Business (25 ECTS credits):
Accounting; Digital and Sustainable Business Models; Sustainable Entrepreneurship; Innovating for Sustainability; Investment, Finance and Taxes

Economics (25 ECTS credits):
Introduction to Economics: Government, Economy and Society; Microeconomics; Macroeconomics; Public Finance and Sustainable Economic Policy; Sustainable Development

Ethics & Society (25 ECTS credits):
Sustainable Business Lecture Series; Introduction to Business and Corporate Ethics; Environmental Economics & Policy; Corporate Governance; Applications and Institutions of Sustainability (required elective)

Analytical Skills (15 ECTS credits):
Mathematics for Economists; Descriptive Statistics and Probability Theory; Inductive and Multivariate Statistics

Soft Skills (15 ECTS credits):
Business Language I; Business Language II; Key Scientific Qualifications

In the field of business languages, the KU offers the following modules: German (for non-native speakers), English, French, Spanish.

Sustainability research project (10 ECTS credits)
In this module, you will work in small groups on a self-chosen question on economic sustainability with close practical relevance.

Details on the practical relevance of the degree program can be found here.

In the second stage of your studies – from the fourth semester onwards – you must choose two specializations, each worth 20 ECTS credits. You can choose between:

• Reporting, Taxes, and Sustainability
• Economics and Finance for a Sustainable Economy
• Customer Experience, Digital Systems, and Operations for a Sustainable World
• Spaces & Politics for Sustainable Futures
• International Immersion

In the course of the third semester, the program offers an information event on choosing areas of specialization. Details on the specializations can be found here.

Students acquire a total of 10 ECTS credits in the elective area. The elective area comprises all modules specified in the Degree program description. Upon request, other modules may be admitted to the elective area if they are compatible with the subject of study. This free elective area allows students to specialize in a particular subject or supplement  their studies.

The module from the Studium.pro catalog that can be chosen freely is worth 5 ECTS credits and serves as an interdisciplinary supplement to the degree program with a focus on sustainability.

At the end of their degree program, the Bachelor’s thesis allows students to approach a specific question in detail and depth. Theoretical approaches, empirical approaches (similar to the sustainability research project) or practical case studies (e.g. in cooperation with companies or authorities) are particularly suited for working on the research question.

Corporate reporting on economic, ecological and social aspects (sustainability reporting) is becoming increasingly important. Sustainability issues are also increasingly at the center of attention in the context of tax policy. Here, for example, the question is how environmental protection can be promoted through taxation, but also how fair competition between different companies can be ensured through taxation.

The specialization "Reporting, Taxes, and Sustainability" is right for you if you are interested in the topics of profit calculation, reporting, taxation and sustainability and how these are connected.

How can financial markets, political institutions, economic and monetary policy contribute to a new, sustainable economic order? What does it mean to invest in "sustainable" or "green" financial assets? You will approach these and related questions in the specialization “Economics and Finance for a Sustainable Economy“.

It is aimed at anyone interested in the diverse interactions between financial markets, the economy and sustainability goals.

In this specialization, you will deal with current challenges in globally operating companies in the areas of services, production, logistics and supply chain management . The focus here is on resource-friendly and socially responsible corporate development. You will learn to work on sustainable service offerings in a targeted and interdisciplinary manner. For example, the development of sustainable mobility concepts requires a service geared towards customer needs, software implementation and resource-friendly logistics.

This specialization is right for you if you have a strong interest in the sustainable design of digitalized service systems, modern logistics concepts and global production systems.

How can we explain that there are still significant income and wealth inequalities both in our world as a whole and within the vast majority of countries – despite extensive transfer policies? What possibilities are there to reduce these inequalities of the globally integrated economy and to achieve a higher degree of ecological sustainability? These are just some questions that you will deal with in the specialization "Spaces and Politics for Sustainable Futures" .

It is aimed at anyone who is interested in the connections between economic activities, social structures and environmental impacts . You will acquire a multi-faceted understanding of global and regional developments in order to be able to deal with the increasing complexity of economic structures and social challenges.

It is jointly taught with representatives of economic geography and human  geography as well as political science and, accordingly, has an interdisciplinary character.

What transformative skills are essential for sustainable development? How can learning environments be designed to critically reflect on unsustainable patterns of perception, thinking, and action? What frameworks and attitudes support self-organized problem-solving and empower us to take effective action? These are the questions students explore in the specialization "Transformative Skills for Sustainable Futures."

The aim is to grasp the interconnectedness of the various dimensions of socio-ecological transformations and to develop the competencies needed to shape a livable future. Through an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach, you will learn to connect ecological, social, and economic developments with questions of human values and the concept of a good life. The program draws on Future Skills, education for sustainable development, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Inner Development Goals (IDGs), as well as the ideas of Futures Literacy and transformative learning. A distinctive feature of this specialization is the creation of an inspiring and meaningful learning environment that goes beyond traditional study formats.

As a graduate of the degree program

• you will have acquired a broad knowledge of the fundamentals of economic sustainability from an economic and social science perspective.
• you have a basic knowledge of the key specialist areas of business administration and economics and of business and corporate ethics topics
• you will be able to develop sustainable action strategies and promote social innovations as part of a team, particularly at the intersection between companies, the state and other social players.
• have an understanding of basic analytical and empirical methodology for working on complex economic problems, especially with regard to analyzing data and evaluating corporate and political measures (e.g. sustainability scores, effectiveness studies)
• you have international language and study skills and are prepared for a successful career, also in an international context.
• you will be able to apply acquired presentation and communication skills in a targeted manner and have the required time management and self-management skills.

Due to the increasing challenges in the field of sustainability and the growing public interest in it, there is a high demand for well-trained graduates who can work on these tasks. Our interdisciplinary and forward-looking degree program prepares you for a career in a variety of fields. You can choose the specializations according to your interests and individual profile.

After graduating, you can work in a variety of professional fields, such as environmental economics, energy supply, resource utilization, sustainable investments, mobility, infrastructure and consumption.

Within companies, you can work in fields such as sustainability consulting and reporting and planning and management of sustainability strategies. You can also work in more general areas such as marketing, logistics, accounting or tax consultancy. Professions in these areas also often have a reference to sustainability.

In the public sector, graduates of the course have the opportunity to join regulatory authorities, ministries, the administration or international organizations (e.g. OECD, UN). Tasks in these areas include the implementation of sustainability concepts in urban and regional planning as well as strategic activities in development cooperation.

In the not-for-profit sector (NGOs, associations, social enterprises), possible occupational fields include the development and testing of production and consumption standards and certificates. Another possible professional field would be public relations work and marketing for promoting awareness of sustainability.