It is exciting to see this trend growing accross the country. I know when I was looking for a MBA program early last year I found the GreenMBA at Dominican University. This full time/part time program has exposed me to Critical Thinking, Sustainable Enterprise, and Environmental Accounting. I find it was the best educational decision I could have made. If we are going to change business in this country we first have to change what we study. I hope that more people speak up to demand education focused on sustainability.
Avary Kent
Green MBA Cohort N
Dominican University of California
San Rafael, CA

It would have been great if the author included the Dominican University GreenMBA website and the Bainbridge Graduate Institute website in this article, because it seems that the author gave an unbiased preference towards 1 of the programs. Each program offers an incredible curriculum, so in the name of progress and more greater and greener education out there, it would be nice if future writers were would be less biased and provide the readers with an equal access to information.

I easily found both sites online

The Dominican University Green MBA can be found at http://greenmba.com/

The Bainbridge Graduate Institute can be found at http://www.bgiedu.org/

Amongst the hundreds of students graduating from the "plethora of schools" -- are they really getting green jobs and affecting change?

http://www.sustainableindustries.com/sijnews/17287629.html?viewAll=y.

Also, several mentions of NetImpact, yet zero mention that NetImpact's annual report ranked the Bainbridge Graduate Institute (the first sustainable MBA program in North America) number one in both 2006 and 2007. http://netimpact.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=1020

This article, especially with mention of WSJ's nod towards "recruiters perceptions" as being an indicator of program's strengths, sets the tone for the business-as-usual feel of this article. Apparently, give students some add-on carbon footprint analysis skills, and the world of business is changed forever. Programs should be evaluated on the ability to change the essential makeup of business from one that's lead to social and financial inequities to one of right-livelihood, systems thinking, and stewardship that suits the needs of all stakeholders in the value chain.

I think that eventually much of the green focus on these niche mba programs will become a part of all major mba programs. Ultimately though, I'm not sure that these will be that effective, since the responsibility of the chief sustainability officer, or whatever they might be called, is to impact the bottom line. I fear that some of these programs will veer too far off from the business curriculum and focus too much on environmental topics (as much as it pains me to say). There is really a fine balance that could prove difficult to achieve.

Rob,
www.GreenerTrends.com

I am a student at BGI and, while there is certainly an environmental and social bias, it is clear that this is still business school and that profitability still trumps all. Most of the faculty teach at more mainstream schools as well and don't feel that our business skills and training is lacking in comparison.

Glad to hear that the focus at BGI is for the most part business. What has your experience been like in terms of the environmental component?

Rob
www.greenertrends.com

Firstly, I'd like to thank Padma Nagappan and Greenbiz.com for writing this article. Articles such as this are quite inspiring and informative. I see this change in consciousness taking place first hand as an MBA student at The University of Toledo and aspiring ecopreneur. Though my University does not currently offer environmentally focused curriculum I wish they did. I think there is a new breed of ecologically focused entrepreneurs developing lately, bringing business sense to sensitivity about the environment. I myself grew up in a "green" business at my family's farm and greenhouse in Ohio- and continued my education into graduate school in hopes of applying my business knowledge into making an effort toward sustainability in the industry. My journey led me in a whole other direction to begin a new venture, EcoLogic Products LLC, a business focused on developing earth conscious everyday products which support social and environmental causes. We are the latest member of 1% For The Planet ( http://www.onepercentfortheplanet.com ), contributing a portion of all sales to environmental causes such as rebuilding sustainable homes in New Orleans through a partnership with Global Green USA.
For all other MBA's and aspiring entrepreneurs out there, keep it up. business can be truly rewarding especially when you're making a positive impact on the environment. Check out our latest eco blog posts at http://www.ecologicproducts.com and feel free to share your thoughts.

LOhlmanIII

The article also didn't mention Anaheim University's online MBA, Diploma and Certificate programs in Sustainable Management through the Anaheim University Kisho Kurokawa Green Institute at http://www.anaheim.edu/content/view/638/704/

Has anyone heard of Argosy University? I've been reasearching online Green MBA programs with a concentration in Sustainable Management. First I came across Anaheim but quickly learned they are not accredited. Furthering my search, I came across Argosy University that offers just what I'm looking for. The price, classes, and structure look like they will work for me. I haven't heard too much about the school though. If anyone has any information, I'd like to hear about it. Thanks!

Everyone here is talking about the 'Green' but is it really going to work in this highly industrialized world where each unit is polluting the environment through different gasses?
I mean hundreds or may be thousands of schools may provide 'Green' degrees but what about those giants who are not ready to limit their activities hich are polluting the world?

Allen:
http://www.schoolsgalore.com

Anaheim University became nationally accredited in January 2009. Check out the website of the national accrediting agency at:
http://www.detc.org/school_details.php?id=291

Anaheim University's website has a description of their accreditation at
http://www.anaheim.edu/content/view/743/716/

Also, there is a "Tuition Relief Program". According to the website, students who enroll in Anaheim's Online Global MBA or Diploma/Certificate in Sustainable Management programs by Mar. 31 2009 will have 50% of their tuition covered by the Tuition Relief Program.
http://www.anaheim.edu/content/view/724/81/

I have some of the same questions as Allen about the overall impact of this. Although I guess every little bit helps.

Plus I guess if everybody thought that way nobody would ever make any changes.

Brian:
http://www.ecollegefinder.org