In response to the growing demand for professionals in this field and the significant interest of students in pursuing careers that impact economic, environmental, and social sustainability, the Business School's Marketing Department has established Social Responsibility and Impact in Business. Established a 30-credit Master of Science degree program.
The new degree program was approved by the university's Board of Trustees on Wednesday, April 17, and will begin this fall. This degree prepares graduates to drive innovative and impactful business decisions towards positive change in society.
“It is no longer enough for a few well-intentioned companies and individuals to focus on corporate social responsibility. The problems facing the world are so complex, growing, and urgent that systemic transformation and far-reaching global impact,” said Gerlinde Berger-Walliser, professor of business law and academic director of the program.
“A lot of people are passionate about these issues,” she says. “This master's degree program will transform their ideas and beliefs into ones that impact professional roles and ultimately contribute to businesses, organizations and governments working for the greater good.”
The program welcomes students from a variety of backgrounds
Robin Coulter, professor and chair of the Department of Marketing, will offer an undergraduate concentration and minor in social responsibility and impact in business that will attract students from a variety of majors, including business, human rights, communication sciences, economics, and environmental science. has been developed and is currently available.
Coulter highly values students who pursue this career path.
“They take their social responsibilities very seriously and are on the front lines of making change at the intersection of multiple disciplines. Their energy, intelligence, curiosity, and sense of purpose inform our science. “It was a key element in the development of the master’s degree program,” she says.
“Based on our track record to date, we believe that our master's degree program will be popular and competitive,” she reports. “For more than a decade, the School of Marketing has had a close working relationship with the university's Human Rights Institute, and we have long-standing relationships with other initiatives such as the President's Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility, the Office of Sustainability, and the Business and Human Rights Initiative. Our faculty members bring significant expertise and tremendous energy to our students' thirst for knowledge.”
Current UConn undergraduates, regardless of their major, can enroll in the Accelerated Master of Science program and earn up to 12 credits that count towards both their undergraduate and master's degrees. Accelerated degree programs can reduce the cost of your master's degree by up to 40 percent. The course will be offered face-to-face in Storrs starting in fall 2024. Students in the accelerated master's degree program can complete their master's degree in as little as one year after earning their bachelor's degree.
Students who already have a bachelor's degree from UConn or elsewhere and are interested in pursuing a master's degree in social responsibility and impact in business can apply to the traditional master's degree graduate program. This option includes flexible online and in-person courses at Hartford, designed to fit students' work and personal schedules. Applications open in May and classes begin in the fall.
Career opportunities in social responsibility and impact
Graduates with a master's degree will be equipped to drive innovative and impactful actions to bring about positive change in society. The program includes: promoting economic, environmental and social sustainability, meeting CSR regulations, gaining experience in ESG reporting, respecting and promoting human rights as part of business operations, and promoting global business operations. Contains courses that are comprehensively aimed at providing students with business models and strategies. Innovation that brings about positive social change.
New graduates can pursue careers as corporate social responsibility (CSR) managers, marketing strategists, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) analysts, sustainability consultants, and policy advocates. Professor Berger-Walliser said a socially responsible career requires a strong community of like-minded professionals, and the new degree program, along with flexible course delivery options, will allow students to collaborate and meet face-to-face. , says it includes opportunities to build a vibrant professional network. . The program also includes an optional international travel course.
Robert Bird, business law professor and chair of Eversource Energy's business ethics department and instructor for the program, believes the legal component of the program will be essential, especially as the world becomes more connected.
“What is unethical today is often illegal tomorrow,” he says. “Some principles and practices have been strengthened as EU legal requirements that global operating companies must respect. The United States may also follow and adopt some or all of those measures. It's sexual.”
“We're seeing a trend where employees expect certain behaviors from companies and companies are expected to take positions on social responsibility and impact,” he says. “Our students are prepared for these issues and will use what they learn to advance economic, environmental and social sustainability.”
Mr. Coulter is particularly excited about the wide range of opportunities that the accelerated master's degree program provides to undergraduate students from a variety of disciplines.
“This is a unique opportunity to serve students from all backgrounds and give them additional credentials to advance their careers,” Coulter said. “Our new degree program is not just aimed at people working in business or on the path to business. It allows students from other majors to supplement what they have learned and improve their market It opens the door for you to gain a professional edge and make a difference in our global society.”
To request more information about the program, please visit https://grad.business.uconn.edu/socialimpact-information-request/.
