CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT Faculty Advisors: Gary Libecap (2nd-years) and Roland Geyer (1st-years) Specialization DescriptionCorporate Environmental Management (CEM) grounds students in how private-sector firms may address environmental and natural resource issues in a manner that also promotes shareholder value, thus creating the important link between the quality of environmental and natural resources and a firm’s overall market objectives. Students learn how new capabilities can be developed that enhance sound competitive strategy and incorporate environmental and resource objectives while responding to new market opportunities, social demands, and regulatory pressures. They learn to identify, evaluate, measure, and present sources of competitive advantage that have beneficial environmental, resource, and financial consequences. They also examine how and when private market solutions to environmental and resource problems are advantageous; the property rights and other institutions necessary for these market outcomes to occur; and the interaction required among stakeholders ranging from management and employees to politicians and NGOs. Students learn organizational structure and behavior, examine why some regulatory systems perform better than others, and explore the range of policy instruments available to guide corporations’ actions. These skills are gained through a combination of core classes for the MESM, elective classes for the CEM specialization, and the Group Project. New Program within CEM: Eco-EntrepreneurshipCEM students may also choose to participate in the UCSB College of Engineering's nationally recognized Technology Management Program (TMP) as part of the Bren School’s new Eco-Entrepreneurship Program, the only program of its kind offered by a MESM curriculum anywhere in the nation. Students who select this option take courses at the Bren School and in TMP in a curriculum that leads to the development of a business plan to launch innovative technologies, products, or practices that address important environmental or natural resource problems and enhance the value of the corporation. The business plan includes a mission statement, value proposition (the opportunity), a target market, an industry, competitive analysis, financials, and an exit strategy. Student pursuing the Eco-Entrepreneurship track usually earn a UC recognized certificate in Graduate Program in Management Practice (GPMP) upon completion of the program since much of the course work for the Eco-Entrepreneuship track overlaps with that program. TMP courses include technology feasibility, new venture marketing, new venture finance, and business plans development. They are augmented by Bren courses in competitive strategy, corporate environmental management, and industrial ecology. The business plan is developed as part of the students’ Group Projects and culminates in participation in the Business Plans Competition at UCSB and other institutions.
Course WorkCEM students not pursuing the Eco-Entrepreneurship track should take at least four of the following courses:
With guidance from the advisor, students select additional courses appropriate for the specialization and their particular background, goals, and interests. For example, those interested in business and law may want to take advantage of relevant law workshops and classes. Those interested in business and government should consider taking courses in environmental politics and environmental policy making and analysis. And those interested in the natural sciences or other tools, such as GIS, can take course from those areas. Additionally, the Technology Management Program (TMP) at the College of Engineering offers of number of courses, such as business and financial skills, entrepreneurship, product development, and others that may be of interest and value to CEM students.
The following variable topic courses may also provide curriculum opportunities of value for CEM students:
CEM students are also encouraged to explore offerings in other departments and may include relevant electives in their program of study. The Department of Economics has a number of classes that may be of interest and value to CEM students.
CEM students pursuing the Eco-Entrepreneurship track should take the following courses:
Sample Programs of Study Example I
Example II
Example III – Eco-Entrepreneurship Track
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MESM