The Baumhart Certificate in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) will rapidly provide leaders with the knowledge and skills to be effective today as companies determine how they engage in broader societal issues – from climate change to water scarcity, from community stakeholders to internal diversity, equity and inclusion. The Certificate will equip leaders who are already working in companies to accelerate their personal and company’s ESG journey by developing fundamental skills to navigate different ESG approaches, assess ESG risks and opportunities, implement ESG initiatives, and ultimately deliver and report financial and societal impacts.

Related Programs

Curriculum

The certificate requires the completion of five courses (15 credit hours).

In addition to two ESG-focused courses, you can choose three electives from: the Quinlan School of Business, the Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health, and the School of Environmental Sustainability. 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Introductory Course
MGMT 444	Introduction to ESG - Expectations & Opportunities	3
Elective Courses
Select three of the following:		9
ENVS 401	Sustainable Systems - Natural Science Perspectives
ENVS 402	Sustainable Systems - Social Science Perspectives
ENVS 410	Introduction to Environmental Law & Policy
ENVS 412	Water Law & Policy
ENVS 413	Energy Law & Policy
ENVS 427	Food Systems Analysis
ENVS 451	Introduction to Sustainability Concepts & Impacts
ENVS 463	Sustainable Business Management
HRER 417	Managing and Motivating in the Workplace
HRER 433	Group Process and Facilitation
ISSCM 596B	Data Driven Decision Making
MGMT 441	Business Ethics
MGMT 443	Global Environmental Ethics
MGMT 446	International Business Ethics
MGMT 485	Social Enterprise
MHA 430	Managerial Epidemiology
MPBH 400	Determinants of Population Health
MPBH 402	Public Health Practice and Management
MPBH 407	Public Health Policy: Concepts and Practice
Capstone Course
MGMT 445	ESG in Practice-Business Leadership in Times of Change	3
Total Hours		15

Suggested Sequence of Courses

The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework.  An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study.  Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Fall		Hours
MGMT 444	Introduction to ESG - Expectations & Opportunities	3
Elective Course		3
	Hours	6
Winter
Elective Course		3
	Hours	3
Spring
MGMT 445	ESG in Practice-Business Leadership in Times of Change	3
	Hours	3
Summer
Elective Course		3
	Hours	3
	Total Hours	15

Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations

Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.

Learning Outcomes

• Develop a strong grounding in the overall themes of ESG (Environment, Social and Governance). Provide all students with a required introductory class and a required capstone class that together establish the historical evolution of business, the linkage to all three themes in ESG and the relationship to the economy today. This is solidified in the capstone class, which links the students to examples of real world organizations engaged in ESG.
• Develop an understanding of the core methods for assessing ESG impact. Through the introductory and capstone classes, develop a strong foundation in the methods currently in use to identify ESG trends and impacts. This will connect both the ideas of identifying leadership organizations as well as the emerging ways to link actions to the underlying themes (i.e. Environment: climate and air pollution, etc.; Social: community health and DEI, etc.; Governance: organizational structure and internal policies, etc.)
• Establish an understanding of the current state of the industry and the opportunities to deepen on the ground impacts tied to the ESG high-level framework. Students will have the opportunity to go deep in all three areas by taking targeted classes that further define the ESG themes and are offered across the University. Students can take electives in the Quinlan School of Business, School of Environmental Sustainability, and Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health. They will then go deeper on the impact through a capstone class with an applied project.