Devastating droughts. Raging wildfires. Once-in-a-century storms that seem to happen every year. For many Californians, these things are as much of a part of life as traffic on the 405.
While many people are more than happy to take steps to reduce their carbon footprint, most understand it’s really not enough to hold back the flood waters.
According to a 2024 survey conducted by the Energy Policy Institute, 62% of Americans think corporations, not individuals, are the catalyst behind the climate crisis. Considering 100 companies have been responsible for roughly 75% of greenhouse gas emissions since 1988, it’s no wonder people are tired of being gaslit by one-sided “Do Your Part!” initiatives.
So what do they want instead? They want change. They want real corporate stewardship. They want to spend their money with companies that value the future over their profit margins. And with a Master of Business Administration in Sustainability, you can become the kind of leader that makes it all possible.
A State of Change: What Can You Do with an MBA in Sustainability in California?
If you’re considering an MBA in Sustainability, you probably have a few big existential questions on your mind, and more than a few practical ones too. The big one that would-be sustainable business majors often wrestle with is:
Can’t I just pursue a general MBA or one in a tried and tested niche to get my career established, and then use my influence as a leader to be a force for change in my industry?
You can certainly take that path, but in California, you don’t have to take the long way around to a career in environmental leadership.
Sustainability is already a multi-billion-dollar industry in the Golden State, and an MBA in Sustainability can put you right in the thick of it all.
In 2024 alone, the California state government invested $13 billion into sustainable infrastructure initiatives.
California was also one of the first states to adopt the Benefit Corporation business classification. In benefit corporations, directors and other leaders have the freedom to enact socially-beneficial initiatives even if they aren’t necessarily profitable — and there’s not a thing shareholders can do to stop them.
With those supports in place, it’s no wonder the Golden State is home to almost 3 million green-certified professionals working in energy, transportation, and other climate-impacting industries.
Outside those sectors, nonprofits, private corporations, and government organizations all have sustainability managers, CSOs (Chief Sustainability Officers), and other high-level professionals on staff.
Organizations that don’t have these professionals on the payroll often seek the help of consulting firms that specialize in sustainable business practices, whose sole purpose is to help businesses lower their environmental impact, take advantage of state and federal incentives, and form partnerships with local environmental justice leaders.
At the end of the day, an ethos of environmental stewardship courses through every sector of the California economy.
Whether you want to help tech firms re-imagine their production processes or help healthcare giants become champions of community health, there’s real work to be done right here in California.
What Exactly Is an MBA in Sustainability? Curriculum and Program Options in California
Generally speaking, MBA in Sustainability programs teach students how to identify sustainable business solutions, leverage their resources to invest in them, and take stock of their organizations’ environmental impact.
In that vein, schools that offer MBAs in Sustainability typically offer classes on:
- Impact investing
- Working with local, state, federal, and international government agencies like the UN
- Waste management and recycling at the organizational level
- The impacts businesses have on their communities and the people who call them home
- Environmental data analysis
- Change management
- Corporate stewardship (creating greenspaces, forming partnerships with nonprofits, etc.)
That being said, though, sustainability-focused MBA programs tend to vary between schools more than any other type of specialty MBA program.
Some focus on overarching sustainability leadership principles while others are zeroed-in on finance, international business practices, energy, and other specific areas. This means that when you’re shopping around for the perfect program, it’s important to give the curriculum an in-depth review.
Finding the Right MBA in Sustainability Program for You in California
MBA in Sustainability programs are a rather new phenomenon. As such, they’re a lot rarer than more traditional MBA specialties in areas like marketing, accounting, or finance. While that’s true in California, too, the Golden State lives up to its reputation by being home to more environmentally-conscious MBA programs than most of the rest of the country combined. But you don’t just have quantity on your side. The sheer diversity of in-state sustainability programs can work in your favor, too.
For starters, if you’re looking for a well-rounded and in-depth education in sustainability leadership, the MBA in Sustainable Solutions program at Redland University features classes on everything from environmental, social, and corporate governance data reporting to low-impact supply chain management.
If you’re more interested in fostering partnerships between the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, the Sustainability, Society, and Business program at USC might be more your speed. Or, if you’re not entirely sure which direction to take, UC Berkeley offers three options: general sustainability, clean energy, or impact investment.
These are only a few of your MBA in Sustainability program options in California. Even if none of those programs fit your needs, there’s a handful more to choose from.
Dual Degrees and Other Options for Starting a Career in Environmental Stewardship
Like other types of MBA programs, MBA in Sustainability programs typically include classes on general business principles like managerial accounting and organizational leadership. If that curriculum doesn’t fully meet your needs, there’s some other types of programs that might.
First, if you want a more in-depth education in both sustainability and business, consider pairing your MBA with a graduate degree in environmental studies. The University of San Francisco offers an MBA/MS in Environmental Management dual degree program while UC Berkeley offers an MBA/Master of Climate Solutions program. Dual degrees can typically be earned in about five to six semesters instead of the full eight semesters it would take to earn each degree independently.
Another option is to explore the many MA and MS programs in California that teach both organizational leadership skills and environmental science. For example, Claremont Lincoln University offers an MA in Sustainability Leadership and one in Social Leadership. If you’re considering a startup of your own or want to get into California’s massive energy investment market, consider the MS in Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Innovation program at Loyola Marymount in LA.
MBA in Sustainability Online and at California Campus Locations
MBA programs offer diverse concentrations related to sustainability and green business, and every one of them is listed right here.
You’ll find on-campus, online, Executive, and part-time programs on this list, tailored to business students at every phase.
University of California-Los Angeles
John E. Anderson School of Management
Los Angeles, CA
AACSB
Master of Business Administration in Sustainability
University of California - Berkeley
Haas School of Business
Berkeley, CA
AACSB
Master of Business Administration in Sustainability
Master of Business Administration in Energy and Clean Technology
Master of Business Administration in Sustainability & Impact Finance
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Singelyn Graduate School of Business
Pomona, CA
AACSB
Master of Business Administration in Business Sustainability
University of Southern California
Marshall School of Business
Los Angeles, CA
AACSB
Master of Business Administration in Sustainability, Society, and Business
University of San Francisco
Masagung Graduate School of Management
San Francisco, CA
AACSB
Master of Business Administration with a Master of Science in Environmental Management (Dual Degree)
Woodbury University
School of Business
Los Angeles, CA
AACSB, ACBSP
Master of Business Administration in Sustainability
University of Redlands
Presidio Graduate School
Redlands, CA
ACBSP
Master of Business Administration in Sustainable Solutions
Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Administration in Sustainable Solutions (Dual Degree)
Antioch University
Culver City, CA
HLC
