Business Meets Climate

Duke’s approach to education prepares our students to draw on deep subject matter expertise and work across multiple disciplines to address the most complex challenges of our time.

Vincent E. Price
President, Duke University

Lead Where Business Meets Climate

Climate change is transforming business—reshaping markets, redefining risk, driving innovation, and rewriting policy. Organizations across every sector need professionals who understand the forces of climate and the fundamentals of business. 

Duke’s Master in Business, Climate, and Sustainability (MBCS) equips students with the interdisciplinary expertise to lead in a climate-disrupted economy. In just 10 months, you’ll build fluency across three essential domains: business fundamentals, climate science, and the policy systems reshaping global markets. 

You’ll graduate ready to create impact in fields such as consulting, energy, finance, agriculture, consumer goods, insurance, and more—wherever climate transformation intersects business strategy.

A Degree Only Duke Could Deliver

Choosing the MBCS program means gaining access to a bold, university-wide commitment to climate leadership—and the full institutional power to support it.

The program is a direct result of what Duke does best: solving complex problems through interdisciplinary collaboration. Built by faculty from the Fuqua School of Business, a top-ranked leader globally in business education – and the Nicholas School of the Environment, one of the nation’s foremost institutions for climate science and environmental policy – MBCS offers a level of integration rarely found in graduate education.

As part of the university-wide Climate Commitment, students benefit from Duke’s investment in bold, cross-sector solutions and our network engaged in related fields around the world. You’ll graduate with a skill set that is interdisciplinary by design, grounded in research, and built for real-world impact.

Designed for Systems Thinking with Real-World Impact

The MBCS program integrates three critical layers of expertise: core business skills, climate science literacy, and applied analytical methods. This interdisciplinary foundation prepares you to navigate complex systems, translate insight into strategy, and lead across industries and functions.

You’ll develop fluency in:

Business Fundamentals

Finance
Analytics
Operations
Leadership

Climate
Literacy

Climate Science
Energy Systems
Environmental Policy

Applied Tools and Methods

Carbon Accounting
Optimization Modeling

Real-world casework is embedded throughout the program. Nearly every course includes applied projects that deepen your ability to connect theory to outcomes. You’ll work through challenges that cut across industries—from clean energy transitions and regulatory adaptation to sustainable product development and risk modeling.

Developed collaboratively by Duke faculty in the Fuqua School of Business and the Nicholas School of the Environment, the MBCS curriculum ensures that graduates will be prepared to drive change across business and climate sectors.

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Connected to Purpose – and the People Who Open Doors

At Duke, your career journey will be a shared one, supported by expert advisors, collaborative classmates, and a powerful global network. From day one, our career development team works with you to clarify your goals and build the skills to navigate an evolving job market with confidence.

The MBCS program offers tailored career guidance that reflects your unique strengths and aspirations. Whether you're exploring ESG strategy, climate finance, or sustainable operations, you'll receive personalized support through mock interviews, resume workshops, and direct employer engagement designed to turn your ambitions into action.

And long after graduation, you’ll continue to benefit from Duke’s global alumni network. With more than 200,000 alumni, you’re connected to a cross-sector community of leaders driving climate innovation around the world.

Because building a career of impact starts with having the right people in your corner—and continues with a network committed to helping you grow, evolve, and lead.

view mountains and a city at dusk from the sky
How Climate Hazards Are Reshaping Business Realities and Responses

“The findings [from this report] highlight that resilience is no longer a nice-to-have but a fiduciary responsibility for boards when evaluating corporate risk.”

World Economic Forum (March 2025)

outside of a glass office building
Companies See Sustainability as a Way to Create Value

"Globally, 88% of companies view sustainability as a potential driver of long-term value, and more than 80% say they can measure returns on investment for sustainability-related projects.”

Morgan Stanley (June 2025)

port on a river with an airplane flying over
Why Climate Risk Matters for Investors, Companies & Countries

"Without robust risk assessment, there is a danger of either overestimating or underestimating the consequences of climate change.”

UBS (April 2025)

Start your application for the Duke Master in Business, Climate, and Sustainability

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