The School of Business Graduate/Professional Certificate in Business, Environment, and Social Responsibility (BESR) is designed for UW–Madison graduate students who want to broaden their understanding of sustainable business practices. This certificate provides the real-world skills and knowledge needed to manage enterprises that integrate economic, environmental, and social decision-making in their daily operations.

As determined by each student’s individual course path, students will acquire deeper knowledge and skills in select domains such as risk management, diversity, green real estate, and more. Students are also encouraged but not required to participate in a variety of events and activities that provide a forum to exchange ideas and connect the business community with students and faculty interested in sustainability.

Admissions

The Business, Environment, and Social Responsibility certificate is open to students with graduate/professional standing at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Admission is on a rolling basis.  To declare the certificate, students must submit an online application form and request a certificate declaration through the Graduate Student Portal in MyUW. 

All Graduate School students must utilize the Graduate Student Portal in MyUW to add, change, or discontinue any graduate/professional certificate. To apply to this certificate, log in to MyUW, click on Graduate Student Portal, and then click on Add/Change Programs. Select the information for the certificate for which you are applying. Professional students in the careers of Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary cannot add the certificate in the Graduate Student Portal, and should contact the program for more information.

Requirements

Students must complete at least 12 credits. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in related non-credit sustainability experiences via competitions, conferences, and speaker events. Coursework must be completed with a B or better to satisfy certificate requirements.

Electives

The list of electives is dynamic and will be adjusted as new courses are offered and dropped. Students may request to substitute listed electives with courses that are currently not listed. Such a request requires the student to explain how the substitute class meets the learning outcomes of the certificate and assists the student in reaching their individual goals for taking the certificate. The request requires approval by the certificate director.

For courses with access restricted to School of Business students, non-business school students may select equivalent open-access lower-level courses numbered 300 and above (e.g., substitute M H R 723 Business Strategy with M H R 423 Strategic Management).

Extracurricular Activities

Certificate students are encouraged, but not required, to engage in extracurricular activities that enhance the certificate’s learning outcomes. These include:

• Speaker events such as the Weston Lecture Series or the Sustainable Success Speaker Series
• Sustainability oriented student organizations such as NetImpact; other relevant student organizations can be found here.
• UW's Green Fund Competition
• Conferences such as the Nelson’s Institute Annual Earth Day conference

Learning Outcomes

1. Analyze how business, society, and the natural environment interrelate to drive sustainability challenges.
2. Synthesize knowledge of business with knowledge of the natural and societal environment to develop and implement sustainability solutions for business and policy.
3. Develop appreciation of how different professions and disciplines contribute to business sustainability.
4. Prepare for business sustainability-related career pathways in industry, consulting, government, and NGOs (non-governmental organizations).