BUILDING SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES

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USC Pre-College > Summer Programs > Building Sustainable Businesses

Countering global warming and other environmental damage may very well take major changes to key parts of the global economy. Innovators find opportunity in times of change, and many are stepping up to innovate the ways we generate and distribute energy; grow and process our food; move around in our communities and travel over long distances; build our homes; design and manufacture everyday consumer products; and more…

We can’t avoid the headlines about intense storms, rampant floods, failed crops and climate refugees. But in this course, we will look at the opportunities that we have to revolutionize our economy and change the relationship between humans and the Earth.

USC Summer Program Gallery Building Sustainable Businesses: The Challenge of a Generation
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PROGRAM DATES
June 15 – July 12, 2025

PREREQUISITES
None

COURSE DRESS CODE
Business / Professional

DAILY SCHEDULE & ACTIVITIES
MONDAY – FRIDAY
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Classes in session
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Classes in session

Tuition & Application
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COURSE OVERVIEW

Instruction in this class will emphasize:

  • Background in the science of climate change and how human activities contribute to it
  • Understanding of major approaches for designing sustainable products, services and business models
  • Familiarity with energy economics and the potential for change with technological advancements
  • Exposure to decarbonization technologies and other approaches for reducing the environmental impact of economic activity
  • In-person interaction with corporate changemakers and start-up entrepreneurs championing environmentally friendly business approaches
  • Introduction to career paths and educational opportunities that emphasize sustainability expertise
  • Visits to key sites showcasing novel green business approaches

HEAR FROM OUR FORMER STUDENTS

The whole course gives you an experience of how university can be in that specific course. Living away from your parents or guardians, you develop a sense of responsibility and independence which is very much needed when you’re entering your adulthood especially.
The most valuable aspect of the course was reading case studies on sustainable businesses and hearing guest speakers who came into my class. Learning about how businesses tried to be sustainable was very interesting and I was able to learn new things. I also got to hear firsthand how entrepreneurs pursued their careers.
We had experts in a variety of fields come and give us lectures and read a lot of articles to keep us informed about the current state of the art and cutting edge research on sustainability.