Business Administration, Environmental Management, Second Cycle, 7.5 credits

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of the course, students should be able to

• give an account of and discuss central challenges, globally and nationally, in achieving sustainable development, in particular with regard to the environment
• identify and analyse central sustainability issues with regard to the environment which affect and are affected by business operations
• describe, compare and analyse the tools that have been discussed on the course and that are available to businesses for handling environmental issues.

Competence and skills

On completion of the course, students should be able to

• analyse and apply basic concepts relating to the environment, which are relevant to business operations
• plan and propose an environmental management plan on relevant environmental aspects for a company, and to analyse its strong and weak points
• discuss and analyse, in writing and orally, environmental aspects of sustainable development and environmental management, geared at both an academic and a professional audience.

Judgement and approach

On completion of the course, students should be able to

• reflect on the role of environmental issues for organisations from a business administration sustainability perspective
• evaluate and analyse the effects of initiatives linked to environmental management systems and control
• reflect on their own learning and evaluate the work of others.

Content

The course has two parts. The first part is an introduction to fundamental environmental issues and management within organisations. This part is completed by means of an individual hand-in assignment. In the second part of the course, students form groups to apply the knowledge acquired previously on the course on a real case, which we work on together with an organization invited to contribute to the course. Part two of the course is completed by means of a case presentation and the submission of a group assignment.

Examinations and grades

Environmental Management, 4 credits (Code: A003)
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Leading Change, 3.5 credits (Code: A004)
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

According to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, Section 18, a grade is to be awarded on the completion of a course, unless otherwise prescribed by the university. The university may determine which grading system is to be used. The grade must be determined by a teacher specifically nominated by the university (the examiner).

In accordance with university regulations on grading systems for first and second-cycle courses and study programmes (Vice-Chancellor’s decision ORU 2018/00929), one of the following grades is to be used: fail (U), pass (G) or pass with distinction (VG). For courses included in an international master’s programme (60 or 120 credits) or offered to the university’s incoming exchange students, the A to F grading scale is to be used. The vice-chancellor, or a person appointed by them, may decide on exceptions from this provision for a specific course, if there are special grounds for doing so.

The grades used on this course are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Comments on grades

To be awarded a Pass for the whole course, students must earn at least the grade (E) on both Environmental Management (code A003) and Leading Change (code A004). The grade for the whole course is awarded as a weighted average of Environmental Management (code A003) and Leading Change (code A004).

Modes of assessment

Environmental Management, 4 credits (Code: A003)
Written Examination.

Leading Change, 3 credits (Code: A004)
Written and Oral Examination.

For students with a documented disability, the university may approve applications for adapted or other modes of assessment.

As a rule, assessment and examinations are to be done in accordance with the most recent version of the course syllabus. If a course has undergone significant changes and the university is of the opinion that a transitional provision is required, such a provision must be evident from the most recent version of the course syllabus.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations.

Specific entry requirements

First-cycle courses of 75 credits in Business Administration or first-cycle courses of 60 credits in Business Administration and a first-cycle course of 30 credits in another field of study including an independent project/bachelor thesis of 15 credits. The applicant must also have qualifications corresponding to the course "English 6" or "English B" from the Swedish Upper Secondary School.

For further information, see the university's admission regulations.

Other provisions

Make-up assignments are to be completed as soon as possible and as instructed by the lecturer.

The language of instruction is English.

Students who have been admitted to and registered on a course have the right to receive tuition and/or supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course to which they were accepted (see, the university's admission regulations (in Swedish)). After that, the right to receive tuition and/or supervision expires.

Reading list and other learning resources

Required Reading

Steffen, Will & Katherine Richardson & Johan Rockström & Sarah E. Cornell & Ingo Fetzer & Elena M. Bennett & Reinette Biggs & Stephen R. Carpenter & Wim de Vries & Cynthia A. de Wit & Carl Folke & Dieter Gerten & Jens Heinke & Georgina M. Mace & Linn M. Persson & Veerabhadran Ramanathan & Belinda Reyers & Sverker Sörlin (2015)
Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet
Science, 347(6223).

Further readings, a maximum of 250 pages, in the form of articles will be added.