In 1989, EPA conducted an informal survey to examine the treatment of environmental issues by the nation's business schools. The Agency found that no school offered entire courses or an environmental major or concentration. Further, the survey found that very little time was spent on environmental issues in core management disciplines. At the time of this informal survey, there existed very few curricular materials that incorporated environmental issues. Faculty had difficulty finding appropriate case materials.
Material now exists for schools to integrate such issues across the curriculum.
Most schools fall into more than one category. Extension Approach Several business schools are capitalizing on existing university resources to create joint degree programs with their universities' schools of natural resources. Typically, a student obtains the dual degree in three years, adding an additional year to the normal business degree. Other business schools have created centers of expertise. The University of Houston has created the Institute for Corporate Environmental Management to foster improved organizational competitiveness through effective management of environmental issues facing industry.