Businesses, governments, and nonprofit organizations are making decisions with sustainability in mind with increasing frequency. They recognize that to ensure positive environmental, economic, and social outcomes, they must prepare comprehensive, long-term plans and employ informed, proficient individuals to carry them out. To accomplish these tasks, these public and private entities rely upon the expertise of employees and consultants who possess both a broad understanding of sustainability and an in-depth familiarity with the particular sector in which they operate. The sustainable systems management major prepares students to enter the workforce with the knowledge and skills necessary to design, assess, implement, and manage systems to advance the goals of sustainability. Key features of this inherently interdisciplinary major include its skills-based and content-based integrated core courses, its emphasis on the development of strong analytical and quantitative skill sets, and its broad requirement of foundation courses in mathematics, science, business, economics, history, and policy. Students choose to specialize in one of four tracks: (1) corporate sustainability systems, (2) sustainable products business management, (3) building science and technology, or (4) energy systems.

At least 22 upper-division credits in the major must be taken at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus.