Master of Sustainability (Professional)

2023 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2023 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2023 course information
Award granted	Master of Sustainability (Professional)
Course Map	These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2023: Research Pathway Industry Practice Pathway Advanced Discipline Coursework Pathway These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2023: Research Pathway Industry Practice Pathway Advanced Discipline Coursework Pathway Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Online	No
Duration	2 years full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code	108874H Burwood (Melbourne)
Deakin course code	S728
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Explore how humanity can meet its growing needs without limiting the ability of future generations to meet theirs in the Master of Sustainability (Professional). You’ll develop advanced knowledge and contemporary skills to develop successful sustainability strategies by applying multidisciplinary and ‘triple bottom line’ approaches to policy and management solutions, balancing environmental, social and economic considerations.

You’ll build a solid foundation in sustainability, environmental science and global change before undertaking specialised study in an area of your choosing. This flexible course allows you to further tailor your degree to suit your career aspirations by providing a choice of options towards the latter part of your studies – advanced research, elective study, or a combination of elective study and industry practice. Whatever you choose, you’ll be equipped for a rewarding career affecting positive change.

Ready to tackle complex sustainability issues head on?

Issues of sustainability are complex and the need for skilled professionals capable of developing appropriate cost-effective and targeted solutions to these challenges are crucial for our future. That’s why a key focus of the Master of Sustainability (Professional) is developing an in depth understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals, which every member country of the United Nations is committed to achieving by 2030.

The flexible structure of the course provides you with the opportunity to build the degree for the career you want. You’ll first acquire a solid foundation in sustainability before broadening your studies through pursuit of a specialisation that interests you most. Towards the latter part of your studies, you will have the option to either undertake a focused research project, industry practice or further broaden your skills through your choice of elective units spanning climate change adaptation and mitigation, regional development, environmental management, risk assessment and control, health promotion, community consultation and more.

Connections to industry are an integral part of this course and ensures you have the opportunity to gain an industry perspective and establish professional networks prior to graduation. Guest lectures from key industry partners are embedded into the course to provide you with an understanding of sustainability issues in a real-world context.

Indicative student workload

Approximately 150 hours of learning and assessment activities per Deakin credit point.

Students will have access to a range of elective units from a variety of relevant discipline areas across the Faculty and University. This will allow them to tailor a program relevant to their specific interests, subject to academic approval. As a pathway to PhD, the proposed courses have a key component in the form of a research project. The thesis should offer a significant contribution to knowledge in the discipline concerned and demonstrate the student’s capacity to carry out independent research.

Students not wishing to pursue further studies in research will have the opportunity to undertake a 4-credit point industry practice placement during their second year of studies, along with 4 course electives that will allow them to complement their studies with a range of relevant options.

Career opportunities

As a graduate of this course you will be equipped with the skills to build a rewarding career affecting positive change. You will be well positioned to engage in the development and implementation of practical solutions to the complex sustainability challenges and may choose to seek employment in government roles, non-government organisations or in the private sector.

Depending on your elected area of expertise, you may choose to pursue employment as an officer, manager or consultant in areas including environmental protection, cultural and natural heritage management, environmental conservation, land and water management, natural resource management, agriculture, communication and planning.

Those choosing to undertake the advanced research study option in the final year of this degree will also be well positioned to pursue further research studies, including a master by research or PhD.

Participation requirements

Elective units may be selected that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.

Pathways

Graduates will be uniquely positioned to commence a PhD.

Alternative exits

Graduate Certificate of Sustainability (S527)
Graduate Diploma of Sustainability (S627)
Master of Sustainability (S727)

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year, the units you choose and your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. Further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods is available on our Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Demonstrate mastery and specialist knowledge of natural and social sciences related to sustainability, environmental management, health and environment and sustainable regional development. Plan and execute a substantial research or industry based project to demonstrate a deep understanding and mastery within the sustainability, environmental management and sustainable regional development disciplines. Demonstrate well-developed judgement and responsibility to review, analyse and develop sustainability strategies based on holistic principles.
Communication	Present a reasoned argument that highlights essential details of sustainability, environmental management and sustainable regional development, theory and application, key observations, results and conclusions of scientific research in a professional manner using appropriate style, language and references including local, national, and international contributions or contexts. Apply listening skills and effective communication skills to accommodate, encourage and answer questions from a range of audience and to defend research/project findings and sustainability implementation propositions. Interpret the boundaries or limits of social and scientific information, data, discuss error, probability, uncertainty, conclusions and arguments to justify theoretical propositions, methodologies, methods, techniques, conclusions and professional decisions.
Digital literacy	Use well-developed technical skills, judgement and responsibility to independently locate, analyse, evaluate the merits of, synthesise and disseminate sustainability data, information and literature in the planning and implementation of projects to a range of stakeholders in sustainability, environmental management and sustainable regional development. Reflect on information, data and results and develop strategies for disseminating research outcomes in a digital world.
Critical thinking	Appraise complex social, economic and scientific methodologies and information from a broad range of interdisciplinary sources using critical, analytical and logical reasoning from multiple perspectives for evaluating and providing solutions to sustainability issues that incorporate the holistic principles. Formulate research questions to test and/ or contest ideas, concepts and theoretical propositions through an evidence-based well-structured project.
Problem solving	Plan and implement sustainability research investigation by using traditional and emerging techniques and technologies to identify problems and by applying analysis and synthesis skills, and triple-bottom line principles to solve research and/or practical problems. Demonstrate complex problem-solving skills by identifying and creating solutions to real world sustainability through social, economic and/or scientific inquiry. Contribute to advancements in scientific knowledge through mastery in the use of traditional and emerging instruments and techniques to device an investigation, and in the collection, interpretation, analysis, synthesis and dissemination of issues pertaining to the identification of issues and solutions to improve sustainability in general and/or environmental management and/or sustainable regional development.
Self-management	Take personal, professional and social responsibility within changing national and international professional contexts to develop autonomy as researchers and evaluate own performances. Work autonomously, responsibly and safely to solve unstructured problems and actively apply knowledge of social frameworks and scientific methodologies to make informed choices based on the triple-bottom line principles.
Teamwork	Work independently and collaboratively with advice from the supervisor towards achieving the outcomes of a project and thereby demonstrate interpersonal skills including the ability to brainstorm, negotiate, resolve conflicts, managing difficult and awkward conversations, provide constructive feedback and work in diverse professional, social and cultural contexts.
Global citizenship	Apply principles of sustainability and environmental management knowledge and skills with a high level of autonomy, judgement, responsibility and accountability in collaboration with the supervisor to articulate the place and importance of social and scientific inquiry in the local and global context.

Approved by Faculty Board 10 June 2021

Course rules

To complete the Master of Sustainability (Professional), students must attain 16 credit points, which must include the following:

Year 1 (8 credit points):

Completion of STP050 Academic Integrity (0-credit point compulsory unit)
Completion of STP710 Career Tools for Employability (0-credit point compulsory unit)
4 core units (4 credit points)
1 specialisation (4 credit points)

Year 2 (8 credit points):

Research pathway OR
Industry practice pathway OR
Advanced discipline coursework pathway

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.

Specialisations

Refer to the details of each specialisation for availability.

Course structure

Core

Year 1

STP050

Academic Integrity (0 credit points)

STP710

Career Tools for Employability (0 credit points)

SLE761

Professional Research Practice ^

SLE756

Sustainability in the Anthropocene

SLE757

Environmental Science and Global Change

Plus 4 credit points from a Specialisation

Plus one unit from:

SLE763

Research Project Planning

SLE767

Industry Practice Planning ^

Year 2

Chosen from the following professional studies pathways:

Research Pathway

SLE764

Research Project (4 credit points)

SLE765

Research Project (Advanced) (4 credit points)

Industry Practice Pathway

SLE766

Industry Practice (4 credit points)^

plus four credit points of level 7 units

^ Students undertaking this unit must have successfully completed STP710 Career Tools for Employability (0 credit point)

Advanced Discipline Coursework Pathway

8 course elective units (8 credit points) from the list below.

Course elective units

S728 Master of Sustainability (Professional) and S727 Master of Sustainability students can choose any units from the list below to fill the course elective unit options (subject to meeting unit requirements).

Course elective units may also be chosen from the remaining specialisations (ie students enrolled in the Environmental Management specialisation may choose electives from within the Health and Environment specialisation).

Strategic futures thinking

SRA743

Critical Futures

Food and land system

ADH712

Food Security

HMF702

Healthy and Sustainable Agricultural Communities

HSN706

Policy and Practice for Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems

International development

ADH717

Sustainability and Development

ADS701

Introduction to International and Community Development

ADS705

Participatory and Community Development Practice

AHA724

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Humanitarian Contexts

Cultural heritage

AIM708

World Heritage

AIM720

Sustainability and Human Rights in Heritage and Museums

AIM703

Heritage Practice: Conservation and Managing Change

AIM709

Intangible Cultural Heritage

Cities

SRT757

Building Systems and Environment

SEN725

Urban Stormwater Asset Design

SET721

Engineering Sustainability

Data science for sustainability

MIS770

Foundation Skills in Data Analysis

MIS778

Agile Project Management

SIT741

Statistical Data Analysis

SIT742

Modern Data Science

Environmental crime

ACR706

Environmental Crime and Regulation

ACR710 Environmental Offenders And Victims [No longer available for enrolment]

Working with communities

HSH736

Community Consultation and Participation

ADS705

Participatory and Community Development Practice

ADS701

Introduction to International and Community Development

Global geopolitics and sustainability

AIR701

China and the World

AIR707

The United Nations and International Organisation

AIR717

International Conflict Analysis

AIR720

Transnational Activism and Policy

AIR726

Human Rights in World Politics

Policy and governance

AIP704

Making Policy

AIP740

Policy Lessons From Overseas

AIP748

Intergovernmental Relations

AIP773

Governance and Accountability

AIP780

The Politics of Australia's Economy

ADS722

Private Sector Development: Corporations, Social-Enterprise and Microfinance

Humanitarian development

ADH701

The Humanitarian World

ADH702

Humanitarian - Development Nexus

ADH714

Gender and Development

Communicating and influencing

ALR718

Public Relations, Activism and Social Change

ALR782

Public Affairs and Opinion Formation

ADS715

Cross Cultural Communication and Practice

Work experience

Students will have an opportunity to complete an industry practice pathway, equivalent to 4 credit points, in place of a research pathway.

Details of specialisations

Environmental Management

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online

Unit set code

SP-S000084

Overview

Environmental Management involves a multidisciplinary approach to examining why environmental impacts occur and developing appropriate solutions to managing these impacts. Contemporary approaches require a multifaceted combination of techniques that address environmental, social and economic issues. Balancing resources and employment against environmental impacts requires specialised knowledge and skills, such that environmental managers need to be able to understand government policy direction, legislative compliance issues and analyse risk to the environment, often on a global scale. This specialisation prepares students to address the unique issues and challenges faced in this field.

Units

SLE720

Risk Assessment and Control

SLE721

Policy and Planning for Sustainable Development

SLE740

Climate Change, Adaptation and Mitigation

SLE725

Environmental Management Systems

Health and Environment

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online

Unit set code

SP-S000097

Overview

Human health and wellbeing is intricately linked to the health of the natural environment. Climate change, environmental degradation and unsustainable living are causing a range of physical and mental health impacts that require evidence-based, systems thinking and co-designed interventions. This specialisation enhances your understanding of the complex relationship between human health and the environment through exploration of topics in public health, health promotion, health equity and human rights, social impact assessments, and community consultation and participation.

Units

HSH701

Principles and Practice of Public Health

HSH703

Health Promotion

HMC703-OD Promoting Human and Planetary Health (0.5 credit points) ^

Plus one from:

HSH736

Community Consultation and Participation

HSH728

Health Equity and Human Rights

Plus one from:

MMC706-OD Change tools (0.5 credit points) ^
MMC705-OD Innovation and leadership (0.5 credit points) ^
MMC714-SY Emergency and Consequence Management (0.5 credit points) ^

^ Students complete these Deakin approved microcredentials (Stackable Short Courses) to count towards the Health and Environment specialisation. These fully online microcredentials suit professionals with busy lives and work commitments, allowing you to complete microcredentials anytime and anywhere. Please refer to Microcredential learner support for more information.

Sustainable Regional Development

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online

Unit set code

SP-S000082

Overview

Sustainable Regional Development is critical to the economic performance of both developed and developing countries, especially in the face of globalisation, population growth, economic structural adjustments and climate change. Two thirds of Australia’s export earnings come from regional industries such as agriculture, tourism, retail, services and manufacturing. As such, demand has risen sharply for professionals with the ability to undertake regional socioeconomic and environmental planning that looks to the long-term competitive advantages of regional areas, and propose appropriate policy responses.

The specialisation is appropriate for developed and developing country contexts, and the second year research project can be focused on international (overseas) regional development situations. Graduates will develop an in-depth understanding of the key biophysical, socioeconomic, geographic and infrastructure factors that influence the development of regions, as well as the strategic and technological tools to analyse and act on information to sustainably guide regional economic development.