University of St. Thomas
AC-4: Graduate Program

There is significant demand, especially in regulated industries, for individuals with a strong understanding of corporate risk management, compliance, governance, social responsibility and sustainability – and a specific need for leaders with knowledge and skills across these critical functions, which are seldom optimally aligned in organizations. The graduate certificate in Strategic Risk and Responsibility aims to explore the interconnectivity and influence of these key areas to improve managerial decisions and strategic planning, while providing students with the fundamentals of risk evaluation and decision theory, reputation management, corporate governance, compliance programs and processes, and organizational business ethics—with particular attention paid to corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and resilience. The two core courses, BETH 650: Compliance Programming and MGMT 751: Risk Management, are based on the organizing principle of the relationship between risk management, compliance, governance, and sustainability. All students choose an elective from one of the following Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability courses (3 credits): - Global Risk Leadership & Sustainability (MGMT 753) - Strategic Sustainability (MGMT 714) - Social Entrepreneurship (ENTR 708)

The graduate certificate in Strategic Risk and Responsibility was first offered through the Opus College of Business in Fall 2017. There are currently over 20 students enrolled and one certificate has been conferred.