BSU


 
Ball State University 
Clustered Academic Minors in 
Environmentally Sustainable Practices 

Interdepartmental Minor in:
Environmental Context For Business


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Program
Overview		 Business Standards
 There have been many international, national, and state developments related to business and the environment that demonstrate the urgent need for education in environmentally compatible business practice.  The United Nations, the European Union, the International Organization for Standardization, and the International Chamber of Commerce have all established strong positions for business practices compatible with the environment.  The President of the United States established the President's Council on Sustainable Development and issued an executive order mandating the choice of environmentally preferable alternatives for government purchases.  The United States Environmental Protection Agency developed environmental guidelines for federal agencies and has served as a partner in the development of international environmental business standards.

The Indiana Business Modernization and Technology Corporation and the Indiana Economic Development Council are cooperating in the design of a potential Indiana Environmental Extension Network.  In addition, environmentally oriented nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are working in partnership with businesses, and coalitions of businesses are developing their own voluntary environmental guidelines.  Firms worldwide are establishing environmental management systems (EMS), and guidelines have been established at national and international levels to encourage consistency across firms.  The International Organization for Standardization developed the ISO 14000 series as a framework for a firm's EMS.  Its companion, ISO 14001, outlines EMS basics.  Firms participating in the global economy or in countries that have adopted ISO 14001 will need employees to help shepherd the firm through the certification process.  Clearly, the impetus to adopt environmentally compatible business practices is spreading throughout the world community.

Because of these developments, there is an urgent need to educate business students in environmentally compatible practices and to educate non-business students from 
environmentally-related science disciplines who wish to apply their science backgrounds in environmentally related business occupations.  Educational materials to support this effort have been developed for programs at many colleges within the United States.  From within the College of Business there has emerged a new interdepartmental minor in The Environmental Context for Business to address this need. 

A minor in The Environmental Context for Business extends the momentum that has begun to position Ball State University at the lead among colleges nationwide in promoting innovative approaches to environmental literacy.  The program is anchored by a new course, The Emerging Context of Environmental Issues for Business (BUSAD 300).  This is complemented by the three core courses (Ecology, Environmental Economics, and Environmental Ethics), a carefully chosen set of additional existing courses (Introduction to Technology, Introductory Operations Management, and Environmental Law and Policy), and 
the closing course within the clustered minors program, Creating a Sustainable Future (ID 400).

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Curriculum Overview 25 Hours
Required Courses:
Clustered Minors Core Courses:
BIO 216 Ecology 4
ECON 311/
NREM 303		 Environmental Economics  3
PHIL 230 Environmental Ethics 3
Context Courses:
ITEDU 101 Introduction to Technology 3
MGT 251 Introductory Operations Management 3
POLS 347 Environmental Law and Policy 3
Anchoring Course:
BUSAD 300 The Emerging Context of                 Environmental Issues for Business 3
Closing Course:
ID 400 Creating a Sustainable Future 3
NOTE:  All students pursuing a minor within the cluster are encouraged to take NREM 101, Environment and Society, as a distribution elective within the university core curriculum.
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Course Descriptions Required Courses
BIO 216 Ecology (3).   Effects of physical and biotic conditions on the distribution and abundance of plants and animals.  Dynamics of ecological systems are examined at the population, community, and ecosystem levels, and from an evolutionary perspective.  Practical applications are emphasized.  Lecture and laboratory. 

ECON 311/NREM 303 Environmental Economics (3).  The application of economic principles to environmental problems.  Emphasis is on applying the economist's decision-making model to environmental issues and the advantages and shortcomings of the economist's analysis. 

PHIL 230 Environmental Ethics (3).  Introduction to and analysis of basic concepts, principles, theories, and issues in environmental ethics. 

ITEDU 101 Introduction to Technology (3).  An overview of technology and how it interacts with people, society, and the environment is provided.  The evolution of technology and the relationship of technology with other disciplines is also explored. 

MGT 251 Introductory Operations Management (3).
Introduction to the tools and techniques of management with practical applications to the production of goods and services. 

POLS 347 Environmental Law and Policy (3).  Significant facets of the legal system's response to conflicting demands upon environmental resources.  Composition of  environmental problems, control issues, policy formulation, and legal remedies. 

BUSAD 300 The Emerging Context of Environmental Issues for Business (3).  Examines interdisciplinary perspectives of issues forming the environmental context for business.  The 
Life-Cycle concept frames the discussion of environmental management systems and standards, pollution prevention, product and market issues.  Includes lectures, readings, case studies, and student projects. 

ID 400 Creating a Sustainable Future:  The Clustered Minors Capstone (3).  Capstone course for students in the interdepartmental minor programs in environmentally sustainable practices.  Variable topics.  Emphasizes interdisciplinary perspectives on creating sustainable  practices--environmentally and culturally--for the future.  Seminar format, with visiting scholars working interactively with students. 

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