Green Business Management Graduate Certificate
Prepare to lead a culture of sustainability.
A hybrid approach to program delivery combining some on-site with extensive online learning technologies is being used to accommodate a wide range of interested individuals, including those who are unable to attend courses full time.
Is This for You?
This innovative certificate is created for College and University students who graduated from Business, Management or Environmental programs and who are passionate about creating a more responsible workplace. You will add a highly attractive additional skill set in sustainability to your formal education background. The program will be particularly attractive to:
- Managers and leaders who are tasked with leading sustainability and green practices in the business and industrial sector
- Entrepreneurs in the green product or service business or those who wish to add sustainability to a traditional product or service business
- Recent business graduates keen to add sustainable business practices to their tool kit; and
- Recent environmental studies graduates seeking to apply their ecological education to the business world
Certificate Highlights
This post-graduate certificate is designed to assist those interested in supporting and implementing broad-based business sustainability to develop the knowledge, tools, guidelines, techniques and practices to do just that. The program of study is includes:
- Flexibility: in-class components and online study
- Completion of a comprehensive business plan
- Culminating Applied Project with an industry partner
- Focus on pragmatic, ROI and change management aspects of green business
Career Prospects
Sustainability leaders in the global community are pushing for "Green Business Management" to be the norm rather than the exception. With this certificate you may be on your way to a new and exciting Green Business Leader Career as:
- Sustainability Coordinator or Manager
- Environmental Leader
- Program Manager - Green Products
- Sales and Marketing of Green Products and Services Categories
- Corporate Social Responsibility Advisors
Admission Requirements
The minimum admission requirement for this program is an Ontario College Diploma or an undergraduate university degree in a business or environmental related field. Professionals who are currently in management and professionals with equivalent related work experience will also be considered for admission on an individual basis.
A high level of comfort in computer/internet skills is recommended.
Mandatory Courses
Applied Project (GBM)
MGMT 200
Students undertake a four week applied project with an industry sponsor or partner organization. Using their sustainability plan or business plan and work to date in the program, students work with their partner on a specific project as agreed upon by the sponsor/partner, mentor, and program coordinator. The project culminates with a final presentation on the work project including final deliverables and results. This project is assessed by program faculty as well as by the project partner/sponsor. A mid-project assessment and presentation is also a project requirement. Prerequisite: Comprehensive Sustainability/Business Plan + six prerequisite Green Business Management program courses
There are no scheduled classes at this time. Please check back soon.
Comprehensive Sustainability/Business Plan
MGMT 199
: In this course students create a professional sustainability plan for an existing organization, or a business plan for a new environmentally sustainable business that meets the highest industry standards and is ready for submission to a sponsor. Students present viable sustainability plans or business plans to their peers for critique and revision. The plan is then polished with a mentor as the basis for their applied projects in industry and presented to the sponsor of the individual applied projects. This course is partnered with an additional 16 hours of work with a mentor for the final plan and presentation to the industry partner for the learner?s applied project. Prerequisites: Sustainability Principles, Models & Tools; Corporate Social Responsibility; Sustainability Standards, Practices & Processes; Workplace Sustainability; Opportunities in Green Economy; Implementing Change
There are no scheduled classes at this time. Please check back soon.
Corporate Social Responsibility
MGMT 194
Analysing critical issues and international best practices of environmentally sustainable organizations in the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR), learners will identify and develop strategies to manage risk and uncertainties in the global economy and natural and social environments while responding to the increasing demand for ethical and socially responsible business management behaviour. Working with a 'Partner Organization', learners evaluate the effectiveness of the policies and processes their Partner Organization has developed, and procedures and practices designed, to identify and accept responsibility for the impacts of its decisions and activities on the social and natural environment. The Partner Organization's policies, processes, procedures and practices will be examined with respect to how they contribute to sustainable development, take into account the expectations of stakeholders, are in compliance with applicable laws and consistent with international norms of behaviour.
There are no scheduled classes at this time. Please check back soon.
Implementing Change
MGMT 198
Without strong leadership, an organization culture cannot change. With a focus on effective communication, students examine the need for leadership to implement sustainability plans in organizations. Students will study the change process and the practices of environmental sustainability champions in organizations. Personal and organizational models will be examined through lecture, online cases and debates. Effective communications, persuasive presentations, and negotiating skills will be emphasized. Students will continue to refine their sustainability plans or business plans and add to their e-portfolios.
There are no scheduled classes at this time. Please check back soon.
Opportunities in Green Economy
MGMT 197
With a focus on growth and development of the Green Economy, this course examines market knowledge as well as marketing strategies and skills for entrepreneurs who are starting a new environmentally sustainable business, and for managers in existing organizations who are looking at environmentally sustainable initiatives for competitive advantage. Students develop and apply a business case framework to launch a new business, or to enhance the performance of an existing organization, that subscribes to environmentally sustainable practices and meets a market need for Green products or services. Analysing Green market trends, opportunities and issues through a variety of approaches, including class presentations from successful entrepreneurs and managers in environmentally sustainable organizations, students undertake appropriate market and financial feasibility analysis to identify attractive opportunities for a Green business idea with a physical or web-based presence. Students will also learn the process to apply for public sector and NGO grants and other financial support for environmentally sustainable business opportunities or projects.
There are no scheduled classes at this time. Please check back soon.
Sustainability Principles, Models & Tools
MGMT 193
This course introduces the learner to the Green Business Management Program and the field and scope of environmentally sustainable business management. Learners examine the ecological principles, economic and environmental (natural and social) trends, global environmental concerns and environmental management trends that are driving sustainability in organizations including profit seeking enterprises, not for profit enterprises, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and government organizations. With consideration of the impact of globalization, students research business management tools and models that support global leadership in achieving environmentally sustainable organization goals. In consultation with Program Faculty, learners develop a personal learning program and module sequencing. Setup and use of online social media tools and applications for facilitating online communication and collaboration among program participants, and for supporting learners in the creation of online portfolios and resource networks is initiated. The development of a sustainability plan for an existing organization or a business plan for a new environmentally sustainable organization is introduced as the underlying theme of the program.
There are no scheduled classes at this time. Please check back soon.
Sustainability Standards, Practices & Processes
MGMT 195
Learners will analyze change management issues facing organizations when transitioning or attempting to transition to environmentally sustainable business management practices and processes, including their possible roles in achieving organizational goals. Students learn foundational skills to become tomorrow's environmentally sustainable business management leaders. Students explore the principles, values, and best environmentally sustainable business management practices of industry leaders in a wide array of sectors, including but not necessarily limited to banking, construction, education, food production and distribution, forestry, healthcare, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing, not for profit, public administration and transportation. Students familiarize themselves with best business practices in water conservation, energy conservation, waste management and carbon footprint reduction. The scope and applicability of industry and association standards, legislation, and Green certification programs are examined and analyzed. Case studies and guest speakers provide students with the knowledge to enhance the environmental sustainability of current or future organizations.
There are no scheduled classes at this time. Please check back soon.
Workplace Sustainability
MGMT 196
Students engage in fieldwork with industry experts, and liaise with an existing organization to design and undertake a sustainability assessment as a tool to benchmark its current environmental sustainability status. Students conclude the course with a presentation of assessment findings to the organization?s management and/or industry specialist, communicating the benefits to the organization of undertaking recommended sustainability projects to become a more environmentally sustainable work place. Students will continue to refine their sustainability plans or business plans and add to their e-portfolios.
There are no scheduled classes at this time. Please check back soon.