Center for Sustainable Business | EmpowHER: Curriculum Guide

As part of the EmpowHER program, students must complete a total of 18 credits of course work and experiential learning in sustainable finance. Mandatory components of the EmpowHER curriculum included two foundational courses and one experiential learning course, which will provide students with a basic understanding of sustainable business and finance, and how the two topics converge. We then have recommended a list of courses that focus on sustainable finance. Please note that EmpowHER does not require students to complete the Sustainable Business & Innovation or Finance specializations, but they are highly recommended.
 

Jump to: Foundational Courses | Experiential Learning Courses | Sustainable Finance Courses | Sample Schedules | Other Finance and Sustainable Business & Innovation Courses

Mandatory Foundational Courses | 6 credits:

• BSPA-GB.2305: Sustainability for Competitive Advantage | 3 credits
• COR1-GB.2115 or COR1-GB.2311: Foundations of Finance (unless waived) | 3 credits

Mandatory Experiential Learning | 3 credits (Choose 1):

• Stern Signature Project (SSP) focusing on sustainable finance | 3 credits
• FINC-GB 3320: Michael Price ESG Fund | 3 credits
• INTA-GB 3371: NYU Impact Investment Fund (NIIF) | 3 credits 

Recommended Sustainable Finance Courses | 9 credits:

• BSPA-GB 2303: Sustainability Value Creation in Private Markets | 3 credits | Summer
• FINC-GB 2360: Sustainable Finance: Innovation and Trends in Capital Markets | 3 credits | Spring
• FINC-GB 2375: Managing Climate, Cyber, Geopolitical, and Financial Risk | 3 credits | Fall & Spring
• FINC-GB 2347: Climate Finance: An Economic and Financial Approach to Climate Change | 3 credits | Fall 
• PADM-GP 2311: Impact Investing | 3 credits | Fall & Spring 
• PADM-GP 2312: Managing Financial and Social Returns of the Social Enterprise | 3 credits
• PADM-GP 4320: Environmental, Social, Governance Investing | 1.5 credits | Fall 

Sample Schedules

Please note that these schedules are just a sample of how you may take Stern's sustainable finance offerings. You may take these courses in any order that you choose, as long as you follow Stern-assigned prerequisites.
 

Please note that these are just two examples of courses, you may substitute in any of our recommended sustainable finance courses for those listed.
 

Other Courses in Finance and Sustainable Business & Innovation

While the courses above will count towards your Finance and Sustainable Business & Innovation specializations, there are other course offerings that you can choose from after completing the 6-9 credits in sustainable finance offerings. Please see the Sustainable Business & Innovation specialization page and the Finance specialization page to ensure that you are meeting the requirements of your desired specializations. Please note that you can take up to three specializations during your time at Stern, but having a specialization is not required.

Popular course offerings in the Finance and Sustainable Business & Innovation Specializations: