Bachelor of Business Administration Concentration in Environmental Management

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Emory University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Business Administration concentration in Environmental Management at Emory University's Goizueta Business School combines business education with environmental science and policy, helping students understand how business decisions affect natural systems and how organizations can respond to environmental challenges. Designed for students interested in sustainability, responsible business and environmental management, this interdisciplinary pathway combines management, finance, marketing and strategy with environmental studies to prepare students for careers at the intersection of business and environmental responsibility.

Curriculum Structure

The Environmental Management concentration is completed alongside the BBA degree rather than as a separate bachelor's degree. Its requirements combine core business courses, environmental science coursework, relevant electives and a senior-year capstone; the precise sequence depends on prerequisites and course availability.

Year 1: Building a Business Foundation

Students begin developing their business knowledge through introductory coursework and preparation for the BBA curriculum. Courses such as Accounting: The Language of Business (ACT 200), Business Economics (FIN 201, where applicable) and Data and Decision Analytics (BUS 350) help students understand financial information, economic decisions and data-driven problem-solving.

Year 2: Developing Core Business Skills

Students build a stronger understanding of how organizations operate and make decisions. Courses such as Corporate Finance (FIN 320), Marketing Management (MKT 340) and Process and Systems Management (ISOM 351) develop skills in financial planning, marketing strategy and operational efficiency that can later be applied to environmental management challenges.

Year 3: Connecting Business with Environmental Systems

Students begin or advance through the concentration's specialized requirements, including environmental science and policy coursework. Relevant options include Living in the Anthropocene (ENVS 120), Environmental Sciences (ENVS 130), Environmental Change and Health (ENVS 140), and Environmental Data Science (ENVS 270), alongside business courses such as Sustainability Measurement and Reporting (ACT 311) and Business and Society (OAM 332), subject to prerequisites and availability.

Year 4: Applying Environmental Management Knowledge

Students complete remaining concentration requirements and develop an integrated understanding of business and environmental issues. The senior-year capstone includes Service Learning in Environmental Sciences (ENVS 491) and an Environmental Management Capstone Portfolio (ENVS 485), allowing students to connect academic learning with applied environmental challenges.

Focus Areas

Environmental management, environmental science and policy, sustainable business, sustainability measurement and reporting, corporate finance, marketing management, organizational strategy, environmental data science, environmental assessment, climate change and society, and responsible business practices.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop an understanding of environmental systems and environmental policy, assess the relationship between business decisions and environmental impacts, apply business principles to sustainability challenges, and strengthen their analytical, management and decision-making skills. The interdisciplinary curriculum also helps students prepare for work across business, nonprofit and government environments.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Environmental Management concentration is a collaborative academic pathway between Emory College's Department of Environmental Sciences and the Goizueta Business School BBA Program. The official concentration requirements do not identify a separate professional accreditation specifically for Environmental Management; students should therefore distinguish the academic concentration from a professional certification in sustainability or environmental management.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Goizueta's BBA program emphasizes practical problem-solving, business decision-making, professional development and experiential learning. Its career reporting includes internship and graduate employment information for BBA students, but the university does not publish a separate employability ranking or employment rate specifically for the Environmental Management concentration.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Environmental Management concentration at Emory combines business learning with applied environmental science, giving students opportunities to explore how organizations can respond to sustainability challenges. Through environmental science coursework, field projects, internships, guest speakers and seminars, students can connect classroom concepts with real environmental and organizational issues. The concentration also includes a senior-year capstone portfolio that brings together the student's learning across business and environmental studies.

Students can develop practical skills through the following opportunities:

Environmental science fieldwork: Courses such as Atmospheric Science with Lab (ENVS 229), Fundamentals of Geology with Lab (ENVS 230) and Sustainable Water Resources with Lab (ENVS 348) offer relevant scientific and laboratory-based learning opportunities, subject to course availability.
Environmental data and mapping: Cartography and GIS (ENVS 250), Quantitative Techniques in Environmental Studies (ENVS 260) and Environmental Data Science (ENVS 270) provide options for developing environmental mapping, quantitative analysis and data interpretation skills.
Environmental assessment and management: Environmental Assessment and Management (ENVS 320) helps students explore approaches to evaluating environmental issues and management decisions.
Green business and sustainability: Green Business (ENVS 352W) and Sustainability Measurement and Reporting (ACT 311) connect environmental responsibility with business practices, reporting and organizational decision-making.
Internships and field projects: The concentration identifies internships and field projects among its co-curricular activities, giving students opportunities to gain practical experience. Specific placements depend on availability and individual arrangements.
Senior-year capstone: Environmental Science Practicum (ENVS 491) and the Environmental Management Capstone Portfolio (ENVS 480) are listed in the official concentration requirements for the senior year. These components help students integrate their environmental and business knowledge.
Speakers and seminars: Concentration-related activities include speakers and seminars, providing opportunities to learn about environmental management topics and professional perspectives.

The official concentration requirements specify these courses and activities but do not guarantee access to a particular software package, internship placement or dedicated laboratory for every student.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates who combine business administration with environmental management can pursue careers involving sustainability strategy, environmental consulting, corporate responsibility and project management. The concentration helps students understand both business operations and environmental systems, providing a foundation for roles such as sustainability analyst, environmental management consultant, corporate sustainability coordinator and environmental project coordinator. Specific opportunities depend on the student's experience, technical skills and the requirements of individual employers.

Students can prepare for employment and further study through the following opportunities:

Career support: Goizueta's Career Management Center provides career coaching, interview preparation, job-search planning, professional development and employer-recruiting support for BBA students.
Internship opportunities: Goizueta provides internship resources and reports internship outcomes by industry and job function. Students can use these opportunities to build experience in business, consulting, technology, government, nonprofit organizations and other relevant sectors.
Employment and salary statistics: According to Goizueta's 2025 BBA employment report, 97% of students accepted employment offers within three months of graduation. The reported average base salary was US$87,749, and the median base salary was US$85,000. These figures cover the overall BBA graduating class, not students specifically completing the Environmental Management concentration, and are not guaranteed individual outcomes.
University–industry connections: Goizueta's employer network includes organizations such as Accenture, Amazon and other businesses across consulting, technology, finance and additional sectors. These relationships can support recruiting and professional networking, but the university does not guarantee environmental management placements with these employers.
Environmental career preparation: Coursework in environmental policy, environmental assessment, green business and sustainability measurement can help students prepare for work involving organizational sustainability and environmental decision-making.
Long-term professional development: The concentration combines business and environmental knowledge, which may support progression into sustainability management, environmental consulting or corporate responsibility roles. Certain specialist positions may require further qualifications or professional certifications.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BBA, students may consider postgraduate programs in sustainability management, environmental management, environmental policy, sustainable business, corporate responsibility or related fields. An MBA may also be suitable for graduates who want to move into business leadership, strategy or sustainability-focused management roles. Students interested in technical environmental research may need additional science coursework or a relevant postgraduate qualification. Admission requirements vary by university and program.