute wealth equitably, both within and across generations. They subscribe to the principles of sustainable development, which is development that ‘meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. A core assumption of researchers in this group is that the broader social and environmental contexts matter to business and that sustainability is core to effective management of risks and opportunities in today’s world. Researchers in this group are also interested in research with the potential to address broad global challenges and to make the world a better place.

The Sustainability group therefore looks to push the boundaries of current theories and methods. We are excited by new ideas and new approaches, as current theories have not adequately addressed some of the significant macro challenges confronting us. We are also excited by research that has practical implications and engages with real-world problems and phenomena.

The faculty members comprising this group include Diane-Laure Arjaliès, Pratima (Tima) Bansal, Oana Branzei, Jury Gualandris, Patricia Hein, Rob Klassen, Sergio Lazzarini, Deishin Lee, and Wren Montgomery. They have published cutting-edge sustainability research in top journals across disciplines, including Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Journal of Business Venturing, Journal of Operations Management, Management Accounting Research, Management Science, Organization Science, and Strategic Management Journal. PhD students in the Sustainability area have also received several awards including the Governor General's Gold Medal (Mark DesJardine, Natalie Slawinski), conference best paper prizes, and have placed at top schools (Tuck School of Business, McGill, etc.).

Ivey's sustainability community is large and active, providing a thriving environment for our Sustainability PhD students. Approximately one third of faculty members across Ivey engage in sustainability research, reflecting its true cross-disciplinary nature (e.g. Janice Byrne, Nadine de Gannes, Alison Konrad, Kirk Kristofferson, Nouri Najjar and Brandon Schaufele, among others). As well, Ivey’s Sustainability group attracts a large number of high-quality doctoral students, post-doctoral students, and international faculty and student visitors. This rich support at Ivey across disciplines and methodological perspectives means the sustainability community at Ivey is vibrant, active and highly generative. Importantly, this structure also offers students the unique opportunity to explore sustainability questions and challenges that cross traditional academic boundaries and ways of seeing the world.

Ivey has gained an international reputation for its sustainability activities. We host the Sustainability PhD Academy that brings together 15 students and 5 faculty from around the world annually in this highly competitive program. Ivey’s annual Sustainability Conference also brings top global sustainability thinkers to Ivey for 2 days of deep conversation with Ivey PhD students and faculty, and aims to build a local community of sustainability scholars that crosses university boundaries. Sustainability doctoral students are also able to access conference and research funding through Ivey’s well recognized Centre for Building Sustainable Value . In addition, the Network for Business Sustainability (NBS) was founded at Ivey. NBS aims to bridge research and practice in order to advance business sustainability. Over 35,000 managers and researchers follow NBS. Finally, Innovation North is located at Ivey, which is taking companies on a journey towards sustainable innovation.

*Please note that Sustainability is a stream under General Management

Areas of Research Focus

• Short-termism, globalization, and scale
• Systems thinking/theory
• Social and environmental entrepreneurship
• Collective and cross-sectoral action for sustainability
• Sustainable and conservation finance
• Impact assessment and integrated reporting
• Circular economy
• Sustainable food supply chains
• Co-evolutionary embedded systems (circular products, business models and supply chains)
• Stakeholder analysis and stakeholder governance
• Inequality and marginalization in organizations
• View our Google Scholar Page
• View the Research Database

PhD Student Opportunities

The Sustainability group at Ivey is always happy to hear from superb applicants who are passionate about researching environmental and social sustainability issues. We have one of the largest, most proficient, and most exciting groups of faculty studying business and sustainability in the world. We are always looking to push new boundaries to find solutions to grand challenges, and we are looking for students who are motivated to do that hard but rewarding, timely, and vital work with us!

If that is you, and you are interested in working with one of our faculty members, please begin by familiarizing yourself with their specific research interests, papers, and methods. Then, please reach out to them with a detailed email on why you think you might be a fit with their research program and expertise. You will need a faculty mentor to support your application in order to have the best chance for a successful admission. While not all faculty members have a specific opening posted many will be able to find a spot for an exceptional candidate, so be very prepared and specific when you connect with them to show them you are a candidate worth considering. Please feel free to connect with more than one faculty member, but be sure to tailor your communications rather than sending a general email that is not likely to stand out or receive a positive response.

Note that many of our members are also cross-appointed in other faculty groups, so please check  the various PhD discipline pages for recruiting opportunities that align with your research interests. It may be possible for you to find a fit and apply through one or both disciplines (Business Economics & Public Policy, Entrepreneurship, Operations Management, Strategy etc.). This will still allow you to engage closely with our Sustainability faculty, students, reading group, and programming.

Please feel free to contact Dr.  Sergio Lazzarini with any questions once you have read both this page and the general Ivey admissions  and FAQ pages which cover deadlines, admissions packages, standardized testing, etc.

Thank you for your interest in Sustainability at Ivey, we look forward to hearing from you, and we wish you the best of luck in your academic adventures!

Professor Diane-Laure Arjalies is interested in supervising students willing to push the boundaries of knowledge and practice by doing qualitative and field-based work. Topics include sustainable finance (e.g., impact bonds, conservation finance), non-financial practices and reporting (e.g., impact assessment, accountability in safe and ethical spaces) and issues linked to life on land (e.g., biodiversity, regenerative farming). Interdisciplinary (e.g., political ecology, accounting), Indigenous and decolonizing approaches are welcome.

Professor Bissan Ghaddar's interests lie at the intersection of mathematical optimization and machine learning models and their application to practical problems related to sustainable and smart cities , particularly in the domains of energy, telecom, and transportation systems. In order for smart cities to become a reality, complex optimization problems in the modeling, design, and operation of these future telecom, energy, and transportation systems need to be solved. The developed models can potentially lead to improved policies that will maximize the environmental, social, and financial benefits of these critical sectors.

Professors Diane-Laure Arjaliès, Jury Gualandris and Sergio Lazzarini are interested in students to examine how multiple actors address collective action issues and promote systemic transformation in complex systems. There is a current project on how farmers and actors of the food chain interact with each other and develop communities of practices to define rules of interaction, agree on common principles, and promote sustainable change. This research involves a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, including field experiments.

Post-graduate Opportunities

The doctoral program in Sustainability is designed for those interested in pursuing academic careers in sustainability at top business schools.

PhD Graduates

Dr. mark desjardine (2016 phd).

Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania State University

The Causes and Consequences of Corporate Short-termism

Corporate short-termism is one of the most significant concerns facing companies and society today. It demands that companies maximize profits in the short term regardless of the long-term consequences. Corporate short-termism can destroy long-run wealth generation, fuel job lay-offs, impede innovation, and neglect society’s social and environmental interests. Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, declares that short-termism, “lies at the heart of many of today’s problems.”... Read more about this thesis

Dr. Natalie Slawinski (2010 PhD)

Associate Professor, Memorial University

Short on Time: The Role of Organizational Time Orientation in Business

Our research explores the role of time in explaining firm responses to social and environmental issues. We draw on time perspective and other related individual level constructs from the psychology literature, along with research on time from the organizational and sociology literatures, to develop time orientation as a multi-dimensional firm-level construct.... Read more about this thesis

Discipline Coordinator

Sergio Lazzarini

Sergio G. Lazzarini (PhD, 2002, Washington University in St. Louis) is a Professor at Ivey Business School, Western University, and Chafi Haddad Senior Research Fellow at Insper (Brazil). He does research on how public and private actors interact and organize their activities to improve economic and social performance. He is a former Professor at Insper and founder of Insper Metricis, a center for the study of impact measurement and investing. Sergio has held visiting positions at Harvard University (2010, 2012), University of St Gallen (2009), HEC Paris (2014), Insead (2015), Brandeis (2016), Imperial College (2017), the University of Utah (2019), and the University of Toronto (2021-22).

He has published a trilogy of books on public-private interactions: Capitalismo de Laços (Elsevier, 2011; revised edition by Bei Editora, 2018), Reinventing State Capitalism: Leviathan in Business, Brazil and Beyond (Harvard University Press, 2014, with Aldo Musacchio), and The Right Privatization: Why Private Firms in Public Initiatives Need Capable Governments (Cambridge University Press, 2022). His research has also appeared in several journals such as Strategic Management Journal , Academy of Management Journal, Organization Science, Academy of Management Review, Academy of Management Perspectives, Journal of Management Studies, and Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal , among others. His work has received several prizes including the Glueck Best Paper Award of the Strategic Management Division of the Academy of Management (2003), Best Paper Prize of the Iberoamerican Academy of Management Conference (2003), Best Paper Prize of the Strategy Division of the Brazilian Academy of Management (ANPAD, 2005), Best Presentation Prize of the Strategic Management Society Special Conference in Rio (2011), Distinguished Paper Award of the Strategy Division (Cooperative Strategy Track) of the Academy of Management (2020) and the Jabuti Prize for the book Capitalism of Ties (2010). Sergio has been a consultant to several firms and multilateral organizations such as OECD, IDB, and the World Bank, and his research was cited or interviewed by news sources such as The Economist , New York Times , Financial Times , Forbes , BBC , and Bloomberg .

He also served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Strategy Division of the Academy of Management (2008-2010) and as a board member of the International Society for the New Institutional Economics (2009-2011), and is currently the Associate Editor of the Academy of Management Review.

Read full profile »

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Sustainability

Programs & Courses › Specializations

Schulich’s new PhD in Sustainability is research-oriented and at the cutting edge of topics relating to responsible and sustainable business. Students will develop the theoretical and methodological skills to conduct leading edge research at the intersection of sustainable business and society and have the opportunity to pursue research on such topics as corporate social responsibility, environmental accounting/standards, social change/innovation, stakeholder ethics, and sustainable real estate. Working alongside Schulich’s globally renowned faculty, graduates will learn to generate innovative insights as a member of the global community of scholars.

Specialization Details by Category

Study options.

Student admission is restricted to full-time study exclusively for the first four years. It is not recommended to be working outside of the PhD program during your studies. Students must be able to participate in the PhD program in Toronto.

Choose a study option to view its details and requirements

Available delivery options

• Full-time 48 to 72 months

Location(s)

• Keele Campus Toronto

The requirements to successfully complete the program are outlined below in “Curriculum Overview.”

The Sustainability field within the doctoral program in Administration offers outstanding students the opportunity to develop the theoretical and methodological skills that will enable them to conduct leading edge research at the intersection of sustainable business and society. Students have the opportunity to pursue research on such topics that include corporate social responsibility, environmental accounting/standards, social change/innovation, stakeholder ethics, and sustainable real estate.

The doctorate is an individualized program of study that is composed of the four tightly linked phases of study. Students first take a series of core courses and electives to acquire in-depth knowledge of theories and methods used in conducting research related to Sustainability. These courses also help students develop the skills necessary to conduct research and to teach Sustainability. Second, candidates complete a comprehensive examination to test mastery of theoretical methodological foundations of the field. The third phase of the PhD program consists of the preparation of the formal research proposal, which must be defended. Then students conduct the research that is reported in their dissertation, the culmination of the PhD degree.

Course Work

Students are required to take 12 courses during the first two years of the program. The foundation courses are designed to provide the prerequisite disciplinary knowledge relevant to sustainability and methodological expertise required to conduct research in sustainability. The elective courses enable students to gain depth in sustainability related topics and/or broaden your topical knowledge.

Required SUST Courses

The scholarly discourse on responsible business draws on a myriad of legacy fields of study including, but not limited to, strategic management, organizational behavior, political economy, philosophy, history, economics, etc. While this broad approach matches the complexity of the activities and structures endemic to responsible business, recent decades have witnessed the emergence of novel, integrative, theoretical approaches indigenous to the study of business’s role in broader society. This seminar examines these novel approaches to responsible business at depth. Students will examine key legacy works that are the foundation of these novel approaches as well as more recent scholarly advances. During the seminar, students will develop a deep appreciation for these works as well a critical basis for making their own contributions to these deepening conversations.

Specifically, by the end of this course you should be able to: • Understand, recall, and explain core texts in the field of responsible business; • Evaluate and critique research in the field; • Recognize and contribute to leading edge theory and research in the field.

This course introduces students to leading paradigms and current topics in organization theory. Students obtain an intensive overview of "macro" theories in organizational behaviour and develop an ability to assess organization theory and research critically and comprehensively. Class discussions focus on the strengths, weaknesses and contributions of leading-edge theories and topics; and students are encouraged to think creatively about future directions that various topics and theories might take to advance the field's understanding of organizations. By the conclusion of the course, students: (a) are familiar with important sources and references on prevailing issues in organization theory; (b) have a solid grasp of advanced theory and research on a breadth of topics in macro organizational behaviour; (c) have a better understanding of the process of writing theoretical articles; and (d) possess the ability to evaluate critically the contributions of various research streams to the field of organization theory.

The course offers students the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the rich scholarly research in business and society, with a particular emphasis on its relationship to global governance. Students will develop insights into how one can make a theoretical, methodological, and practical contribution to the management literature through business, society and global governance research.

Required DCAD Courses

• DCAD 7100 3.00 LOGICS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH This examines the major philosophical debates in the social sciences and explores the rationale of different approaches to social research. Students learn how to select and develop appropriate research strategies and how to critically examine the use of various research strategies.

This course focuses on the use of univariate and multivariate statistics as applied to social and behavioural research within the fields of organizational, management, and consumer studies. It covers descriptive statistics, mean difference testing, analysis of variance and covariance, linear and logistic regression, and a priori sample size calculations, as well as power and effect size calculations.

• DCAD 7250 3.00 RESEARCH DESIGN This course introduces students to research design, strengthens their reasoning and theoretical development skills, helps them effectively apply a range of empirical methodologies to their own research and critically review empirical studies done by others. Topics include types of variables, relationships, sampling and measurement, survey and field research designs, experimental designs, and alternative designs, and research design biases and artifacts.
• DCAD 7400 3.00 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS This course provides students with detailed exposure to the qualitative research methodologies that have begun to exert a major influence on management research over the last 10 years.
• DCAD 7600 1.50 GRADUATE COLLOQUIUM IN MANAGEMENT The rules, norms, and standards that surround the field of academics can seem ambiguous, confusing, and opaque to new Ph.D. students in the management disciplines. The purpose of this two-semester course is to provide a means of articulating central themes in this tacit process, and to provide a means of community-building among management-oriented Ph.D. students. Prerequisite: Open to and required of first- or second-year Ph.D. students in Strategy/Policy and Organization Studies areas.
• DCAD 7610 1.50 GRADUATE COLLOQUIUM IN MANAGEMENT The rules, norms, and standards that surround the field of academics can seem ambiguous, confusing, and opaque to new Ph.D. students in the management disciplines. The purpose of this two-semester course is to provide a means of articulating central themes in this tacit process, and to provide a means of community-building among management-oriented Ph.D. students. Pre-requisite: Open to and required of first- or second-year Ph.D. students in Strategy/Policy and Organization Studies areas.

*    This colloquium is a mandatory course held once a month over both the fall and winter s emesters in years 1 (DCAD 7600) and 2 (DCAD 7610).

**   It is highly recommended that these two courses be taken concurrently.

Elective Courses

Four elective courses (12 credits), chosen from SUST courses and other Schulich and York courses.

Comprehensive Exam

Students are expected to write their comprehensive exam at some point between their 22nd and 26th month of the program. This examination is designed for students to demonstrate their knowledge of the sustainability field, bodies of theory that are relevant to your specific research interests, and research methodologies. Students must have successfully completed all coursework to write their comprehensive exam. Students should schedule their exam with the Sustainability PhD Coordinator at least six weeks in advance, and should also specify their research area of interest at that time. Students are expected to coordinate their schedule with other students at the same stage in the program.

Dissertation Proposal

After completion of their comprehensive exams, students are expected to focus on developing their dissertation proposal. Students are required to appoint a Supervisory Committee consisting of three faculty members, of whom one is identified as the supervisor, and who is a member of the Sustainability area within the School. Before initiating dissertation research, students are required to submit a formal written proposal that outlines their topic and research plan. Each proposal will then be defended in the form of a formal presentation before the Supervisory Committee. Normally, students are expected to defend their dissertation proposal within one year after the completion of their comprehensive exams. There may be available a monetary bonus from Faculty of Graduate Studies for completion of the proposal by September 15th of the 4th year.

Dissertation

The dissertation is produced under the guidance of the Dissertation Supervisory Committee, and examined by the Dissertation Examining Committee, under guidelines established by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. For details on the composition of the Dissertation Examining Committee and the procedure to be followed for the examination of a dissertation students are referred to the “Guidelines for the Preparation and Examinations of Theses and Dissertations” published and updated periodically by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, York University.

Selected faculty members

Professor of Sustainability and Organization

Professor of Sustainability Accounting; Erivan K. Haub Chair in Business & Sustainability

Associate Professor, Real Estate Finance and Sustainability; Brookfield Centre in Real Estate & Infrastructure

Professor of Public Policy and Sustainability; Director, BBA/iBBA Programs

Professor; RBC Chair in Social Innovation & Impact; Area Coordinator, Sustainability

Professor of Sustainability; Hewlett-Packard Chair in Corporate Social Responsibility

Professor of Sustainability; George R. Gardiner Professor in Business Ethics; Director, Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business

Associate Professor of Business and Sustainability; Director, MBA Program

Career Opportunities

Sustainability is an increasingly salient concern to managers and policymakers. The goal of the PhD program in Sustainability is to equip students with the skills to provide management education and policy advice focused on sustainability or pursue careers in scholarly research.

Student Research

Current phd students in the sustainability area:.

as of Fall 2023

• Sean Sullivan

PhD in Management - Designing Sustainable Systems

Weatherhead School of Management's PhD in Management: Designing Sustainable Systems program currently offers an extension to the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program, formerly known as the Doctor of Management (DM), at Case Western Reserve University, to our DBA students who have completed two years of our DBA program.

Once again at the forefront of innovation for doctoral education in management, Weatherhead's PhD in Management: Designing Sustainable Systems offers the first residency-based program intended to create an area for promoting evidence-based management and preparing experienced executives for careers in research universities. 

A Fresh Approach to Management

Research in our program incorporates perspectives from new thinking about design and sustainability and complex systems as they relate to management in a global environment compared to DBA research which puts a strong emphasis on integrative knowledge and methodologies that synthesize concepts, research and experience. 

Similar to the DBA, the PhD in Management: Designing Sustainable Systems program places a premium on:

• The use of multiple theories that stretch the issue beyond the boundaries of a single perspective
• Efforts that synthesize prior work from several disciplines
• Translation of previously-produced academic knowledge into terms that can guide policy and practice
• Proposals that integrate theory and experience
• Research that draws upon multiple methods and knowledge paradigms

The Weatherhead Way

At Case Western Reserve, you’ll study at one of the nation’s leading research universities—in one of the country’s most culturally robust neighborhoods. You’ll live and learn in a city known for industry and healthcare innovation, where nearly 40% of Fortune 500 companies are represented. You’ll learn breakthrough business concepts from the people who wrote the book on them.

Plus, you’ll:

• Learn more than just the core skills of business management,
• Discover yourself better as a person and as a leader, and
• Build the skills you need to reach beyond problem solving to solution innovation.

Want to find out how?

Request Information Today

Your Degree, Your Way

Forward-thinking Research 

Our curriculum incorporates perspectives from new thinking about design, sustainability and complex systems as they relate to management in a global environment.

Program Schedule

Once accepted into the program, you’ll remain with your cohort and continue the residency schedule of classes, which occur four times during the fall and spring semesters, as well as a summer seminar session.

Your Next Step Starts Now

Ready to design a better world through smart, sustainable business solutions? That’s the Weatherhead way. Get started today and meet our faculty . 

• PhD Programmes
• Full-Time PhD
• PhD Vacancies

PhD in Sustainability and Management

The Business-Society Management department at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University has re-opened this position. We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate looking to study a topic in the area of sustainability and management. For this position, you will be able to freely choose your own research topic, within our department’s area of expertise. Potential research topics broadly cover the challenges that society and our natural environment face and then consider how organisations can address these challenges. Specific topics include (but are not limited to): systems and resilience thinking, sustainability issues in multinational enterprises and global value chains, corporate communication, sense-making processes, social innovation, business ethics, philanthropy, alternative organisational and governance forms such as social enterprises, commons and cooperatives, corporate social (ir)responsibility, (organisational) stigma, stakeholder management, and aligning corporate value propositions with societal issues.

Overall, we are looking for a candidate who is eager to learn to research how organisations and businesses can be key drivers of social change, and we welcome applications from a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. Strong applicants typically have backgrounds in business or economics and are looking to pursue an academic career. Creativity, self-direction, and a passion for scientific research are therefore essential qualities.

Grand Challenges, Sustainability, Sustainable Management, Systems Thinking, International Business, Social Evaluations, Social Innovation, Partnerships, Philanthropy, Sense-Making, Social Enterprises, Stigma, Stakeholders, Commons and Cooperatives, Social Movements

Our PhD program seeks to train the next generation of academics in the area of sustainability and management. We want our PhD candidates to become scholars who address societally relevant questions with original research that meets the highest methodological standards. During their five years of study, PhD students define and execute their own research projects. They do this with the support of their supervisory team, but also work with other faculty, including those at other departments and other universities. Through courses, research seminars, applied and theoretical research with faculty, and coaching from the supervisory team, our PhD students gain the requisite experience to do high-quality research independently. We expect our PhD students to become experts in and define a research agenda around a topic of their choosing.

The new PhD student will be part of the Business-Society department. Our department is unique in its focus on sustainability and management, diverse, and highly collegial. We focus on the challenges that society and our natural environment face and then consider how organisations, from small local start-ups, NGOs and social enterprises to large multinational enterprises, can address these challenges. In other words, we interrogate how organisations impact society and the natural environment, and how they can take responsibility in the contexts they operate in. This is an important research agenda because our social and natural environments are changing in drastic and unprecedented ways – examples of which include climate change, growing (social) inequality, and the global displacement of populations – and organisations can play a central role in both causing and solving these grand challenges. Furthermore, traditional business models are starting to alienate parts of the general public by losing track of their interests and concerns. Overall, these issues are complex, because society changes in ways that are difficult to foresee for companies and other organisational actors alike, and thus warrant deep scholarly inquiry.

For the open PhD position, you will choose your own research topic within our department’s area of expertise: businesses acting upon unprecedented social and environmental changes. A common theme underlying this research is that it seriously considers the possibility that the way organisations engage in business – including how they relate to the context in which they operate – needs to be changed fundamentally and that incremental efforts are unlikely to be of sufficient help. Potential research topics include (but are not limited to) addressing sustainability issues in multinational enterprises and global value chains, systems and resilience thinking, corporate communication, sense-making processes, social innovation, business ethics, philanthropy, alternative organisational and governance forms such as social enterprises, commons and cooperatives, corporate social (ir)responsibility, (organisational) stigma, stakeholder management, and aligning corporate value propositions with societal issues.

Our department’s faculty consists of world-class, multi-disciplinary scholars who publish in top journals, develop pragmatic solutions for organisations, and educate future generations of business leaders. Your supervisory team will be formed of a promoter and co-promoter according to topic selected . The department’s faculty who advise on PhD research are (in alphabetical order): Flore Bridoux (Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Governance, Corporate Social (ir)Responsibility), Tine De Moor (Social Enterprise and Institutions for Collective Action), Corinna Frey-Heger (Social Innovation, Grand Challenges, Wicked Problems), Tony Jaehyun Choi (Community Influences on [ir]Responsible Business Behaviours), Jan Lodge (Stigma, Social Innovation, Social Movements), Emilio Marti (Sustainable Investing, Shareholder Pressure), Steve Kennedy (Systems and Resilience Thinking, Sustainable Business Models, Circular Economy), Ferran Torres Nadal (Organizational Paradox, Ontology and Epistemology, Grand Challenges), Khadija van der Straaten (International Business and Sustainability), Marius van Dijke (Behavioural Ethics), and Mirjam Werner (Sense-making).

Our faculty publishes in top journals such as Academy of Management Annals, Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Management, Journal of Management Studies, Organization Science, Organization Studies, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, and Research Policy. Faculty members teach at Bachelor, Master, and MBA-levels. In their teaching, the department members link state-of-the-art theory and research on sustainability, business-society management, business ethics, and general management with business practice, using innovative teaching methods. The department also has a strong tradition in organizing and participating in research seminars and workshops with both internal and external speakers. We also invest in bringing our knowledge back to society through intensive cooperation with societal partners and transdisciplinary research.

There are many methods that you can use for theory development and/or theory testing depending on your phenomenon of interest, intended theoretical contribution, and the methodological skills you wish to develop. Our faculty form a multidisciplinary team, and have broad experience with multiple research methodologies, both empirical quantitative research (surveys, laboratory experiments, field experiments) and qualitative research (e.g., case studies, ethnographies, longitudinal research).

Required profile

Candidates applying for a Ph.D. position within this research theme should have (or be close to completing) a master’s degree in business studies, management studies, sociology, economics, psychology, or a related discipline. In terms of methodological skills, candidates preferably have experience and interest in statistical, experimental and/or interview skills, and should be eager to learn new methodological tools.

We are looking for candidates who are passionate about research on how organisations can be key drivers of sustainable development, and we welcome applications from a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. Candidates should have a clear sense of the specific topic they want to study, and what method(s) they wish to apply. Your preferred topic, method(s) and supervisory team should be included in the cover letter.

Students define and execute their own research projects with the support of their supervisory team. Creativity, self-direction, and a passion for scientific research are therefore essential qualities.

Expected output

You will produce research that can be published in top-tier peer reviewed journals in sustainability, management, organisation, strategy, or applied psychology. These star journals are listed on the ERIM´s webpage: http://www.erim.eur.nl/about/erim-journals-list-ejl/ . Your work will also be published as a PhD dissertation.

Cooperation

To strengthen your international research network and complement your time at RSM, you will receive funding for a 3- to 6-month research visit at a top international university. We have strong connections with academics studying sustainability at many other universities such as at the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Harvard University, Stanford University, London Business School, HEC Paris, Imperial College London, and the University of Southampton. Members of the group are also well connected with executives in sustainable and innovative organisations.

Societal relevance

It is becoming increasingly clear that business and management scholarship need to engage much more with questions that go beyond efficiency considerations, performance and profit-maximisation. In your project, you will use management thinking to help address society’s grand challenges by questioning taken-for-granted assumptions and researching alternative and innovative forms of organising. Our business school is dedicated to making research useful for and valued by society and invests in training our students to do so in a responsible and ethical way.

Scientific relevance

Your research should aim at advancing our understanding of highly important aspects of sustainability for organisations, more specifically how they act upon the unprecedented changes that our society and business face. Thereby, your research will contribute strongly to academic knowledge and literature on this topic.

Literature references & data sources

Please refer to the web pages for more information about our current research interests and latest publications ( Business-Society Management - Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (rsm.nl) ).

Employment conditions

ERIM offers fully-funded and salaried PhD positions, which means that accepted PhD candidates become employees (promovendi) of Erasmus University Rotterdam. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the  Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO) .

Erasmus University Rotterdam aspires to be an equitable and inclusive community. We nurture an open culture, where everyone is supported to fulfil their full potential. We see inclusivity of talent as the basis of our successes, and the diversity of perspectives and people as a highly valued outcome. EUR provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, functional impairment, citizenship, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We look forward to welcoming you to our community.

Contact information

For questions regarding the PhD application and selection procedure, please check the Admissions or send us an e-mail via [email protected] .

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Our faculty members are uncompromisingly committed to student success

Students pursue an intensely focused, highly energized academic experience in their chosen discipline

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Stanford GSB PhD Program

Discover a focus and intensity greater than you may have thought possible. As a PhD student at Stanford Graduate School of Business, you will be inspired and challenged to explore novel ideas and complex questions.

Fall 2024 applications are now closed. Applications for Fall 2025 will be available in September 2024.

Become an Outstanding Scholar

Our PhD Program is designed to develop outstanding scholars for careers in research and teaching at leading academic institutions throughout the world. You will embark on a challenging and meaningful experience, focusing your academic study in one of seven distinct fields within the PhD degree program.

Is a PhD Right for You?

Strong PhD candidates are full of ideas and curiosity, with a passion and aptitude for research. If you’re prepared to embark on a rigorous career in research and develop your full potential, we invite you to explore the possibilities of a PhD in business. Admitted students receive full fellowships for their doctoral studies.

Faculty Publications

Financial inclusion, economic development, and inequality: evidence from brazil, is esg a luxury good, make decisions with a vc mindset, phd student voices, school news, stanford economist guido imbens wins nobel in economic sciences, susan athey named president of american economic association, teaching through a pandemic: students recognize two faculty members for their efforts, diversifying the pool of phd students will require systemic change.

Gain valuable research experience and training in a two-year, pre-doctoral opportunity at Stanford University.

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Course type

Qualification, university name, phd degrees in sustainability.

27 degrees at 23 universities in the UK.

Customise your search

Select the start date, qualification, and how you want to study

About Postgraduate Sustainability

Sustainability is an extremely relevant and versatile degree choice, which outlines the way we can mitigate our impact on the environment by adopting regenerative and sustainable practices to support ecological and economic health. It is a future-focussed field and studying it at PhD level offers a highly interdisciplinary learning experience with the option to specialise in a huge variety of professional environments.

To gain admission onto one of the 25 UK-based PhD degree programmes, you’ll first need to hold a strong postgraduate degree in a relevant subject area, and typically will need to demonstrate a significant amount of professional experience. Additionally, a clear research project proposal is usually required as part of the application process, and this will determine the work you do for a large part of your studies.

What to expect

You can expect to engage in advanced training in research methodologies, critical analysis, and the development of solutions for sustainable practices. You will study the environmental and human impact of mass industry and energy systems; the effect of sustainable practices of different types of communities; the life cycle of products and the technologies which can be integrated into our lives to find a more sustainable way of living.

As a doctoral candidate, you’ll conduct original research, contributing new insights to the field. The programme serves as excellent preparation for careers in academia, research institutions, policy development or leadership roles in organisations dedicated to advancing sustainability goals. Graduates are currently in high demand, and this demand is likely to only increase in the future as sustainability is one of the fastest-growing global employment sectors.

Related subjects:

• PhD Sustainability
• PhD Conservation and Protection of Specific Environments
• PhD Energy Economics, Management and Conservation
• PhD Environmental Analysis
• PhD Environmental Biology
• PhD Environmental Conservation and Policies
• PhD Environmental Health and Safety, Protection and Conservation
• PhD Environmental Management
• PhD Environmental Monitoring
• PhD Environmental Policy
• PhD Environmental Protection and Conservation
• PhD Environmental Science
• PhD Environmental Studies
• PhD Forensic Science
• PhD General Environmental Health
• PhD Marine and Coastal Conservation and Protection
• PhD Nature Conservation and Protection
• PhD Police Services
• PhD Pollution and Pollution Control
• PhD Renewable Energy Resources
• PhD Security, Police and the Armed Forces
• PhD Wildlife Conservation and Protection

• Course title (A-Z)
• Course title (Z-A)
• Price: high - low
• Price: low - high

MPhil/PhD in Strategy, Enterprise and Sustainability

Manchester metropolitan university.

RESEARCH CULTURE We undertake innovative research that is rooted in industry, driven by the global environment and reflective of evolving Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,850 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree

Sustainable Heritage MPhil/PhD

Ucl (university college london).

Research is at the core of ISH. Through it, we've successfully put sustainable heritage on the map of museums, galleries, libraries, Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £6,035 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,930 per year (UK)

PhD Sustainable Futures

University of bath.

Explore environmental change and the diverse responses needed to foster behaviours, practices and policies which promote Read more...

• 2 years Full time degree: £4,800 per year (UK)
• 3 years Part time degree: £2,400 per year (UK)

MPhil PhD Sustainability, Development, and the Environment

University of east london.

Studying for a PhD with UEL's Sustainability Research Institute will push you to new levels of innovation - and our world-class academic Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £6,020 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £3,010 per year (UK)

Environmental Sustainability PhD

University of glasgow.

Based at Dumfries Campus, our staff are experts in many areas of environmental sustainability, including sustainable tourism, environmental Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Chemistry PhD/MPhil - Sustainable Synthesis and Catalysis

University of leicester.

The School of Chemistry offers supervision for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - full-time and part-time Master of Philosophy Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

Sustainable Hydrogen CDT PhD

University of nottingham.

Sustainable Hydrogen provides low-carbon solutions as an energy store, supporting the rapid deployment of renewable energy generation, and Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £5,100 per year (UK)

Environment and Sustainability PhD

University of surrey.

Why choose this programme The University of Surrey has been leading the way in environment and sustainability research for more than 25 Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 8 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Resource Efficient Future Cities PhD

Brunel university london.

Research profile The Resource Efficient Future Cities has current strengths in two streams of research energy use efficiency focuses on Read more...

• 6 years Part time degree: £2,355 per year (UK)

MPhil/PhD (Sustainable Environment)

University of south wales.

A PhD is a doctoral degree based on a significant and original individual research project which culminates in an in-depth thesis (or Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,716 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,358 per year (UK)

PhD Sustainability, Business and Enterprise

University of central lancashire.

Sustainability, Business and Enterprise is one of UCLan's strategic research priorities, supporting our ambitious objectives to achieve Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £5,000 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,500 per year (UK)

Sustainable Resources MPhil/PhD

Faced with a growing global population and increased demand and competition for natural resources our mission is to generate knowledge in Read more...

Practitioner Doctorate in Sustainability PhD

Why choose this programme The University of Surrey has been leading the way in environment and sustainability research for more than 30 Read more...

• 36 months Full time degree
• 72 months Part time degree

PhD (Sustainable Environment)

Sustainable energy phd.

Why choose this programme Champion our ‘One Health, One Medicine’ approach which brings together expertise from a broad range of Read more...

PhD Sustainable Energy Technologies

University of hertfordshire.

Our research expertise in Renewable Energy Technologies specialises in areas including renewable energy, smart grids, novel wind energy Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £5,925 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,960 per year (UK)

University of Exeter

Successfully completing an MPhil or PhD entails undertaking an in-depth study of a particular topic and making an original contribution to Read more...

• 8 years Part time degree: £2,485 per year (UK)

PhD Sustainable Industrial Systems

University of manchester.

Programme description The main aim of our research is to help identify sustainable solutions for industrial systems on a life cycle basis, Read more...

DPhil in Sustainable Urban Development

University of oxford.

The Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Sustainable Urban Development is a part-time doctoral programme that provides outstanding students an Read more...

• 4 years Part time degree: £14,535 per year (UK)

MPhil/PhD in Global Sustainable Development

University of warwick.

Find out more about our MPhil/PhD in Global Sustainable Development. Our MPhil/PhD in Global Sustainable Development (GSD) offers you the Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,950 per year (UK)
• 7 years Part time degree

1-20 of 27 courses

Course type:

• Full time PhD
• Part time PhD

Qualification:

Universities:.

• University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education
• University of Suffolk
• University of St Andrews
• Keele University
• Anglia Ruskin University
• University of Bristol
• Abertay University

Related Subjects:

Sustainable Business Management (Optional Co-op)

Select start date and campus

• = Canadian Offering
• = International Offering
• AD = Accelerated Delivery
• Program description

Applying as a Canadian applicant

Domestic students should apply online or by phone at 1-888-892-2228.

Applying as an International applicant

Campus tours.

Campus tours are one of the best ways to experience Conestoga. During this time, we are offering online guided tours to show you all Conestoga has to offer.

Virtual tours

If you can't make an on-campus tour or attend one of our events, the virtual tour is a great way to visit us.

Program description - September 2024

Program details, program contacts.

• [email protected]

Academic school

​Join one of our events to find out more about Conestoga. Connect with staff, current students, and future Condors to see how Conestoga is right for you.

Tuition & fees

Tuition and fee details for the 2024-2025 year are listed below. Books and supplies may be additional.

International

Canadian fee details (non co-op option), returning student tuition & fees.

View all Canadian tuition & fee details for all levels View all International tuition & fee details for all levels

International fee details (non co-op option)

Canadian fee details (co-op option), international fee details (co-op option).

Program device & software requirements

This program requires you to have a device that meets certain specifications. For most students, this cost is in addition to the tuition & fees listed above.

Financial assistance

Awards & scholarships.

Student Financial Services awarded more than 400 awards, scholarships and bursaries last year.

Search for awards .

Co-op information

• Co-op programs add value to your education. Earn money while you apply what you've learned in a real workplace environment. Visit Co-operative education for more information.
• The College cannot guarantee co-op employment. All co-op students are required to conduct an independent co-op job search in addition to the supports and services provided by the Department of Co-op Education.
• Students are responsible for their own transportation and associated costs in order to complete work term requirements. Work locations may not always be readily accessible by public transportation.
• In order for a student to participate in a WIL experience/Co-op work term, students must be legally eligible to work in Canada.
• If students are unable to complete their co-op requirements, in order to be eligible to graduate from the non co-op stream, they must take the Career Development (CDEV) course found in the co-op design of their program.

Applying to the co-op stream

• All applicants apply to the non co-op program. Students will be informed of the application deadline and process to apply for the Co-op Stream. Labour market conditions determine the number of co-op seats in optional co-op programs. Not every student who meets academic eligibility requirements will be admitted to the co-op stream.
• To be considered for admission to the co-op stream, students are required to achieve a minimum overall 80% session weighted average in Level 1 with no dropped or failed courses.
• International students will require work permits to utilize the co-op job board for job search and to accept employment. Students are currently experiencing longer than usual wait times for work permits. Please be advised that there will be no co-op program service fee refunds after the program withdrawal for refund date. Students that have not received their work permit and choose to remain in co-op after the program withdrawal for refund date do so at their own risk and will not be refunded. If you are concerned about receiving your work permit in time to achieve co-op employment, please discuss your situation with your co-op advisor as early as possible.

Delivery sequence - September 2024 - Kitchener – Doon

This delivery sequence is for the non co-op option.

This delivery sequence is for the co-op option.

RIT to offer new pathway for earning MS degree in sustainable systems and MBA

University responds to growing demand for graduates with environmental and business acumen.

Elizabeth Lamark/RIT

RIT’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability and Saunders College of Business are collaborating on a new pathway for receiving a Master of Science degree in sustainable systems and a Master of Business Administration.

Rochester Institute of Technology ’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS) and Saunders College of Business are collaborating on an accelerated pathway that provides an opportunity for a Master of Science degree in sustainable systems and a Master of Business Administration .

The program represents a strategic response to the increasing demand for professionals equipped with expertise in sustainability and business management, positioning graduates to lead the way in addressing complex global challenges while driving organizational success.

The new master’s degree pathway in sustainable systems and business administration combines interdisciplinary coursework from GIS and Saunders College, building upon RIT’s reputation for excellence in sustainability education and business leadership and offering a unique opportunity for students to develop expertise in both areas.

“RIT's new master’s degree pathway addresses a critical need for professionals who can integrate sustainability principles into strategic business decision-making,” said Amit Batabyal , interim head of the Department of Sustainability at GIS.

“By combining advanced coursework in sustainable systems with foundational business principles, graduates will be well positioned to drive innovation and create positive social and environmental impacts within their organizations,” added Batabyal, Distinguished Professor and the Arthur J. Gosnell Professor of Economics in RIT’s College of Liberal Arts .

The program's interdisciplinary nature will enable RIT students to explore the intersection of sustainability and business through a variety of specialized courses, including sustainable supply chain management, corporate social responsibility, environmental economics, microeconomics, and strategic management. Through experiential learning opportunities, internships, and industry partnerships, RIT students will gain practical experience applying sustainability principles to real-world business challenges.

According to Bill Dresnack, director of Saunders College’s MBA program, the collaboration between GIS and Saunders College was initiated after a student expressed interest in both degrees.

“I’m thrilled that we collectively responded to a student idea and built a combined program that can serve businesses as well as communities,” said Dresnack, associate professor in the finance and accounting department . “The need to combine economic growth and innovation with environmental and social considerations will continue to increase, and at RIT we have the collective resources to play a significant role in this work. I’m proud to be a part of this.”

The new pathway is designed to be completed in two calendar years, offering RIT students the opportunity to earn two master's degrees in an accelerated timeframe. This pathway enables students to save time while positioning themselves in leadership roles in sustainability-focused industries, including renewable energy, green technology, and corporate sustainability management.

Interested students can join this new pathway by applying to the MS in Sustainable Systems program, then upon successful completion will automatically be admitted to the Master of Business Administration with scholarship guaranteed.

The program is open to students with diverse academic backgrounds, including environmental science, engineering, business, and related fields. Applications for the new pathway for a MS degree in sustainable systems and MBA are now open, with the first cohort scheduled to begin classes in the fall.

Recommended News

May 6, 2024

Waste management isn’t just about trash – it’s about resources too   

ASCE features Nabil Nasr, associate provost and director of Golisano Institute for Sustainability, as he speaks about REMADE Institute's recycling efforts in the U.S.

April 22, 2024

You are invited! Creativity and Innovation on Display April 27

April 15, 2024

RIT Singers team up with Madrigalia and RIT exhibitors

The RIT Singers will join members of the local singing group Madrigalia to present a concert dedicated to protecting and sustaining the Earth, and revitalizing nature. Formed in 1975, the chamber choir has collaborated with local and international audiences as well as premiering new works.

April 12, 2024

Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival set for April 27

Detecting deepfakes, a device to help grocery stores like Wegmans inspect strawberries and reduce waste, and even the economic impact of Taylor Swift are just a few of the nearly 400 exhibits at this year’s Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival.

Master of Science Programs

Dean of the graduate school : carlo salvato.

Bocconi offers a wide range of  2-year Master of Science programs , coordinated by the Graduate School, in the fields of Economics, Management, Finance, Political Science, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.

Program structures with an international focus, flexible study plans, interactive teaching and faculty with international exposure are the driving forces behind our MSc degrees.  

All programs offer advanced skills and knowledge building, preparing you for a future career as a leader in multi-cultural environments, all while promoting an attitude of responsible entrepreneurship. 

Choosing a Bocconi Master of Science is a  smart move  for several reasons: 

• You can benefit from a complete  learning experience  
• You can study at a university placed highly on  international rankings  
• You can get inspired by our internationally-renowned faculty   
• You can take advantage of our preferential relations with  top employers worldwide  
• You can apply for one of the  international opportunities  offered by our network of partner schools 
• You can spend time in  Milan , the Italian capital of finance, fashion and design  

Our Programs

If you are you currently enrolled or already graduated from a University abroad, you can apply to the Visiting students/Free-movers program .   

Need More Info?

Ask Our Students

Download our brochure.

Bocconi is about more than just classes

Your years on campus are about more than just the classes you attend: Bocconi and Milan also promote activities focused on culture, sports, art and sharing ideas. They help make your Bocconi experience an exciting time that is key to personal and professional growth.

A Sustainable Campus 

Our campus is a safe, multicultural and lively place, located in downtown Milan. Both its historic buildings and new spaces are integrated into the urban fabric to create an active environment, reverberating with university life. The campus includes a recreational sports center, a large park and a new student residence hall.

A European and cosmopolitan city

Milan is an open, international and multicultural city, a European metropolis full of events and public services with an unparalleled nightlife. It is a renowned symbol of fashion and design, as well as an important financial, economic and business hub.

Once a Bocconian, always a Bocconian!

You become a member of the Bocconi community when you start your program, joining other students, faculty, staff, Alumnae and Alumni. But Bocconi is not only a real community where you spend your days on campus, but also – and increasingly more so – a community you can get to know through our online social networks.

• Yekaterinburg
• Novosibirsk
• Vladivostok

• Tours to Russia
• Practicalities
• Russia in Lists

Rusmania • Deep into Russia

Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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