New Joint Master Degree in Business, Climate, and Sustainability

Duke University is proud to announce a new joint-degree program: the Master in Business, Climate, and Sustainability (MBCS). Designed by Duke’s top-ranked Fuqua School of Business and the Nicholas School of the Environment, this pioneering interdisciplinary program will equip students with core business skills informed by climate science.

Unlike sustainability-focused degrees or general business management programs, the Duke MBCS program develops graduates’ expertise in business strategy, climate science, and applied analytics. Graduates are prepared to immediately contribute to climate innovation across a wide spectrum of industries and functions.

The program’s curriculum and experiential learning opportunities are designed in close collaboration with industry partners to cultivate professionals with the distinctive ability to translate climate science into business strategy—a crucial need among companies aiming to thrive in a climate-disrupted world.

“The MBCS program addresses a critical talent gap by positioning graduates for jobs that demand an understanding of climate change and its impacts, specifically on businesses,” said Lori Bennear, Stanback Dean of the Nicholas School and a professor of energy economics and policy.

“Wall Street, consulting, CPG, insurance, energy—nearly every industry is working to understand how to thrive in a climate-disrupted economy. The MBCS curriculum leverages the world-class faculty expertise of our two schools to prepare graduates for high-demand analyst roles at the intersection of business, climate, and sustainability,” added Mary Frances Luce, interim dean of Fuqua.

Businesses across industries are planning significant organizational changes related to sustainability, according to the Future of Jobs Report 2025, published by the World Economic Forum.

Of 1,000 employers surveyed across 22 industries, nearly half (47%) anticipate that ramping up efforts to reduce carbon emissions will be a main cause of organizational transformation, according to the report. Meanwhile, 41% expect that climate change adaptation will foment significant organizational changes.

Yet, demand for qualified employees is outpacing supply. For example, of 2,000 companies surveyed, only 11% had achieved emissions reductions in line with their ambitions, according to a report published last fall by the strategic management consulting group BCG. “Turns out, it’s hard to acquire the expertise required to plan, let alone implement, sustainability transformations,” BCG wrote in 2023.

The MBCS program is designed to prepare graduates to lead in the rapidly evolving sustainability sector. The 10-month curriculum integrates business and climate-related subjects covering three primary domains:

Business fundamentals, including finance, analytics, operations, and leadership
Climate literacy, spanning climate science, energy systems, and environmental policy
Applied tools and methods, such as carbon accounting, life-cycle analysis, and optimization modeling

Students will learn in small groups that prepare them for teamwork in job settings. They will also learn from industry experts and gain hands-on experience working with corporate partners in the program’s practicum course.

Staff from Fuqua and Nicholas will provide career support to students through mentoring, workshops, career fairs and more. Additionally, graduates will benefit from Duke’s robust alumni network.

“We designed the MBCS curriculum for students who want to help the private sector manage climate risks and demonstrate leadership in sustainable operations,” said Bennear. “By enrolling in this program, they will be one step closer to doing just that.”

To learn more, visit the MBCS program website: business-meets-climate.duke.edu.

link