Sustainable Business and Economic Policy Minor

The sustainable business and economic policy minor equips students with frameworks and tools to understand the interrelationship between the economy and the environment.

Format: In person
Location: Ithaca, NY
Degree Awarded: Minor

Overview

You will learn about the role of government in addressing environmental problems as well as emerging opportunities for private businesses as we transition to more sustainable economic development.

After completing foundational coursework in microeconomics and data analysis, you’ll dive into core coursework that studies the root causes and potential solutions to a wide range of economic problems related to the environment, energy, and natural resources. Elective courses build on these ideas while focusing on specific topics, such as sustainable business practices, renewable energy, and climate change.

Who’s eligible for the sustainable business and economic policy minor?

All Cornell undergraduates except students enrolled in Dyson, the Environmental Economics Concentration of the Environment & Sustainability major, and any major that includes overlap of two or more core courses.

How many credits are required?

12 core credits on topics like environmental and resource economics, the business of energy, and environmental finance. In addition, 3 credits in microeconomics and 3-4 credits in statistics, econometrics, or data analysis. Visit the Cornell University Registrar for full course information.

Foundation courses

This minor requires 6 credits in microeconomics and data analysis/econometrics/statistics before taking the minor’s core courses. A letter grade of a C or better is required.

Introductory economics (3 credits)

The following course is required:

Course code	Course title
ECON 1110	Introductory Microeconomics – SP 26 \| FA 26

Data analysis/Econometrics/Statistics (3 credits)

One of the following courses is required:

Course code	Course title
AEM 2770	Excursions in Computational Sustainability – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
AEM 2830	VBA for Data Analysis & Business Modeling – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
AEM 2840	Python Programming for Data Analysis & Business Modeling – SP 26 \| FA 26
AEM 2850	R Programming for Business Analytics & Data Visualization – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26 n/a
AEM 3100	Business Statistics – SP 26 \| FA 26
AEM 4110	Introduction to Econometrics – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
AEM 6850	Empirical Methods for Applied Economists – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
ECON 3120	Applied Econometrics – SP 26 \| FA 26
ECON 3140	Econometrics – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
ILRST 2110	Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences II – SP 26 \| FA 26
HADM 3740	Fundamentals of Database Mgmt. & Data Analysis – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
PLSCI 2200	Introduction to Mapping and Spatial Analysis with GIS – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
PLSCI 4200	Geographic Information Systems: Concepts & Application – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
STSCI 4060	Python Programming & Its Applications in Statistics – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
AEM 2100	Introductory Statistics – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
BTRY 3010	Biological Statistics*
BTRY 3080	Probability Models and Inference*
CEE 3040	Uncertainty Analysis in Engineering – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
CRP 1200	Introduction to Statistics for Urban Studies – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
ECON 3110	Probability Models and Inference for the Social Sciences – SP 26 \| FA 26
ECON 3120	Applied Econometrics – SP 26 \| FA 26
ECON 3130	Statistics and Probability – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
ENGRD 2700	Eng Probability and Statistics: Modeling and Data Science – SP 26 \| FA 26
ILRST 2100	Introductory Statistics and Data Science – SP 26 \| FA 26
ILRST 3080	Probability Models and Inference – SP 26 \| FA 26
ILRST 3110	Probability Models and Inference for the Social Sciences – SP 26 \| FA 26
MATH 1710	Statistical Theory and Application in the Real World*
MATH 4710	Basic Probability – SP 26 \| FA 26
MATH 4720	Statistics – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
PUBPOL 2100	Introduction to Statistics – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
PUBPOL 2101	Statistics for Public Policy – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
PSYCH 2500	Statistics and Research Design – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
SOC 3010	Evaluating Statistical Evidence – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
STSCI 2100	Introductory Statistics and Data Science – SP 26 \| FA 26
STSCI 2150	Introductory Statistics for Biology – SP 26 \| FA 26
STSCI 2200	Statistics I – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
STSCI 3080	Probability Models and Inference – SP 26 \| FA 26
STSCI 3110	Probability Models and Inference for the Social Sciences – SP 26 \| FA 26

*This class is no longer offered but it is accepted if already taken.

Core requirements

The minor’s core requirements (12 credits) must be fulfilled by taking courses from the list below. Please note that 9 credits must be Cornell SC Johnson College of Business courses, which include any course code of AEM, HADM, NBA or NCC. A letter grade of a C or better is required. Transfer courses are not permitted for core requirements. Students may not “double count” courses that overlap with the other business minors — the courses you choose may only count toward one minor.

Advanced economic theory (6 credits)

The following courses are required:

Note: Effective the Spring ’24 semester, ECON 3030 and PUBPOL 2000 will no longer satisfy this requirement and are removed from the curriculum. Students who have taken one of these courses (prior to Spring ’24) may still apply the course to their minor. AEM 1500 will not satisfy this requirement.

Course code	Course title
AEM 2600	Managerial Economics – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
AEM 2500	Environmental and Resource Economics – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26

Environmental and resource economics (6 credits)

Two of the following courses are required:

Note: Some courses are offered in only fall or spring semesters. As you are planning your minor, look ahead to see when the courses are offered to ensure that it will fit with the plan you’ve chosen.

Course code	Course title
AEM 2555	Corporate Sustainability: The Business Challenge – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26 n/a
AEM 3115	Evaluation of Green Energy Strategies and Markets – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
AEM 4090	Environmental and Finance Markets – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
AEM 4490	Financial Markets and Sustainability – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26 n/a
AEM 4500	Resource Economics – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
AEM 4510	Environmental Economics – SP 26 \| FA 26
AEM 4515	Business and Economics of Energy*
AEM 4516	Cost-Benefit Analysis for Sustainability – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
AEM 4580	The Economics & Psychology of Sustainable Business*
AEM 4585	Sustainable Business – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26 n/a
HADM 4315	Nonprofit Social Enterprise and Food Justice – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
HADM 4500	Sustainable Development – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
NBA 6030	Strategies for Sustainability (1.5 cr) – SP 26 \| FA 26
NBA 6380	Finance & Sustainable Global Enterprise Colloquium (1 cr) – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a

*This class is no longer offered but it is accepted if already taken.

Academic policies

A minimum of 12 unique credits (outside of major’s core discipline) must be taken to complete any/all minors. Some majors may be required to take an additional course to satisfy this requirement. All courses must be taken in person (unless through Cornell’s SCE), and for a letter grade (grade of C or better is required).

More about our business minors

Learn more about our programs, policies and professional resources.

Current business minor students

You can manage your minor and track your progress using the Business Minors Dashboard.

I’m interested. What’s next?

After reviewing the requirements above and our Policies and FAQs page, you can begin the process using the Business Minors Dashboard.

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