Maintaining the balance between our environment, society and sustainable development is challenging. The future needs you to contribute to sustainable solutions to big issues including climate change, food security, health, land management, biodiversity loss, resource competition, and societal equity.
In this course you will explore a range of contemporary environment and sustainability issues. You will develop an understanding of approaches and viewpoints in environmental and sustainability sciences, learn to link perspectives from the natural and social sciences, and develop discipline and professional skills. Using case studies and problem-based learning, you will draw connections and apply concepts and techniques that may help inform practical solutions to address complex future challenges.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Develop fundamental understandings of key topics in environment and sustainability sciences.
- Recognise, understand and explain the complexity of linkages between drivers, pressures, impacts and responses for contemporary environment and sustainability challenges.
- Evaluate current context, understandings and methods in environmental and sustainability sciences, and critically analyse approaches designed to address complex contemporary issues.
- Develop discipline and professional skills and knowledge that underpin the diversity of learning in environmental and sustainability sciences.
- Demonstrate application of knowledge and skills propose solutions to environmental problems.
Work Integrated Learning
Projects
Students will work in small groups throughout the semester to work on real-world scenarios supported by external stakeholders. A selection of these people will come from industry, government, business, private sector, NGO's, land managers.
Other Information
This course is available only to students enrolled in the B. Environment and Sustainability
Indicative Assessment
- Workshop exercises (40) [LO 1,2,3]
- Group work projects (45) [LO 1,3,4,5]
- Learning journal (15) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including:
- Face-to face component which may consist of 1 x 2 hour and 1 x 3 hour workshops per week.
- A compulsory 1 day field trip in week 3 of semester.
- Approximately 65 hours of self directed study which will include preparation for workshops, group work and other assessment tasks.
Students are expected to actively participate and contribute towards discussions.
Inherent Requirements
To complete this course, students must participate in the 1 day field trip to the Canberra region. In order to participate in the trip, students must be able to:
- Travel to the field location in university vehicles;
- Move through natural environments, operating sampling equipment and working in variable weather conditions;
- Monitor and manage their own health while studying and engaging with a small group of people in field locations;
- Understand and respect the needs of other participants and act professionally throughout the trip.
For more information and requirements, please refer to the field trips information page.
Students who can provide evidence they are unable to meet this requirement may be able to choose other options or negotiate alternative participation and assessment requirements with the course convenor.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
There are no prescribed text books, rather, a variety of recommended reading will be made available via LMS.
Assumed Knowledge
No prior knowledge required
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3673 | 23 Feb 2026 | 02 Mar 2026 | 31 Mar 2026 | 29 May 2026 | In Person | N/A |