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Become an environmentally conscious, management-savvy social innovator.

In an era marked by profound social, economic, and environmental change, how do leaders, citizens, and decision makers navigate policy and business challenges? What kinds of knowledge and skills do the professionals of tomorrow need? The MBA/M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy dual-degree program at Clark University educates students to become environmental professionals prepared to make a difference in this complex global landscape.

Pairing an MBA with a M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy is a potent combination, joining two different and essential sets of skills and sensibilities. Our students gain deep scientific knowledge, as well as technical and analytical skills – in combination with business, management, and finance capabilities. They work on exciting collaborations among businesses, nonprofits, communities, policymakers, and researchers. They focus on vital topics such as environmental science, environmental law, sustainable production and development, urban ecology, negotiation and mediation, and quantitative modeling. During and after their time at Clark, our students discover how to turn the challenges they encounter into opportunities for integrative, collaborative, sustainable enterprises, both in the U.S. and internationally.

Why an MBA/Master’s in Environmental Science and Policy  at Clark University?

  • Combine scientific knowledge (e.g. of climate change) and technical skills (such as GIS) with business and management acumen – a rare and much desired combination among employers.
  • Join both our AACSB-accredited Graduate School of Management and our renowned International Development, Community, and Environment department.
  • Ranked #15 in the world for development studies, based on academic reputation. (QS World University Rankings, 2018)
  • Explore our ten transdisciplinary concentrations, which provide both breadth and depth in understanding issues and developing responses to them.

Finding Solutions One Day at a Time to Help Solve the World’s Problems

From her homeland in West Africa to the U.S., Claire Doualla wants to use her combined master’s degree in business administration and environmental science and policy to find solutions to address poverty.

You can’t save the world by yourself, but you can bring your fair share to the table. You can contribute by finding solutions to problems one day at a time.
—Claire Doualla

The Essentials

Program Overview

The MBA/M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy program allows you to earn two degrees in three years.  Students complete the core requirements and electives for both academic programs.

Enrollment begins in the fall, and you have the chance to:

  • Take classes throughout the summer
  • Complete up to five courses that count toward both degrees

Our curriculum instills a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of environmental science and policy, as well as the management skills to lead successful projects and teams. You’ll combine theory and practice through intensive practicum courses, small seminar-style courses, internships, a Capstone project, and by working closely with business leaders and community groups.

Because some courses can overlap and count for both the M.S. and MBA degree, dual-degree students complete fewer elective courses than regular MBA students. Required coursework will provide you with an MBA concentration in Social Change; a dual concentration is optional, but would require 2-3 additional units of MBA elective coursework. You can also expand your horizons by taking courses from other programs or schools at Clark, where you will form connections with peers of diverse academic interests and perspectives.
ere you will form connections with peers of diverse academic interests and perspectives.

  • Examine and challenge conventional ideas, policies, technologies, and practices, such as U.S. energy policy or the U.N. sustainable development goals.
  • Apply knowledge and methods from the natural, social, and management sciences, including the ability to gather, analyze, and interpret diverse data: quantitative, qualitative, spatial (GIS), and ethnographic/narrative.
  • Forge collaborations among businesses, governmental agencies, NGOs, researchers, donors, and communities for a more sustainable, climate-resilient future.
  • Develop a systems-based understanding of an issue, as well as the creativity to envision and implement solutions with a team-oriented approach.
  • Communicate effectively to lead change in diverse domestic and international settings, and within social, political, cultural, economic, and ecological contexts.
  • Sustainable Development Assessment and Planning
  • Case Studies in Environmental Issues and Policy Analysis
  • Landscape Ecology
  • Leading Change
  • Sustainability Marketing
  • Data-Driven Decision Making

Requirements

22.5 course units

  • 12.5 MBA course units
    • 11.5 core courses
    • 1 elective
  • 10 IDCE course units
    • 3 core courses
    • 7 electives

All dual degree students complete the MBA Social Change and Sustainability concentration. A second MBA concentration may be added with 2 additional units for the MBA.

Course Catalog

Relevant. Challenging. Transformative.

Faculty Research Areas

Morgan Ruelle

Morgan Ruelle

Assistant Professor

Re-evaluating our food systems in the era of climate change

Professor Ruelle studies food sovereignty through a biocultural lens and climate change adaptation in indigenous communities. He works on knowledge partnerships and adaptive strategies in the U.S. and Ethiopia.
Elizabeth Gilmore

Elisabeth Gilmore

Associate Professor

How a warming planet could lead to civil unrest

Professor Gilmore's research interests include the economic and societal impacts of climate change and low-carbon energy technologies. She works on U.S. and global-scale climate action programs.
Timothy Downs

Timothy J. Downs

Associate Professor

Human health impacts of environmental change and sustainability

Professor Downs studies how humans change the environment, and how those changes impact the ecosystems they inhabit. He also facilitates sustainable development in New England, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
Jing Zhang

Jing Zhang

Professor

Systems of knowledge in the world of big data

Professor Zhang dedicates her research to examining management information systems, including interorganizational knowledge sharing and networking.
Will O’Brien

Will O’Brien

Associate Professor

Adopting an entrepreneurial – and environmentally responsible – mindset

Professor O'Brien is an experienced executive, entrepreneur, consultant, teacher, and attorney. His research interests include business sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Tom Murphy

Tom Murphy

Lecturer

A better way to market

Tom is a consultant to global companies, helping improve business plans and investments across global markets. He designed the unique "Sustainability Marketing" course for GSOM.
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Frank Jenkins

Visiting Lecturer

An external perspective

Frank has more than 25 years experience as a managing partner for a strategy consulting firm. He teaches courses related to financial management, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance.
Laura Graves

Laura Graves

Professor

Exploring why we work – and how we can work better

Professor Graves studies work-life balance, how organizations encourage diversity, and how business leaders engage with socially responsible activities.
Donna Gallo

Donna Gallo

Assistant Professor

Running a tight ship

Professor Gallo teaches courses related to business policy, international management, and real estate; her research focuses on effective decision-making and business strategy.
John Dobson

John Dobson

Associate Professor

Helping small businesses grow through data

Professor Dobson studies how home-based entrepreneurs use information systems to improve livelihoods and incomes, including the impact of entrepreneurial education and social networks on small-business performance.
Keith Coulter

Keith Coulter

Professor

What’s it worth to you?

Professor Coulter studies consumer behavior and marketing strategies to determine how and why we’re persuaded to make purchases.
Mary-Ellen Boyle

Mary-Ellen Boyle

Associate Professor

Managing social – and structural – change

How does social change intersect with education, corporate citizenship, university-community partnerships, and the arts – and how can organizations manage effectively in a constantly shifting marketplace?

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