Sustainable Business Practices Certificate
Program Overview
The one-year certificate program builds on your already existing business knowledge through courses specific to sustainability offered in the classroom, online, or a combination of the two. Learn how sustainability planning and reporting are reducing the environmental impact on our communities and how businesses are improving their sustainability by tightening up supply chains, optimizing waste management and changing procedures.
This program is designed to:
- Improve employability with a highly-specialized post-degree certificate in sustainable business practice
- Supplement your business or tourism degree with the knowledge to thrive in the “green” economy
- Develop your sustainability planning and reporting skills to help local businesses reduce their impact on the environment
Post-Degree Certificate Requirements:
- Required courses – 18 credits
- Elective courses – 12 credits
Required Courses
| Courses | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MGMT 303 | Business Ethics | 3 |
| MGMT 305 | Social Enterprise | 3 |
| MGMT 307 | Leading Sustainability | 3 |
| MGMT 310 | Sustainability Theory and Metrics | 3 |
| MGMT 410 | Managing Sustainable Operations | 3 |
| BIOL 151 or CHEM 100 or ENSC 101 | Biology of the Environment or Introduction to Environmental Chemistry or Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
Electives
A variety of elective courses can be used to satisfy this credit requirement. Courses outside of the program may be considered as electives with the prior approval of the Business Program Coordinator.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 151 | Biology of the Environment | 3 |
| CHEM 100 | Introduction to Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| ENSC 101 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
| ECON 250 | Environmental Economics | 3 |
| ENST 200 | Introduction to Environmental Sustainability | 3 |
| HIST 230 | Environmental History | 3 |
| MGMT 304 | Introduction to Non Profit Management | 3 |
Course Descriptions
Required Courses:
MGMT-303 – Business Ethics
This course provides an overview of Canadian business and its interrelationships with society. Course material covers current issues and ethical challenges faced in the world of work, providing the student with practical tools, methods and resources that encourage ethical behavior in and out of the workplace. Concepts covered include stakeholder management, corporate social responsibility and managing ethics from a business and managerial perspective.
- Minimum Credits: 3
- Length: 45 hours
- Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- (55%) in either ENGL 100 or in COMC 101.
- Delivery Method: ? On-campus, Online
- Cost: $351.12
- Course Outline
MGMT-305 – Social Enterprise
Sustainable and resilient communities are ones where social, economic, human, environmental and cultural needs and goals are all met. Social enterprises contribute to community development through direct participation in the marketplace and by using the profits produced to support a social purpose. This course introduces the social enterprise concept and challenges students to identify social issues and develop market-driven solutions that benefit all stakeholders. Business planning, leadership and transparent financial reporting are all stressed to ensure social benefits are realized.
- Minimum Credits: 3
- Length: 45 hours
- Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- (55%) in ENGL 100, or a minimum grade of C- in COMC 101
- Delivery Method: ? Online
- Cost: $351.12
- Course Outline
MGMT-307 – Leading Sustainability
This course incorporates principles of leadership and change management with sustainability. The course highlights the essential role leaders play in the success of sustainability initiatives and presents specific leadership strategies that facilitate sustainability implementation. MGMT 307 is relevant for anyone who is interested in managing change, implementing sustainable business practices and/or green initiatives in their organization, or who would like to further develop their leadership skills within the context of organizational change.
- Minimum Credits: 3
- Length: 45 hours
- Prerequisites: MGMT 310 may be taken previously or concurrently.
- Delivery Method: ? Online
- Cost: $351.12
- Course Outline
MGMT-310 – Sustainability Theory and Metrics
In this course, students develop a theoretical foundation for understanding and assessing sustainability in business practices. Students examine the theoretical framework, core concepts and the business case for sustainability. Activities and readings explore regional and global trends affecting sustainability, such as climate change and increasing stress on global ecosystems, sustainable community development, turbulent markets, disruptive technologies, and the impact of disparity between rich and poor. Sustainability measurement and reporting systems are compared and evaluated.
- Minimum Credits: 3
- Length: 45 hours
- Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C in ACCT 261 and ENGL 100. MKTG 281 and MGMT 204 or 216 may be taken previously or concurrently. Either Computer Science 12, Foundations of Math 12, Pre-Calculus 12, Geometry 12, Statistics 12, Calculus 12, MATH 090, or equivalent. Students may also fulfill the math requirements by successfully completing the College of the Rockies Business Management Diploma with a least a 65% average or are admitted into the Post-Degree Diploma in Sustainable Business Practices program.
- Delivery Method: ? Blended, On-campus, Online
- Cost: $351.12
- Course Outline
MGMT-410 – Managing Sustainable Operations
This course develops students’ ability to strategically implement sustainable business practices within the value chain of a business and to strategically implement more sustainable business practices. Building on the theory and metrics of sustainability, this course examines how implementation works at the level of operations management. Students review existing practices and consider new challenges that operations managers face when integrating sustainability within their organizations and traditional ways of doing business. Case studies help students analyze how businesses face challenges to be more accountable for the environment and resource consequences of their products, services, and processes; and to integrate environmental, safety, and health concerns with leaner, greener operations, greenproduct design, and closed-loop supply chains. Case studies also help us explore how new tools of operations management reporting are being applied. An overarching theme in this course is developing leadership to guide change initiatives and future challenges in sustainable operations management.
- Minimum Credits: 3
- Length: 45 hours
- Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C (60%) in MGMT 310
- Delivery Method: ? Blended, On-campus, Online
- Cost: $351.12
- Course Outline
Choose one (1) of the following:
BIOL-151 – Biology of the Environment
Biology 151 focuses on environmental and ecological topics within biology from a local perspective. BIOL 151 helps inform students about local and global environmental issues, current events, and new and emerging technologies from a scientific perspective. Students, with the help of their instructor, will design and implement a research project that focuses on a local environmental issue and present it to members of the community.
- Minimum Credits: 3
- Length: 90 hours
- Prerequisites: None
- Delivery Method: ? On-campus
- Cost: $351.12
- Lab Fees: $80.52
- Total: $431.64
- Course Outline
CHEM-100 – Introduction to Environmental Chemistry
This course is an introduction to the fields of environmental studies and environmental chemistry. Qualitative and quantitative aspects of environmental processes are studied. Topics include
atmospheric processes (including those involving carbon dioxide and ozone), air pollution, acid rain, natural waters, dissolved oxygen and the fate of chemical compounds in the environment. Where possible, examples involving local issues and current events are studied.
- Minimum Credits: 3
- Length: 90 hours
- Prerequisites: None
- Delivery Method: ? On-campus
- Cost: $351.12
- Lab Fees: $80.52
- Total: $431.64
- Course Outline
ENSC-101 – Introduction to Environmental Science
This course introduces students to scientific analysis and communication of environmental issues. Students will learn about natural systems and the complex interactions among their biological, physical, chemical and anthropogenic components. Students will consider Western and Indigenous perspectives, governance, and economic factors to critically evaluate and communicate environmental problems. Students will investigate how those issues affect various aspects of the ecosphere, including humans, and will use integrated knowledge and perspectives to explore sustainable solutions. Laboratory activities, field trips and guest lectures will offer the opportunity to study regional environments and local environmental issues.
- Minimum Credits: 3
- Length: 90 hours
- Prerequisites: Minimum 65% in either English 12, English Studies 12, English First People 12, ENGL 090, or equivalent.
- Delivery Method: ? On-campus
- Cost: $351.12
- Lab Fees: $80.52
- Total: $431.64
- Course Outline
Elective Courses:
A variety of elective courses can be used to satisfy this 12 credit requirement. Courses outside of the program may be considered as electives with the prior approval of the Business Program Coordinator.
ECON-250 – Environmental Economics
This course provides an introduction to the concepts and methods of analysis in environmental economics. It applies microeconomic principles to the examination of market failures and how they may be corrected either through incentives or policy. Topics include valuing the environment, cost-benefit analysis, environmental policy analysis, and specific Canadian environmental issues and policy.
- Minimum Credits: 3
- Length: 45 hours
- Prerequisites: ECON 101 or permission of the instructor.
- Delivery Method: ? On-campus
- Cost: $351.12
- Course Outline
ENST-200 – Introduction to Environmental Sustainability
This course examines the central concepts of environmental sustainability and considerations for development. Students are introduced to the complexity and debate of developing resource-based industries and minimizing impacts to ecosystems and communities. Planning and management strategies for various industries, as well as the role of various agencies and organizations, will be examined with specific examples.
- Minimum Credits: 3
- Length: 45 hours
- Prerequisites: None
- Delivery Method: ? On-campus
- Cost: $351.12
- Course Outline
HIST-230 – Canada’s Environmental History
Nature and humans have had a long, complex, reciprocal relationship, making for certain conceptions, processes, and complexities to develop. Those developments have led to three main areas of historical overview and deeper consideration:
1) How Canadians, including Indigenous people, have thought about the natural environment and colonized landscapes;
2) How development of resources and industrialization/urbanization in Canada have had short and long term effects; and
3) How Canada’s conservationists and environmentalists have responded at various junctures to address concerns.
Using an array of interdisciplinary sources emerging in the burgeoning environmental history field, this course ultimately places the dynamic interplay between the environment and people under study to better understand that relationship over time.
- Minimum Credits: 3
- Length: 45 hours
- Prerequisites: HIST 201 or HIST 202 recommended.
- Delivery Method: ? On-campus
- Cost: $351.12
- Course Outline
MGMT-304 – Introduction to Non-Profit Management
This survey course is designed to introduce students to the areas of responsibility of managers of non-profit organizations and is intended to provide a broad overview of the management challenges of the non-profit sector. Topics include scope and function of the non-profit sector; an overview of financial management; human resources management; strategic planning; and marketing functions within the non-profit sector. Specific issues are emphasized, such as accountability, board selection, volunteer management and fundraising.
- Minimum Credits: 3
- Length: 45 hours
- Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- (55%) in ENGL 100 or in COMC 101.
- Delivery Method: ? Online
- Cost: $351.12
- Course Outline
Admission Requirements
Prerequisites:
- A degree in business, commerce, finance, or tourism from a recognized university/college or permission of the Dean is required.
- English proficiency at the university/college level is required; including ENGL 100 or equivalent
- Students whose first language is not English must have an IELTS assessment score of at least 6.0 in all bands and 6.5 overall.
- Minimum 60% in either MATH 080, Foundations 11, Pre-Calculus 11, Essentials 11, Applications 11, Principles 11, Computer Science 11, Computer Science 12, Foundations of Math 12, Pre-Calculus 12, Statistics 12, Geometry 12, or equivalent.
Graduation Requirements:
Students must maintain an average grade of at least 65% and minimum course grades of at least 60% in all courses contributing to this credential.
Your Costs
Tuition and Fees:
| Tuition: | $3,511.20 |
| Application Fee: | $30.00 |
| Student Association Fee: | $69.00 |
| Bus Pass Fee: | $88.80 |
| Lab Fee: | $80.52 |
| Health and Dental Fee: | $229.50 |
| Total | $4009.02 |
Tuition and Fees for International Students:
| Tuition: | $15,249.90 |
| Application Fee: | $100.00 |
| International Fee: | $100.00 |
| Student Association Fee: | $69.00 |
| Bus Pass Fee: | $88.80 |
| Lab Fee: | $80.52 |
| Health and Dental Fee: | $229.50 |
| Guard.me Insurance: | $270.00 |
| Total | $16,187.72 |
*These prices are for international students and may not be 100% accurate. However, these estimates will give you an adequate idea of tuition and fees for our programs. These prices do not include textbook costs. All prices are subject to change. Tuition fees include an alumni fee, student activity fees, and a student technology fee. In certain cases a materials and supply fee may also be included. For more information, visit: Tuition and Fees.
Program Details
Delivery Method:?
Blended, On-campus, Online
Credential:
Post-Degree Certificate
Categories:
Business, Finance & Accounting, Math & Sciences, University Studies
Contact Details
Cranbrook
2700 College Way,
Box 8500, Cranbrook, BC, V1C 5L7
Phone: 250-489-2751
Toll-free: 1-877-489-2687
Email: info@cotr.bc.ca