Sustainable Management
PROGRAM CONTACT INFORMATION:
Steve Dunn Ph.D., Academic Director
Office: Sage 1614F
Phone: 920-539-8830
Website: https://sustain.wisconsin.edu/get-smgt-ms-guide-uwosh/
Email: dunns@uwosh.edu
FACULTY
Sabrina Dunn, Steven Dunn, M. Lizotte, H. McCombs (See also https://sustain.wisconsin.edu/sustainability-programs/faculty/masters/ for faculty across the collaborating campuses).
PURPOSE
The Master of Science in Sustainable Management represents a comprehensive, multidisciplinary curriculum that prepares students to advance their careers and pursue their academic ambitions through leadership and management positions within the biotechnology field. Defined core courses provide students with a solid foundation in biotechnology, leadership, ethics, research, communications, product development, quality control, and regulatory and compliance practices. In addition, the program offers three unique tracks to assist students in tailoring their coursework to meet their career goals: quality assurance and compliance; business management; and research and development.
The M.S. in Sustainable Management is a partnership of UW Extended Campus, University Wisconsin Oshkosh, University of Wisconsin Superior, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, University of Wisconsin Parkside, and University of Wisconsin Stout. The program is a fully online, asynchronous curriculum comprised of 31 credits to include a culminating, project-based Capstone experience. Graduates of the program will gain the core competencies required to manage functions across a wide range of biotechnology industries.
DEGREE
Completion of the program will lead to the degree: Master of Science (M.S.)
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS INFORMATION
In addition to the requirements of the Office of Graduate Studies specified in the first section of this Bulletin, the program has established the following policies and procedures for admission:
Students must satisfy all admission requirements before starting the program and will not be allowed to take outstanding prerequisite courses concurrently with introductory program courses. Each student’s prior academic background is evaluated by the Academic Director of the program at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Official transcripts from colleges and universities attended must be submitted. Students with a GPA of 3.0 or greater from an accredited university will be admitted to the program. Students with a GPA of less than 3.0 may be considered for provisional admission by an Admissions Committee consisting of representatives from all the participating campuses, although additional verification of academic record and potential could be requested. Program academic directors have the option to waive one or more of the above prerequisites based on student work experience and background.
References
Two reference letters are required. Ideally these will come from people who are familiar with your academic and/or professional background. They should be sent directly to the Graduate Programs office.
Personal Statement
A personal statement describing the reasons behind your decision to pursue this degree and what you believe you will bring to the MS Sustainable Management program. Space for the personal statement is included in the online application.
SUMMARY
The program consists of 34 credits. Students first take all 8 core courses-24 credits total (700, 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, 760, 770) and two of the specialty courses (780, 782, 784, 785). All students then complete the capstone preparation and capstone project courses – 4 credits total (790,792)
ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY
Students must satisfy fully the Office of Graduate Studies requirements for advancement to candidacy as stated in the Policies section of this bulletin. Students should apply for the Admission to Candidacy after completing 9 credits. The Academic Director and Office of Graduate Studies give final approval.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must satisfy all program and Office of Graduate Studies academic degree requirements to be eligible for graduation and degree conferral.
COURSES OFFERED IN THE MS SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT DEGREE PROGRAM
SMGT 700 Cultural and Historical Foundations of Sustainability
SMGT 710 The Natural Environment
SMGT 720 Applied Research and the Triple Bottom Line
SMGT 730 Policy, Law and the Ethics of Sustainability
SMGT 740 Economics of Sustainability
SMGT 750 The Built Environment
SMGT 760 Geopolitical Systems: Decision Making for Sustainability on the Local, State and National Levels
SMGT 770 Leading Sustainable Organizations
SMGT 780 Corporate Social Responsibility
SMGT 782 Supply Chain Management
SMGT 784 Sustainable Water Management
SMGT 785 Waste Management and Resource Recovery
SMGT 786 Climate Change
SMGT 790 Capstone Preparation Course
SMGT 792 Capstone Project SMGT
COURSE OFFERING(S)
| Sustainability Management 700 | 3 (crs.) |
| Cultural and Historical Foundations of Sustainability | |
| The changing relationships of humans to the natural environment; changes in dominant scientific perspectives and the process of scientific debate. The quest for understanding, manipulating, and dominating the natural world. Cultural and organizational structures; the role and impact of technology; the systems approach to problem solving and its implications for the future. | |
| Sustainability Management 710 | 3 (crs.) |
| The Natural Environment | |
| Natural Cycles, climate, water, energy, biosystems, the role of humans in the biosphere; human impacts on natural systems. The carbon cycle as a unifying theme. Specific topics to be studied include disturbance pollution and toxicity, carrying capacity, and natural capital. | |
| Sustainability Management 720 | 3 (crs.) |
| Applied Research and the Triple Bottom Line | |
| This course demonstrates how to document and project internal and external costs resulting from the inseparability of the natural, social, and economic environments. Students will also assess sustainability issues using basic modeling techniques; cause and effect, root cause analysis, regression analysis, and business scenario-based cases. | |
| Sustainability Management 730 | 3 (crs.) |
| Environmental Law, Policy and Economics | |
| The Law and Ethics regarding sustainability of Economic development and emerging environmental challenges at national and international levels; Including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) Carbon Footprints, Kyoto protocol, and Brundtland Commission. The policy and role of government and its agencies such Army Corps of Engineers; Department of Interior, etc., in building a more just, prosperous, and secure environmental common future. | |
| Sustainability Management 740 | 3 (crs.) |
| Economics of Sustainability | |
| Understand the economy as a component of the ecosystem within which it resides, with natural capital added to the typical analysis of human, social, built, and financial capital. Explore traditional micro, macro, and international trade theory and policy and the implications of sustainability. Topics include: history of economic systems and thought; globalization and localization; distinguishing between growth and development; the nature and causes of market failure; consumption, consumerism, and human well-being; emerging markets; technological change; business organization and financial market alternatives; demographic change; and the global food economy. | |
| Sustainability Management 750 | 3 (crs.) |
| The Built Environment | |
| The assessment of the intersection of the built environment and human needs: water, air, food, waste, transportation, healthcare and education. Focus on evaluation and analysis of energy technology systems and building efficiency in the context of facilities management. | |
| Sustainability Management 760 | 3 (crs.) |
| Geopolitical Systems: Decision Making for Sustainability at the local, state, & national level. | |
| This course examines decision making and public policy for sustainability at the national, state and local level. It emphasizes the social, economic, and political factors that affect decisions within the public, nonprofit, and private sectors, and in particular decisions that are designed to foster achievement of sustainability. Special attention is given to formal American policymaking processes at all levels of government; informal activities by citizens, organizations, and businesses that are designed to influence public policy and sustainability; public and community engagement with sustainability issues and policies; corporate sustainability activities and reporting; the potential for public-private partnerships and collaboration in environmental and sustainability decision making; and practical examples of successful decision making for sustainability at all levels. This is a new and hybrid course that draws from work in political science, public policy, public administration, environmental policy and administration, and the emerging field of sustainability studies and sustainable management. | |
| Sustainability Management 770 | 3 (crs.) |
| Leading Sustainable Organizations | |
| This course takes a macro-level perspective on leading sustainable organizations. Topics addressed include: Organizational change and transformation processes, strategic and creative thinking, organizational structures and their impacts, conflict management and negotiation, stakeholder management and situational leadership styles and behaviors. We focus on how organizational leaders develop and enable sustainable organizations, especially in times of environmental change. | |
| Sustainability Management 780 | 3 (crs.) |
| Corporate Social Responsibility | |
| Corporate social responsibility and an organization. Evaluation of risks and potential impacts in decision making recognizing the links between the success of an organization and the well-being of a community. Integrating corporate social responsibility throughout an organization, creating metrics and communicating CSR policies internally and external. Development of best practices in an organization pertaining to corporate social responsibility. | |
| Sustainability Management 782 | 3 (crs.) |
| Sustainable Supply Chain Management | |
| Just as the network has become more important than the computer in delivering information for establishing and maintaining a competitive advantage, the supply chain has become at least as important as where products are made. Efficiency in delivering products and services from their sources to the consumer is expected in the global economy. Each link in the supply chain from product origination to ultimate use is closely scrutinized for value and on-value content and contribution to the total cost to serve. This course will ground the participant in these financial and managerial elements and extend their thinking to the longer term environmental costs and social responsibility implications. Prerequisites: Business 724, Business 726 knowledge of Financial Accounting and Excel. | |
| Sustainability Management 784 | 3 (crs.) |
| Sustainable Water Management | |
| Water shortages are already a critical problem in many parts of the world. In this class we will review the interactions between humans and the natural environment, various water quality improvement measures, and explore the role water plays in all aspects of sustainability with an emphasis on the future challenges posed by climate change. | |
| Sustainability Management 785 | 3 (crs.) |
| Waste Management and Resource Recovery | |
| Topics include the generation, processing, management, and disposal of municipal, industrial, and agricultural waste with an emphasis on the technical, economic, and environmental aspects of various recovery processes. Additional topics will include producer responsibility, design for environment, and life cycle analysis. | |
| Sustainability Management 786 | 3 (crs.) |
| Climate Change | |
| In this course, you will explore climate change through scientific, humanistic, and sustainability frameworks. After building a strong foundation in the causes, impacts, and study of climate change, you will apply this understanding to evaluate scientific communication, environmental justice and vulnerability, and environmental policy to find solutions and strategies to address anthropogenic climate change. | |
| Sustainability Management 790 | 1 (crs.) |
| Research Methods | |
| This course examines the methods used in sustainability management research, including the design of research studies and the collection and analysis of data. Students will study and develop an initial research project of their choosing with instructor approval. Typically this project will involve an in-depth look at a sustainability issue that is applicable in their place of employment or in a local not-for profit organization. | |
| Sustainability Management 792 | 3 (crs.) |
| Capstone Project | |
| Students will conduct original research on a project of their choosing with instructor approval. Typically this project will involve an in-depth look at a sustainability issue that is applicable in their place of employment or in a local not-for profit organization. The project design will be a continuation of work started during the research methodology class that is a prerequisite to this course. | |
Sustainability Management 700 3 (crs.)
Cultural and Historical Foundations of Sustainability
The changing relationships of humans to the natural environment; changes in dominant scientific perspectives and the process of scientific debate. The quest for understanding, manipulating, and dominating the natural world. Cultural and organizational structures; the role and impact of technology; the systems approach to problem solving and its implications for the future.
Sustainability Management 710 3 (crs.)
The Natural Environment
Natural Cycles, climate, water, energy, biosystems, the role of humans in the biosphere; human impacts on natural systems. The carbon cycle as a unifying theme. Specific topics to be studied include disturbance pollution and toxicity, carrying capacity, and natural capital.
Sustainability Management 720 3 (crs.)
Applied Research and the Triple Bottom Line
This course demonstrates how to document and project internal and external costs resulting from the inseparability of the natural, social, and economic environments. Students will also assess sustainability issues using basic modeling techniques; cause and effect, root cause analysis, regression analysis, and business scenario-based cases.
Sustainability Management 730 3 (crs.)
Environmental Law, Policy and Economics
The Law and Ethics regarding sustainability of Economic development and emerging environmental challenges at national and international levels; Including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) Carbon Footprints, Kyoto protocol, and Brundtland Commission. The policy and role of government and its agencies such Army Corps of Engineers; Department of Interior, etc., in building a more just, prosperous, and secure environmental common future.
Sustainability Management 740 3 (crs.)
Economics of Sustainability
Understand the economy as a component of the ecosystem within which it resides, with natural capital added to the typical analysis of human, social, built, and financial capital. Explore traditional micro, macro, and international trade theory and policy and the implications of sustainability. Topics include: history of economic systems and thought; globalization and localization; distinguishing between growth and development; the nature and causes of market failure; consumption, consumerism, and human well-being; emerging markets; technological change; business organization and financial market alternatives; demographic change; and the global food economy.
Sustainability Management 750 3 (crs.)
The Built Environment
The assessment of the intersection of the built environment and human needs: water, air, food, waste, transportation, healthcare and education. Focus on evaluation and analysis of energy technology systems and building efficiency in the context of facilities management.
Sustainability Management 760 3 (crs.)
Geopolitical Systems: Decision Making for Sustainability at the local, state, & national level.
This course examines decision making and public policy for sustainability at the national, state and local level. It emphasizes the social, economic, and political factors that affect decisions within the public, nonprofit, and private sectors, and in particular decisions that are designed to foster achievement of sustainability. Special attention is given to formal American policymaking processes at all levels of government; informal activities by citizens, organizations, and businesses that are designed to influence public policy and sustainability; public and community engagement with sustainability issues and policies; corporate sustainability activities and reporting; the potential for public-private partnerships and collaboration in environmental and sustainability decision making; and practical examples of successful decision making for sustainability at all levels. This is a new and hybrid course that draws from work in political science, public policy, public administration, environmental policy and administration, and the emerging field of sustainability studies and sustainable management.
Sustainability Management 770 3 (crs.)
Leading Sustainable Organizations
This course takes a macro-level perspective on leading sustainable organizations. Topics addressed include: Organizational change and transformation processes, strategic and creative thinking, organizational structures and their impacts, conflict management and negotiation, stakeholder management and situational leadership styles and behaviors. We focus on how organizational leaders develop and enable sustainable organizations, especially in times of environmental change.
Sustainability Management 780 3 (crs.)
Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate social responsibility and an organization. Evaluation of risks and potential impacts in decision making recognizing the links between the success of an organization and the well-being of a community. Integrating corporate social responsibility throughout an organization, creating metrics and communicating CSR policies internally and external. Development of best practices in an organization pertaining to corporate social responsibility.
Sustainability Management 782 3 (crs.)
Sustainable Supply Chain Management
Just as the network has become more important than the computer in delivering information for establishing and maintaining a competitive advantage, the supply chain has become at least as important as where products are made. Efficiency in delivering products and services from their sources to the consumer is expected in the global economy. Each link in the supply chain from product origination to ultimate use is closely scrutinized for value and on-value content and contribution to the total cost to serve. This course will ground the participant in these financial and managerial elements and extend their thinking to the longer term environmental costs and social responsibility implications. Prerequisites: Business 724, Business 726 knowledge of Financial Accounting and Excel.
Sustainability Management 784 3 (crs.)
Sustainable Water Management
Water shortages are already a critical problem in many parts of the world. In this class we will review the interactions between humans and the natural environment, various water quality improvement measures, and explore the role water plays in all aspects of sustainability with an emphasis on the future challenges posed by climate change.
Sustainability Management 785 3 (crs.)
Waste Management and Resource Recovery
Topics include the generation, processing, management, and disposal of municipal, industrial, and agricultural waste with an emphasis on the technical, economic, and environmental aspects of various recovery processes. Additional topics will include producer responsibility, design for environment, and life cycle analysis.
Sustainability Management 790 1 (crs.)
Research Methods
This course examines the methods used in sustainability management research, including the design of research studies and the collection and analysis of data. Students will study and develop an initial research project of their choosing with instructor approval. Typically this project will involve an in-depth look at a sustainability issue that is applicable in their place of employment or in a local not-for profit organization.
Sustainability Management 792 3 (crs.)
Capstone Project
Students will conduct original research on a project of their choosing with instructor approval. Typically this project will involve an in-depth look at a sustainability issue that is applicable in their place of employment or in a local not-for profit organization. The project design will be a continuation of work started during the research methodology class that is a prerequisite to this course.