Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainable Finance, Energy and Resource Economics, Business Ethics—the range of sustainability-related content in the programs offered by the School of Business and Economics is extensive. Both students and society benefit from this approach:

• A broader curriculum meets the growing interest of high school graduates and students in sustainability topics and prepares them for future-oriented careers such as sustainability or energy management.
• We recognize our responsibility in preparing graduates to contribute as decision-makers, innovators, and engaged citizens in business and society. That is why the learning objective “Responsible Citizen” is integrated into all our degree programs. Courses that enable students to assess decisions not only economically but also in terms of ecological, social, and ethical impact are an essential part of a contemporary business education.

The following selection provides an overview of how sustainability is integrated into our programs:

• Bachelor Courses with a Focus on Sustainability (Summer Semester 2025, selected examples):

  • Digital Transformation & Changing Markets (BWL, VWL, Vorlesung/Übung, Prof. Dr. Hohenberg)
  • Einführung in die Umweltökonomik (BWL, VWL, Ökonomik, Politik & Wirtschaft, Wirtschaft & Recht, Vorlesung/Übung, Prof. Dr. Gretschko)
  • Energieökonomik (BWL, VWL, Ökonomik, Politik & Wirtschaft, Vorlesung, Dr. Lingens, Prof. Dr. Gretschko)
  • LAND, SEA, RIVERS, AND AIR: Applying the Stanford Design Thinking Method for Sustainable Mobility in Business and Tourism (WI Bachelor, Projektseminar, Dr. Dr. Taratukhin)
  • Seminar "Behavioral Aspects of Climate Economics" (BWL, VWL, Wirtschaft & Recht, Politik & Wirtschaft, Seminar, Prof. Dr. Dertwinkel-Kalt)
  • Seminar zur Umweltökonomik (BWL, VWL, Wirtschaft & Recht, Politik & Wirtschaft, Ökonomik, Seminar, Prof. Dr. Gretschko, Dr. Lingens)
  • Strategy Science - Corporate Strategy and Sustainability (BWL, VWL, Vorlesung, Prof. Dr. Bendig)
  • Umweltökonomik (BWL, VWL, Ökonomik, Politik & Wirtschaft, Wirtschaft & Recht, Vorlesung, Prof. Dr. Gretschko)
  • Übung Energieökonomik (BWL, VWL, Ökonomik, Politik & Wirtschaft, Übung, Dr. Lingens, Prof. Dr. Gretschko)
  • Übung Umweltökonomik (BWL, VWL, Ökonomik, Politik & Wirtschaft, Wirtschaft & Recht, Übung, Prof. Dr. Gretschko)

• Master Courses with a Focus on Sustainability (Summer Semester 2025, selected examples):

  • Digital Innovation and Sustainable Development (Master WI, Vorlesung/Übung, Dr. Püchel)
  • Responsible Management Education (Master WI, Seminar, Dr. Schellhammer)
  • Socially Responsible Investing (BWL, Vorlesung, Prof. Dr. Guenster, Prof. Kurtz)
  • Sustainability in Executive Decision Making (BWL, Vorlesung, Prof. Dr. Hebestreit)

• Thesis Opportunities (including potential collaborations with industry partners):

  The following chairs and professors offer sustainability-focused theses and may provide opportunities for cooperation with practice partners:

  Institute for Innovation, Strategy and Organization (Prof. Dr. Johann Nils Foege)

  Institute for Entrepreneurship (Prof. Dr. David Bendig)

  Chair of Corporate Governance (Prof. Dr. Verena Rieger)

  Chair of Workplace Transformation (Prof. Dr. Julia Backmann)

  Chair of Strategic Management (Prof. Dr. Thomas Ehrmann)

  Chair of Sustainable Market Design (Prof. Dr. Vitali Gretschko)

  Chair of Economics, especially Behavioral and Digital Economics (Prof. Dr. Markus Dertwinkel-Kalt)

  Institute for Organizational Economics (Prof. Dr. Alexander Dilger)

  Institute for Business Management in the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy (Prof. Dr. Jens Leker)

  Chair of Sustainable Finance (Prof. Dr. Nadja Guenster)

  Sustainability-oriented theses are also welcome at other chairs. We encourage students to discuss their ideas, interests, and research plans with their supervisors at the initial meeting.