Business, Energy, Environment and Sustainability, MBA
The MBA Major in Business, Energy, Environment and Sustainability (“BEES”) is designed to provide in-depth foundations for those interested in the complex relationships between business and the natural environment, management of environmental risks, and the business and economics of energy. As global energy markets grow and change rapidly and environmental challenges rise, there is a strong need for a new generation of expert business leaders who understand the rapidly evolving trends in business models, technology, regulation, and financing. Students choosing the BEES MBA Major are therefore ideally suited for the ever-expanding set of careers in energy companies, clean-tech investing, energy banking, consulting, the non-profit world, and the government. Students will gain insight into these challenges through an inter-disciplinary approach. Relevant courses are offered by departments including Accounting, Business Economics and Public Policy, Finance, Legal Studies and Business Ethics, Management, Marketing, and Operations Information and Decisions. This Concentration/Major is jointly administered by the Business, Economics and Public Policy Department, the Legal Studies and Business Ethics Department, and the Management Department. The Faculty Advisors to this Concentration/Major are Professors Arthur van Benthem (BEPP), Vit Henisz (MGMT) and Sarah Light (LGST). Questions from current Wharton students regarding this Major should be directed in the first instance to Sara Jane McCaffrey. Prospective students should contact the Admissions Office.
Please Note – Students who declared BEES during or prior to Spring 2023 (prior to updates to the BEES major) may either follow the current rules listed here or the prior rules set forth at the bottom of the web page listed below.
For more information: https://esg.wharton.upenn.edu/students/mba-bees-major/
Business, Energy, Environment, and Sustainability Major Requirements (As of Fall 2023)
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | 4 | |
| The BEES major is fulfilled by completing a total of 4.0 credit units from the following list of courses approved for the major. At least three of these credit units (3.0 cu) must be from the “Environmental” course list. Up to one credit unit (1.0 cu) of coursework may be either from the “Social and Governance” course list or from the list of pre-approved non-Wharton courses (also below) with advance permission from the faculty advisors. | ||
| A minimum of 19 course units is required for graduation. Major electives taken on a pass/fail basis cannot be counted toward the BEES Major. | ||
| Environmental | ||
| Select at least 3 course units from the following: | ||
| Climate and Financial Markets | ||
| Risk Analysis and Environmental Management | ||
| Energy Markets & Policy | ||
| Energy Finance | ||
| Environmental Management: Law and Policy | ||
| The Business and Governance of Water | ||
| Environmental Sustainability and Value Creation | ||
| Strategy and Environmental Sustainability | ||
| Global Modular Course A (on Sustainability; in Germany, by application) | ||
| Thinking with Models: Business Analytics for Energy and Sustainability | ||
| Social and Governance: | ||
| Select up to 1 course unit from the following: | ||
| Financial Disclosure Analytics | ||
| Public Finance and Policy | ||
| Economics of Diversity and Discrimination | ||
| ESG and Impact Investing | ||
| Shareholder Activism | ||
| Big Data, Big Responsibilities: Toward Accountable Artificial Intelligence | ||
| Other People's Money: The Law, Politics, and History of Financial Institutions | ||
| Law of Corporate Management and Finance | ||
| Employment Law | ||
| International Business Ethics | ||
| Social Impact and Responsibility: Foundations | ||
| Leading Diversity in Organizations | ||
| Corporate Governance, Executive Compensation and the Board | ||
| Corporate Diplomacy | ||
or MGMT 7150 | Political Environment of the Multinational Firm | |
| Reforming Mass Incarceration and the Role of Business | ||
| Social Entrepreneurship | ||
| Global Modular Course A (Impact Hack) | ||
| Marketing for Social Impact | ||
| Urban Fiscal Policy | ||
| University Courses: 1 | ||
| Carbon Capture | ||
| Climate Policy and Technology | ||
| Electricity and Systems Markets | ||
| Renewable Energy and Its Impacts: Technology, Environment, Economics, Sustainability. | ||
| The Future of water | ||
| Life Cycle Assessment | ||
| Energy, Waste and the Environment | ||
| Meaningful Participation: Race, Place and Environmental Justice | ||
| Climate Change | ||
| Law Seminar | ||
| Total Course Units | 4 | |
- 1
In order to enroll in non-Wharton courses, Wharton MBA policy is to email mbaprogram@wharton.upenn.edu. In addition, to obtain permission to count a non-Wharton course toward the BEES major, please contact Sara Jane McCaffrey at mcsa@wharton.upenn.edu. Pass/Fail courses may not be counted toward the major.
*For Students enrolled prior to Spring 2023*
A minimum of 19 course units is required for graduation.
Major electives taken on a pass/fail basis cannot be counted toward the Business, Energy, Environment and Sustainability major.
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Business, Energy, Environment, and Sustainability Major Requirements (prior to Spring 2023) | ||
| Select 4 course units: * | 4 | |
At least 3 course units of the following Wharton courses: * | ||
| Energy Markets & Policy | ||
| ESG and Impact Investing | ||
| Environmental Sustainability and Value Creation | ||
| Environmental Management: Law and Policy | ||
| Corporate Diplomacy | ||
| Marketing for Social Impact | ||
| Thinking with Models: Business Analytics for Energy and Sustainability | ||
| Risk Analysis and Environmental Management | ||
Up to 1 course unit of a non-Wharton course (with prior approval of Program Director) * | ||
Non-Wharton courses include: * | ||
| Carbon Capture | ||
| Energy and its Impacts: Technology, Environment, Economics, Sustainability. | ||
| Renewable Energy and Its Impacts: Technology, Environment, Economics, Sustainability | ||
| Climate Policy and Technology | ||
| Electricity and Systems Markets | ||
| The Future of water | ||
| Life Cycle Assessment | ||
| Law Seminar | ||
| Energy Engineering in Power Plants and Transportation Systems | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 5.5 course units of electives | 5.5 | |
| MBA Core Requirements | 9.5 | |
| Total Course Units | 19 | |
- *
The BEES MBA Major requires four course units. At least three course units must be from the list of Wharton courses. Up to one course unit may be from the list of pre-approved non-Wharton courses. If a student believes that a course is missing from this list, they may petition the Director of the BEES Major to add the course to the list prior to the start of the semester in which the course will be taken, or at the latest, within the first two weeks of the semester. Requests after a course has been completed will not be granted. The request should include a copy of the syllabus for the course and a brief statement as to why the course should be added. Courses that are likely to be approved are non-Wharton courses in which the primary focus is on topics relating to energy, environment, and sustainability, such as those listed here: https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/energy-courses.
MBA Core Requirements
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | ||
| Select one of the following: | 0.5-1 | |
| Fundamentals of Financial Accounting | ||
| Fundamentals of Financial and Managerial Accounting | ||
| Finance 1 | ||
| Corporate Finance | ||
| Select one of the following: | 0.5-1 | |
| Corporate Finance | ||
| Corporate Finance (Half CU) | ||
| Macroeconomics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 0.5-1 | |
| Macroeconomics and the Global Economic Environment | ||
| Macroeconomics and The Global Economic Environment (Half CU) | ||
| Legal Studies | ||
| LGST 6110 | Responsibility in Global Management | 0.5 |
| or LGST 6120 | Responsibility in Business | |
| or LGST 6130 | Business, Social Responsibility, and the Environment | |
| Microeconomics | ||
| BEPP 6110 | Microeconomics for Managers: Foundations | 0.5 |
| BEPP 6120 | Microeconomics for Managers: Advanced Applications | 0.5 |
| Management | ||
| MGMT 6100 | Foundations of Teamwork and Leadership | 0.5 |
| MGMT 6110 | Managing Established Enterprises | 1 |
| or MGMT 6120 | Management of Emerging Enterprises | |
| Marketing | ||
| MKTG 6110 | Marketing Management | 0.5 |
| MKTG 6120 | Dynamic Marketing Strategy | 0.5 |
| or MKTG 6130 | Strategic Marketing Simulation | |
| OIDD | ||
| Select one unit of the following: | 0.5-1 | |
| Quality and Productivity | ||
| Business Analytics | ||
| Online Business Models and the Information-Based Firm | ||
| Innovation | ||
| Operations Strategy | ||
| Enabling Technologies | ||
| Managerial Decision Making | ||
| Statistics | ||
| STAT 6130 | Regression Analysis for Business 2 | 1 |
| or STAT 6210 | Accelerated Regression Analysis for Business | |
| Management Communication | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 0.5 | |
| Option 1 | ||
| Management Communication | ||
| Advanced Persuasive Speaking | ||
or WHCP 6150 | Communication Challenges for Entrepreneurs | |
or WHCP 6240 | Persuasive Writing for Business Leaders | |
| Option 2 | ||
| Management Communication | ||
or WHCP 6180 | Entrepreneurial Communication | |
| Total Course Units | 9.5 | |
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2024 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.