Sustainable Business at Aquinas College

Sustainable Business Major

Major Requirements: Sixty-nine (69) semester hours.

  • At least eighteen (18) semester hours must be taken at Aquinas
  • Only courses with a grade of C- or better will count toward the major.
AQUINAS REQUIREMENTS
AG210 Principles of Accounting I 4.0
AG211 Principles of Accounting II 4.0
BS201 Principles of Management 3.0
BS202 Principles of Marketing 3.0
BS305 Financial Management 3.0
BS460 Ethical Application in Business 3.0
BY123 Environmental Biology 3.0
CN101 Introduction to Communication 3.0
CS152 Spreadsheets 1.0
CY101 Environmental Chemistry 3.0
EL100 Introduction to Environmental Studies 3.0
EL301 Advanced Environmental Studies  3.0
ES211 Microeconomic Principles 3.0
MS151 Elementary Statistics 3.0
PC291 Physical Science 3.0
 SB100 Industrial Ecology 3.0
 SB201 Sustainable Business Management 3.0
 SB315 Building Social Capital 3.0
 SB320 Sustainable Business Innovations Lab (SC) 3.0
 SB395 Cases in Sustainable Business 3.0
 SB397 Internship 3.0
Two (2) Sustainable Business elective courses (see catalog for list)
  3.0
  3.0

Courses

  • AG210 Principles of Accounting I (4) SS1

    Introduction to financial accounting and its application to the reporting needs of organizations. Topics include basic accounting processes and procedures, financial statement preparation and analysis, internal control, and the recognition and measurement of accounts included in financial reports. Recommended: MS114. Pre/Corequisite: CS152.

  • AG211 Principles of Accounting II (4) SS1

    An introduction to managerial accounting concepts and the use of accounting information for planning, control, and decision-making. Topics include costing of products and services, cost volume-profit analysis, budgeting, performance evaluation, and costs relevant to decision-making. Prerequisites: AG210, CS152

  • BS201 Principles of Management (3) SS1

    The focus is on the study of the origin and development of management theory, processes of management, decision-making, leadership, communication, social responsibility, and international management. Emphasis on application of management principles to managing organizations.

  • BS202 Principles of Marketing (3)

    An introduction to basic marketing concepts, including marketing strategy, pricing, promotional activities, product development, and physical distribution. Sophomore status required for traditional age students. Recommended: ES 211.

  • BS305 Financial Management (3) SS1

    Covers the concepts and techniques underlying effective decision making related to investment and financing decisions. Some of the topics include planning profitability, analysis of risk, valuation of financial assets, time value of money, cost of capital, capital budgeting, planning capital structure, and dividend decisions. Prerequisites: AG211, ES211, MS151, CS152. Also business/ financial calculator proficiency. This course is not accepted for the Social Science Distribution requirement.

  • BS460 Ethical Application in Business (3) SSI

    Principles and perspectives of ethical business and organizational decision-making are studied and applied to a variety of decisions. Emphasis is placed on the identification of ethical choices in the context of the conflicting pressures on management, both in the public and private sector. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior status.

  • BY123 Environmental Biology (3) NL

    Introduction to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, with emphasis on human influences. Field experience based labs. Two (2) hours lecture, three (3) hours lab. Not applicable toward the major. Not applicable toward the minor for students having successfully completed BY275 or BY352. Offered every semester.

  • CN101 Introduction to Communication (3) PGC

    Theory and methods of intrapersonal, interpersonal, small group, organizational, public, intercultural, and mass communication.

  • CS152 Spreadsheets (1)

    This hands-on lab course covers basic spreadsheet functions such as simple formulas, formatting, and print layout using Microsoft Excel. Course projects introduce skills using a variety of formulas and basic functions, charts, and absolute addressing. This course would be beneficial to any students with a desire to analyze numerical data, manage finances, perform simple statistics, or generate charts and graphs.

  • CY101 Environmental Chemistry (3) NL

    Application of chemical concepts to eco-systems; implications of chemical technology to the social and physical environment. Prerequisites: High school chemistry recommended.

  • EL100 Introduction to Environmental Studies (3) NN

    Introduction to principles of environmental relations and processes; survey of environmental literature.

  • EL301 Advanced Environmental Studies (3)

    In depth examination of toxins and waste, natural systems and services, biodiversity, energy issues, climate change, and environmental policy Prerequisite: EL100 or BY123. This course is not accepted for Social Science or Natural World General Education credit.

  • ES211 Microeconomic Principles (3) SS1

    Introduction to the economic problem and the study of economics; basics of supply and demand; introduction to concepts and models used to understand the economic behavior of households and firms, economic outcomes under various market structures, market failures, and international trade.

  • MS151 Elementary Statistics (3) QR

    Designed primarily for students who have had no more than two years of high-school mathematics or its equivalent. Includes the fundamental concepts of descriptive and inferential statistics. Prerequisite: MS107. This course is not accepted for the General Education Mathematics requirement.

  • PC291 Physical Science I (3) NN

    An introduction to physics and astronomy for non-science majors. Laboratory and lecture experiences are integrated within regular class meetings. Recommended for elementary education majors and any student who wishes to acquire a broad perspective on these two areas of physical science.

  • SB100 Industrial Ecology (3)

    This course examines the advantages of nature-based industrial systems for humankind and the natural community. Intelligent approaches to sustainable energy and material systems are outlined and discussed. A wide variety of organizations that have begun a transition toward sustainable business practices are examined. Prerequisites: EL301 and BS201. This course is not accepted for the Social Science Distribution requirement.

  • SB201 Sustainable Business Management (3)

    The course examines intelligent approaches for provisioning goods and services that result in long-term business profitability, restored natural world integrity, and the emergence of vibrant and stable communities. We will discuss the variety of strategies and components necessary for effective sustainable business management and successful real-world organization transitions inside the movement. Prerequisite: SB100.

  • SB315 Building Social Capital (3)

    This course examines the role of social capital in building sustainable organizations and communities. The key elements and various forms of social capital will be explored by looking at the different ways that communities develop and how the human relationship with ecological systems can be sustained and enhanced. Ways to measure social capital will also be addressed in order to strengthen the understanding of this component of sustainable business and foster its application in the workplace. 

  • SB320 Sustainable Business Innovations Lab (3)

    We will investigate and deploy triple top-line entrepreneurial innovation, effective organizational design, workplace innovation application skills, and research/analysis methods through in-class discussions as well as practice-based projects. Prerequisites: SB100, SB201, and SB315.

  • SB395 Cases in Sustainable Business (3)

    This course offers an experiential approach to applying key sustainable business principles to current business challenges and opportunities. Topics examined each week will focus on a different issue related to recreating a sustainable management system for a fictional business. Writing, research and presentations will assess students' reading readiness as sustainable business professionals and agents of change. Prerequisites: SB201 and SB315 or Permission of Instructor.

  • SB397 Internship (3–6)

    The student works with a business or organization during a selected semester to improve its sustainable business practices. Prerequisites: SB201, SB315, and approval of department chairperson.