Business degrees: Sustainability and innovation are the new career trends

Our world is facing more critical issues such as global warming, pollution and depleting natural resources. It’s a key reason why more businesses are recognising the need to include sustainability in their operations, and how they can contribute to “limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees celsius to avoid catastrophe.” In fact, 62% of business executives think a sustainability strategy is essential to remain competitive.

A corporate social responsibility survey in 2017 by Cone Communications discovered that 73% of Americans would not buy from a company not supporting climate change. Yet, 87% would purchase from a company that cares about an issue related to sustainability. If businesses work together on climate change with governments and stakeholders, the economic benefits can be worth some US$26 trillion.

It therefore makes sense that today’s business degrees should stay current by incorporating environmental matters and aiming to nurture sustainable business leaders. Here are four US universities that are leaders in this aspect:

A Bemidji State University education is affordable, flexible and supportive. Source: Bemidji State University

Bemidji State University

Bemidji State University’s beautiful lakeside campus in Minnesota’s north woods provides a welcoming setting for students interested in business programs. Business-related programs in BSU’s departments of Business Administration, Integrated Media and Computer Science prepare students for in-demand careers with specialization offered in entrepreneurship, management, marketing, finance, human resources, marketing communications and computer information systems.

Bemidji State’s dedicated, diverse faculty bring real-world experience into the classroom, and are committed to student success. In partnership with regional and community business leaders, our curriculum values teamwork, active learning in the classroom and experiential learning opportunities such as internships in and around Bemidji. Marketing Assistance and Research Solutions (MARS), staffed by BSU marketing students, provides the community with professional marketing and research services.

The campus and online programs in Business Administration and Marketing Communication provide flexibility to students no matter their circumstances — traditional students, working professionals, stay-at-home parents, caregivers, or living abroad.  Our online MBA program can be completed full-time in 12 months and our Business Administration undergraduates can enroll in an accelerated program to earn both an undergraduate and graduate degree in just five years.

Bemidji State University is affordable, flexible and supportive option for university study in America. Everyone pays the same low tuition — international and domestic students pay the same tuition rate as students from Minnesota. Coupled with rural Minnesota’s typically lower living costs, students can pursue a world-class education at BSU at a significantly more affordable price than you may find elsewhere. Does your path to success begin at Bemidji State University? Find out.

Oregon State University’s College of Business offers nearly 30 business degree programmes that are industry-relevant. Source: College of Business – Oregon State University, Facebook

Oregon State University 

Located in beautiful Oregon – with the fresh air of the Pacific Northwest and diverse natural scenery – the two campuses of Oregon State University attract over 32,000 students from 105 countries and 50 American states. This university is Oregon’s only statewide university, and happens to be one of only three American land, sea, space and sun grant universities.

Oregon State University is especially known for pursuing more research than Oregon’s six other public universities combined. Over 2,000 undergraduates can work together with faculty on research projects or conduct their own.

At the same time, Oregon State University offers over 200 programmes, which gives plenty of choices for students to decide their major. In particular, 28 industry-relevant business and design degree programmes are available at the College of Business – which is ranked 33rd for Innovation nationally – alongside their award-winning Blueprint series of classes on professional and leadership development and financial literacy.

Besides being able to access online and flexible learning opportunities in three Oregon cities, students are encouraged to participate in hands-on learning such as internships, service-learning projects or even study abroad as well.

Texas Christian University performs well on several rankings. Source: Texas Christian University, Facebook

Texas Christian University

Top 20 great-run college, #6 best alumni network, and #27 best undergraduate entrepreneurship programme – Texas Christian University has these enviable Princeton Review rankings, and more. The US News and World Report ranks this university #83 in its best national universities list as well.

Graduates get lifetime career counselling and earn an average of US$52,000. Little wonder their students – from 50 American states and 76 countries – are the eighth happiest across the nation in the 2020 Princeton Review.

With an annual 229 days of sunshine, its Fort Worth location has been ranked as one of the 25 best places for young professionals (US News and World Report 2020) and the fourth-best place to relocate to (Sperling’s BestPlaces). That is why 48% of their undergraduate students live on campus, a space enlivened by over 275 student organisations.

One of the university’s most popular degree majors is Business Information Systems under the Bachelor of Business Administration. Offered by the Neeley School of Business, this programme – ranked eighth most valuable college major by Forbes – allows students to work on capstone projects with industry sponsors and access special learning opportunities.

Bentley University enjoys consistently high rankings for career services and innovation. Source: Bentley University, Facebook

Bentley University

As #2  on the Regional Universities North rankings (US News and World Report) and #1 for undergraduate career services (The Princeton Review), Bentley University is a national leader in business education; 98% of their students get successful job placements. In fact, the US News and World Report 2022 has ranked Bentley as the fourth most innovative school across America.

Three factors can explain Bentley’s sterling rankings. Besides being able to customise their majors, minors and optional second major from the arts, sciences and business to match their personal and career interests, students receive training to think critically and become more effective communicators.

Secondly, with over 80 study abroad programmes in 25 countries, corporate partnerships with Boston’s finest business minds, internships, and service-learning in 60 community sites across Greater Boston, Bentley’s experiential learning experience is exceptionally robust. Case in point: 92% of the students take part in at least one internship, and 62% continue on to another internship.

The final factor is their New England campus in Waltham being located just 10 miles away from exciting Boston. With close proximity to Cambridge as well as access to 100 clubs and organisations, Bentley’s students will have plenty of things to do on campus.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International