High quality, integrative research plays a critical role in identifying pathways towards sustainability. The Sustainability Science specialisation builds the fundamental understandings and skills necessary to develop research projects that effectively address complex problems at the intersection of environment and society. It focuses on research skills- and design-based courses, with key choices in areas of quantitative, qualitative and spatial approaches, and opportunities to extend and apply these methods in small-scale independent research. This is a 'hands-on' specialisation, with opportunities to conduct a range of research-based tasks. The specialisation is intended to complement topic- or discipline-focused specialisations. It is good preparation for the Masters Dissertation, and is recommended for students considering a career in sustainability-related research.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
1. Analyse critically, reflect on and synthesise complex research-based approaches to investigating a wide range of sustainability issues and management strategies in international and Australian contexts
2. Integrate, interpret and communicate different forms of research design, disciplinary knowledge and modelling approaches relevant to sustainability science and policy across disciplines both within and beyond academic domains
3. Apply a wide range of specialist and non-specialist written, oral and visual communication skills to effectively convey and discuss information about sustainability science and policy in multidisciplinary contexts, and
4. Engage with current research and scholarly practice in sustainability science, demonstrating autonomy, expert judgement, knowledge, adaptability and responsibility as a practitioner
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
This specialisation requires the completion of 24 units, which must consist of:
6 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS6025 | Complex Environmental Problems in Action | 6 |
18 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS6014 | Qualitative Research Methods for Sustainability | 6 |
| ENVS6015 | GIS and Spatial Analysis | 6 |
| ENVS6103 | Introduction to Environmental and Social Research | 6 |
| ENVS6205 | Island Sustainable Development: Fiji Field School | 6-12 |
| ENVS6202 | Environmental Measurement, Modelling and Monitoring | 6 |
| ENVS6218 | Environmental Science Field School | 6 |
| ENVS6319 | Advanced Remote Sensing and GIS | 6 |
| ENVS6514 | Ecological Assessment and Management | 6 |
| ENVS8015 | Contemporary Perspectives in Environmental Science | 6 |
| ENVS8048 | Topics in Environment & Society | 6-12 |