Courses in Sustainability
Yes
Sustainability course is
Optional
Description
STRT 610: Corporate Social Responsibility
This course provides an overview and examination of the rationale, role, and practices of corporations in building on business objectives and strategically applying core competencies to do well (improve financial performance and build wealth for shareholders) and at the same time to do good (improve society and create social value for multiple stakeholders). Business leaders increasingly recognize that fulfilling their responsibilities in public life will determine how well we do as a society and how well they do as corporations. This is not a new idea. Companies have long been involved in social initiatives. But these initiatives are now becoming more integral to the core business enterprise and more related to corporate success. Social involvement is no longer just about writing a check --although corporate philanthropy is a useful strategy and should also be core to the business. It also is about employing social marketing, engaging company employees as volunteers in key enterprises and utilizing strategic business practices, such as reducing supply chain costs in an environmentally friendly way. It is about building profit centers around water preservation in an era of climate change and pursuing wellness and disease prevention as a business endeavor. In essence, it is about the bottom line, and about social change.
Strategy 567: Impact Investing
The future of successful business leaders will be defined by the ability to create, build, and sustain organizations with and for mission and finance related returns. In light of changing organizational structures (from C corp. to B corp.), the infusion of private capital for social good, and the increased integration of responsibility and ethics into the corporate workplace, emerging leaders should be prepared to understand the core concepts of investing for impact to retain a competitive advantage as a leader and organization.
Marketing 551: Marketing Research
Marketing research is a process for obtaining information to support management decision-making and strategic recommendations for serious consulting projects. The course structure follows the scientific method, which includes problem definition, research design, data collection, data analysis, and the interpretation and communication of findings. It is taught as a workshop with a live project and requires students to use statistical software for analysis. The course is deigned primarily for first-year MBA student who are interested in pursuing careers in marketing and consulting. In particular, the lecture/case from one class session addresses the power of affect and water recycling.
Marketing 570: Consumer Behavior
Course content relies heavily on CSR issues, including Sustainable Consumption and exploring the intersection of “green” and brands.” Students are required to conduct data analyses around sustainable consumption and primary research using video ethnographic methods on the role, issues surrounding, and complexities of green brands. This course takes an in-depth look at the social science processes and phenomena that underline the behaviors of consumers in traditional and e-commerce marketplaces. The purpose is to provide a background into the theories that attempt to explain behavior so that students explore the implications of those theories for improving marketing practice. While focusing on behaviors of final consumers, the concepts developed throughout the course provide insights into decision making more generally, leading to developing better communications, policies, and programs in any exchange setting.
Marketing 608: Business in the European Union
This course addresses issues in conducting business in the European Union, both for insiders and outsiders. Topics addressed include emissions trading and various regulatory issues in the EU.
Research Opportunities in Sustainability
Yes
Description
Georgetown MBA students have the opportunity to pursue independent studies during their second year, which are tailored to their specific interests. Several of these independent studies over the last years have focused on sustainability topics. Examples include Marketing in Sustainability-focused Small Business, Research Solar Energy Industry Association, Current Financing Issues facing Alternative Energy, Corporate R&D Strategy, Advanced Course on Corporate Social Responsibility, Global Business Experience projects, Seminar in Strategic Corporate Responsibility and several student driven initiatives.
School's environmental commitment 1:
MBA students have formed the Energy and Cleantech Club, whose mission is to expose interested students to various career opportunities and trends within the energy industry through an annual conference, guest speaker events, energy-specific treks, and group discussion. The club will address the areas of clean technologies and energy, including oil, gas, electric, renewable and clean technology, energy conservation, consulting, investments, management, trading, corporate finance, asset development, energy services, strategy and planning, business development, and policy.
School's environmental commitment 2:
The Social Impact Internship Fund provides financial support to first-year Georgetown MBA students interested in summer internship opportunities within nonprofit organizations worldwide. The fund enables many students to make an impact in organizations supporting the environment or sustainability issues.
School's environmental commitment 3:
Georgetown University's Rafik B. Hariri Building, which is the home of the McDonough School of Business, was awarded LEED Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute. The certification is based on five broad categories: sustainable site design and development, water efficiency, energy, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. The Hariri Building’s green features include:
• An expected energy savings of 15 percent through efficient lighting design and controls, including the extensive use of dimmable high-efficiency fluorescent fixtures, optimized garage exhaust fan controls, and ultra low-flow lavatory fixtures;
• A 41 percent water use reduction through use of ultra low flow fixtures and dual-flush water closets;
• Water-efficient landscaping;
• Operable exterior windows that contribute to indoor environmental quality;
• Building materials that contain recycled content and were manufactured locally;
• More than half of the construction waste – 800 tons – was recycled and re-used;
• Bicycle storage facilities, proximity to public transportation, and several preferred parking spaces for hybrid and electric vehicles;
• Highly reflective materials that were used to pave 68 percent of the non-roof impervious surfaces;
• Low-emitting paints, adhesives, sealants and carpeting;
• Manufacturing 25 percent of the total building materials using recycled materials; and
• Local products, in that nearly 31 percent of the total building materials were extracted, harvested, or recovered, as well as manufactured, within 500 miles of the project site.
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