Sustainability means creating thriving societies where people, the economy, and the environment all succeed together.
At Terry, sustainable business is about win-wins — innovations that benefit owners, employees, communities, and the planet. We focus on the three essentials: people, planet, and profit.
Through the Sustainable Business Initiative, Terry graduates acquire the skills to make a business case for sustainability and lead organizations toward achieving lasting social, environmental, and economic impact.
- Associate Professor, John Munro Godfrey, Sr. Department of Economics
Courses and Academic Programs
Sustainability Courses
Sustainable Business
BUSN 3300
Introduces students to the thinking behind sustainable business — how to recognize a sustainable enterprise, understand stakeholder benefits, and confront the challenges such firms face.
B Corp Consulting
BUSN 7850
Enable students to apply MBA coursework to a real-world consulting engagement, guiding businesses in measuring and scaling their impact across all stakeholders. To learn hands-on what a B Corp is, how they apply “business as a force for good” principles to their foundation, day-to-day decision making, and overall company DNA.
Economics of Environmental Quality
ECON 2100
Explores how economic tools and models can be used to analyze environmental outcomes and quality, focusing on the trade‑offs involved.
Covers issues tied to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, using economic analysis to assess policy options and their effects — especially on the poor.
Environmental Economics
ECON 4150
Examines the economic foundations of environmental problems (air and water pollution, resource depletion) and discusses market‑based and regulatory solutions.
Economic Growth and Development
ECON 4200
Studies the problems and programs of economic growth with specific attention directed to underdeveloped areas, national economies, and regions.
Sustainable Marketing Strategy
MARK 4910
Emphasis on developing and implementing marketing strategies to solve problems in a sustainable manner. Integration of marketing functions to form strategic decisions and to create marketing plans appropriate to sustainable business.
Energy Informatics
MIST 4550/6550
Focuses on designing and implementing systems to improve energy supply and demand efficiency through data analysis and information systems.
UGA Sustainability Certificate
Terry is proud to sponsor the UGA Sustainability Certificate, open to students across all majors.
The program equips you to create solutions for the world’s toughest challenges. You’ll take courses in economic, social, and ecological sustainability and complete a hands-on capstone project with an external partner.
For business students, it’s a chance to learn how to do good while doing well — building the skills to make a positive impact and a successful career.
Full-Time MBA
MBA students can specialize in Social Innovation, gaining skills to create solutions for business and societal challenges. Terry also offers two dual-degree options with the School of Social Work: earn an MBA alongside a Master of Social Work or a Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management & Leadership.
Study Away
Terry offers a range of sustainable business-related study away opportunities including:
Executive Education
Through partnerships, Terry Executive Education equips managers with a strong foundation in sustainable business.
UGA recently collaborated with Boehringer Ingelheim to develop a course to promote responsible and forward-looking business practices.
Sustainability Faculty
Neil investigates how performance is described, assessed, and reported in marketing and sustainable business.
Jim evaluates the effectiveness of social programs run by governments, non-governmental organizations, and social enterprises in the Global South.
Maric examines how information systems and digital technologies enable organizations to enact practices that promote environmental stewardship and social well-being and shape organizational outcomes.
Marc investigates the economic effects of natural disasters and explores how communities can adapt to the increased likelihood and severity of catastrophic climate events.
Nathan draws on his hands-on experience in social impact consulting, B Corps, community volunteerism, and design-led systems thinking to empower students to become architects of purpose-driven businesses that align profit with purpose and enable people, planet, and profit to succeed together.
Erin investigates how rural communities in Georgia interact with the federal tax system and how to increase awareness of free tax preparation services to increase take-up of tax incentives.
Sarah examines the contextual factors that impact consumers’ sustainable purchase behaviors and disposal decisions.
Get Involved with Sustainable Business
- Add sustainability courses to your schedule.
- Sign up for the UGA Sustainability Certificate.
- Focus projects on sustainable business; check your course syllabi to see if this is possible for your projects.
- Join the Sustainable Business Society.
- Subscribe to the UGA Sustainability Newsletter.
- Attend an event or networking.
- Volunteer to support a class – for example, by visiting and sharing your experience. Reach out to Neil Bendle.
- Attend a networking night.
- Hire for sustainability skills; register jobs with the UGA Career Center and request sustainability skills in job descriptions.
- Explore how a better business certificate, such as B Corp certification, could benefit your company. Reach out to Nathan Stuck.
- Learn more about executive education in sustainable business by contacting Terry Executive Education.
- Investigate if your classes qualify as part of the UGA Sustainability Certificate. Contact scdirector@uga.edu for more information.
- Incorporate a Living Lab (experiential/service-learning project) into your class.
- Explore financial support opportunities for research aimed at making the world a better place. Contact terrysustainability@uga.edu for details.
Sustainability News
It’s good for business
Building a healthier world
Executive Education’s sustainable business training wins Golden Helix Phoenix Award
Can I Recycle This?
Alumni-founded EV company EnviroSpark is charged up
