Business and Sustainability, BA

• Combined major offered by the Department of Management, College of Business and Economics, and the Department of Environmental Studies, College of the Environment

Introduction

The State of Washington is a leader in responding to the societal imperative regarding environmental issues. This Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and Sustainability is an action component of the state’s initiatives. This degree combines three areas of study that give graduates the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to operate in a changing economic and social environment.

Graduates from this program will possess:

• A fundamental knowledge of economics, giving them the skills to apply economic analysis to problems in sustainable business faced by modern organizations.
• A fundamental knowledge of environmental science and policy, giving them the ability to understand the social and political climate as well as the scientific issues involved in sustainable business.
• An extensive knowledge of business and management in the context of business sustainability giving them the basic skills needed to succeed in organizations.

Why Consider a Business and Sustainability Major?

A Business and Sustainability Major prepares students to analyze environmental and social issues from multiple perspectives, decide on action steps to deal with those issues, and then implement those action steps successfully. Need for these actions will only grow as environmental issues, including climate change, waste, and pollution become more central in the operations of organizations. This degree compliments the state’s initiative involving private enterprise, not-for-profit organizations, and government.

Student Resources

Department website: Management

Contact information: Cristina Nelson, Department Manager, Parks Hall 351, 360-650-2902, cristina.nelson@wwu.edu

Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.

Career Services Center: Connect major to a career

Sample careers: Environmental Sustainability Manager, Sustainability Design Professional, Energy Efficiency Analyst, Director of Energy Policy and Programs, Supply Chain Analyst

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

Category of Major: Major with minimum requirements

Open majors can be declared by new and continuing students in good standing without additional requirements. All students are eligible for Direct Admission to Major at the time of admission to the university, subject to space availability.

Students who began their studies at WWU before the 2026-2027 academic year may declare their major by completing the Student Academic Declaration & Change Form and meeting the major’s retention requirements (if applicable).

Retention Standards

To remain in good standing, students must meet the following academic requirements:

• Maintain a minimum WWU cumulative GPA of 2.50.
  • Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.50 will receive an academic warning and have one quarter to raise their GPA to 2.50 or higher.
  • Students whose cumulative GPA remains below 2.50 for two or more consecutive quarters will be dropped from CBE and will not be readmitted until their cumulative WWU GPA is 2.50 or higher.
• Students whose cumulative GPA fall below 2.00 will be dismissed immediately from CBE and will not be readmitted or permitted to register for CBE major restricted courses until their cumulative WWU GPA is 2.50 or higher.

Transfer students admitted without a WWU GPA (i.e., no graded coursework at WWU at the time of admission) are admitted to both WWU and CBE. They must maintain the GPA described in the retention standards above to remain in good standing.

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.