MBA Programs Go Green

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Some schools are incorporating it into the required core—as sustainability courses or green-related case studies—while others are offering specialized electives in areas such as energy markets, and still others are developing certificate or other joint-degree programs.

At Dartmouth College's Tuck School of Business, both the core curriculum and electives are becoming greener. Pat Palmiotto, director of Tuck's Allwin Initiative for Corporate Citizenship, says the integration of sustainability issues into existing courses is important, but so is adding new programs and courses that focus solely on green issues, as Tuck has done, so students who want to dig deeper, can.

Greening the Campus

Some business schools are integrating green ideas across campus, not just in the classroom. At Babson, there are 150 green initiatives, which include recycling cooking oil from dining facilities, generating wind power on campus, and using online course packets instead of paper print-outs. The idea is that this is more than just a passing fancy on the part of businesses. It's something that people have to ingrain into their everyday lives. "This is something any forward-thinking manager should think about," says Kross. "It's about good corporate strategy."

Stanford and Yale business schools are among the most well-known for their focus on the environment, and both have been at this for years. Stanford's new $350 million B-school campus, slated to open in 2010-11, is expected to incorporate a number of green features, including recycling or salvaging construction debris, increasing energy efficiency, and using rainwater or recirculated "gray water" for sewage.

But others, such as the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, are getting in on the act now. The school recently initiated a joint MBA/masters in environmental science degree. It also offers an MBA concentration in environmental management.

Making the Tough Choices

Wharton, says Eric W. Orts, professor of legal studies and business ethics and management, wants to stand out for its rigorous approach to these issues. "There are hard choices to make," says Orts, who heads up Wharton's Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership. "The hardest choices are when you're not making a lot of money but have to decide to do the right thing even if it costs more." Wharton makes students aware of those dilemmas and gives them a framework for dealing with them.

While environmental issues are expected to become slightly less popular with students over time, much like e-commerce did after its boom a decade ago, most agree that the world's problems won't easily be solved. Businesspeople will have to play a role in resolving them for a long time to come. Business schools, for example, might have to partner with other schools within their universities to create relevant programs, says Orts. For now, many MBA students are drawn to courses with an energy focus because of fluctuating energy prices, but in the future, they might focus on sustainable innovations that save money, says Julian Dautremont-Smith, associate director of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

Broader views of how business impacts the environment will start with business schools. But the world's problems won't be solved there alone. Both the private and public sectors will have to work together to make that happen, says Reinhardt. The bottom line: Future MBAs will have to be green to earn green.

Di Meglio is a reporter for BusinessWeek.com in Fort Lee, N.J.