Environmental and Risk Management
Please note: Before scheduling classes, check with the department to determine the availability of courses for the upcoming semester or visit the Insurance and Risk Management website.
The major in Environmental and Risk Management is concerned with public and private sector issues in designing and implementing effective strategies related to the impacts of business activities on the environment and related areas in health and safety. There has been interest in such impacts because of their inherent importance for responsible management. This is due primarily to the increasing costs of laws and regulations governing those business activities which may pose risks to the environment, to the health and safety of workers, and/or to surrounding communities.
This major is designed to provide in-depth foundations for those interested in pursuing careers in the growing environmental sector of the economy, whether in private business, in environmental consulting, or in government. Non-majors interested in an overview of business and policy in the environmental area should also find selected courses from this major of interest.
The program provides an interdisciplinary approach, building on faculty and courses from departments such as Accounting, Health Care Management, Insurance and Risk Management, Legal Studies and Business Ethics, Management, Marketing, Operations and Information Management, and Business and Public Policy. Additional coursework on environmental and technological risks can be pursued in parallel with the Wharton program through studies in the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Requirements for the MajorThe major in Environment and Risk Management at the Wharton School requires five credit units of coursework as indicated below or four credit units of coursework and an advanced study project approved by the Director of the Environmental Management Program.
Acronyms on the following list of courses refer to the following departments: Health Care Management (HCMG), Insurance and Risk Management (INSR) Legal Studies and Business Ethics (LGST), Management (MGMT), Marketing (MKTG), Operations and Information Management (OPIM), and Business and Public Policy (BPUB).
- a) The following half-credit courses are required:
- b) Four of the following courses are required:
ASP Advanced Study Project in the environmental and risk management area, supervised by a Wharton faculty member.
- c) In addition to electives that students may take in Environmental Studies in the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Science, students are encouraged to take one or more of the following courses depending on their specific interests and majors:
MBA Advisor: Eric Orts (telephone: 215.898.3018; email: ortse@wharton.upenn.edu)
The Environmental Management Program is coordinated, designed, and monitored by a school-wide interdepartmental group of faculty with teaching and research interest in the field. They include:
Standing Faculty:
Elizabeth Bailey (Business and Public Policy)
Eric Clemons (Operations and Information Management)
Neil Doherty (Insurance and Risk Management)
Howard Kunreuther (Operations and Information Management)
Eric Orts (Legal Studies)
Janet Pack (Business and Public Policy)
Jerry Wind (Marketing)
Sidney Winter (Management)
Affiliated Faculty:
Kenneth Foster (Bioengineering)
Robert Giegengack (Earth and Environmental Science)
Jason Johnston (Law School)
Ulku Oktem (Operations and Information Management)
Peter Petraitis (Biology)
Irving Shapiro (Biochemistry-Dental School)
Wen Shieh (Systems Engineering)
John Smith (Biology)