How to Evaluate a Green MBA Program

The environment is big business these days. It will remain that way for the foreseeable future. The health of the planet is at stake and good management is desperately needed. For people contemplating an MBA, combining that with a focus on the environment is an excellent way to be socially conscious and make a good living. Finding green MBA programs is becoming easier. More graduate schools see the need and more students are beginning to demand graduate school programs which allow them to both make a difference globally and make a good living financially. Finding the right program is a challenge many grad school applicants face. The key to any green MBA program is the teachers, the topics and transferability of the information into the world of work. Once you have decided you want your future to be green you must decide on an area of specialization. What area of the green economy and sustainability movement is of interest to you? Is it waste management, renewable energy development, environmental management or some other specialty? Once you are clear on your goal it is a lot easier to identify a college that can help you acquire the tools you will need to succeed. Matching your career goals to with a college that can provide it is relatively simple. It just requires research and a willingness to ask questions of professors, students and staff. Look at the degree areas offered. Carefully consider the class offerings. Pay attention to who is teaching the courses and what real world experience they have in the green economy. Consider job placement rate and connections to green businesses and the green economy the school has. Understand the reputation of the school can be a tool to help you get started in your career. Study the overall educational environment at the school. Do the students and professors push, challenge and support each other in the quest to be their best and have a positive impact on the green economy? Is that what you need? Some schools offer standard MBA course work coated with a thin veneer of green and say they offer green MBA programs. Look at the course work and related internships they offer. These generally give you a clear picture of the true focus of the program. Do they study sustainability and green business development? Do they take an in-depth look at energy policy and administration, renewable energy or building sustainable communities? These are clues that will let you know if they offer a sustainable MBA focused on the green economy or are just masquerading as green. Graduate school takes two years on average. The green MBA programs at most schools are relatively new so there may not be a lot of scholarships available. Finding grants takes research. Does the school you are considering offer help in finding funds to pay for you education? Many students need schools which offer the option to take some classes online so they can work at least part-time to finance their education. Does the school assist you in finding internships to provide real world experience which can become paying positions upon graduation or before? These are sustainable MBA programs the average person can complete and they are out there. The green economy is an international movement. Consider choosing an MBA program which offers study abroad programs. It helps students to have a clearer vision of the global green economy and where the areas of true need and opportunity may be. Having the opportunity to connect with other students across the globe focused on similar disciplines allows you to build the groundwork for valuable collaboration later. Even programs which give students an opportunity to volunteer to assist communities wrestling with issues of balancing environmental sustainability with the need to eat right now can be invaluable. These types of programs add value to your green MBA. Going green is fashionable nowadays. It is also essential for survival on this planet. It is important people young and old acquire the tools to make environmental sustainability a reality. Do not be fooled by green-looking MBA programs. Take the time to investigate them thoroughly then decide. The future of the planet depends on your decision.