Master of Sustainability
2018 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2018 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Master of Sustainability |
| Course Map | If you started your course before 2018, please refer to the plan your study page or contact a Student Adviser. |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Cloud Campus | No |
| Duration | 2 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| CRICOS course code | 096752K Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Deakin course code | S721 |
| 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. |
New course from Trimester 2, 2018 | |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Fees and charges
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Specialisations
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Details of specialisations
- Research and research-related study
Course overview
With globalisation, population growth and climate change affecting economies around the world, issues of ‘sustainability’ become increasingly critical. Throughout the Master of Sustainability, students will acquire advanced knowledge and contemporary skills in the multidisciplinary approaches to examining environmental impacts, why they occur and to developing appropriate solutions to managing these impacts. Explore how we can learn to meet the needs of the present without permanently negatively impacting our future.
Development of successful sustainability strategies involves a multi-disciplinary approach to both analysis of the risks to the environment while utilising a “triple bottom line” approach to solutions. That is managing the environmental, social and economic issues. This course has been structured to increase the breadth and depth of knowledge and application of skills necessary to develop and implement sustainability strategies for a range of sectors.
The flexible nature of the degree provides students with the opportunity to specialise in either Environmental Management or Sustainable Regional Development, whilst pursuing industry-linked research projects what align to their personal interests and careers aspirations.
Industry connectedness is an integral part of this course and ensures students have opportunities to gain an industry perspective and establish professional networks prior to graduation. Guest lectures from key industry partners are embedded into the degree to provide students with an understanding of research and commercialisation in the sustainability context.
Following successful completion of the course, graduates may choose to pursue further research through a PhD, or seek employment in industry or government roles. Alternatively, students may choose to exit early with a Graduate Certificate of Research Management or Graduate Diploma of Sustainability.
Units in the course may include assessment hurdle requirements.
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-grouped 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 uniquely positioned to commence a PhD or actively pursue research roles in industry, education, government, NGOs, policy developments and teaching. Depending on your chosen area of expertise, you may choose to seek employment as an ecologist, environment consultant, communications specialist, researcher or science journalist. Potential employers include CSIRO, planning and research officers for state/federal government, government planning and environment departments, environmental protection agencies, cultural and natural heritage management, environmental conservation, land and water management, natural resource management, , private research institutes, private commercial companies, industrial research companies, universities, NGOs, schools, agriculture and food sector, local councils and public service.
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. Click here for more information.
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.
Attendance requirements
Elective units may be selected that may include compulsory placement, study tours, work-based training or collaborative research training arrangements.
Alternative exit
Graduate Diploma of Sustainability (S621) (Exit option only)
Graduate Certificate of Research Management (S521)
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit www.deakin.edu.au/fees.
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 and sustainability 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. |
Course rules
To complete the Master of Sustainability, students must attain 16 credit points. Most units (think of units as ‘subjects’) are equal to 1 credit point. So that means in order to gain 16 credit points, you’ll need to study 16 units (AKA ‘subjects’) over your entire degree. Most students choose to study 4 units per trimester, and usually undertake two trimesters each year.
The course comprises a total of 16 credit points, which must include the following:
Year 1 (8 credit points):
- Completion of STP050 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
- 3 core units (3 credit points)
- 1 specialisation (advanced disciplinary study area) (4 credit points)
- 1 elective unit (1 credit point)
Year 2 (8 credit points):
- Research pathway or Industry Practice pathway (8 credit points)
Specialisations
Refer to the details of each specialisation for availability.
Course structure
Core
Year 1
| STP050 | Unit description is currently unavailable (0 credit points) |
| SLE761 | Unit description is currently unavailable |
| SLE762 | Unit description is currently unavailable |
| SLE763 | Unit description is currently unavailable |
Plus 4 credit points from a specialisation (Advanced Disciplinary studies)
Plus one level 7 elective unit
Year 2
Chosen from the following pathways:
Research Pathway
| SLE764 | Unit description is currently unavailable (4 credit points) |
| SLE765 | Unit description is currently unavailable (4 credit points) |
OR
Industry Practice Pathway
| SLE766 | Unit description is currently unavailable (4 credit points)^ |
plus four credit points of level 7 units
^ Students undertaking this unit must have successfully completed STP710 Introduction to Work Placements (0 credit point)
Course structure
Electives
Plus one level 7 elective unit chosen from existing units
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
Sustainable Regional Development
Campuses
Burwood (Melbourne), Cloud (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.
Units
| SLE740 | Unit description is currently unavailable |
| SLE741 | Unit description is currently unavailable |
| SLE742 | Unit description is currently unavailable |
| SLE743 | Unit description is currently unavailable |
Details of specialisations
Environmental Management
Campuses
Burwood (Melbourne), Cloud (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 | Unit description is currently unavailable |
| SLE721 | Unit description is currently unavailable |
| SLE740 | Unit description is currently unavailable |
| SLE725 | Unit description is currently unavailable |
Other course information
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.
Research and research-related study
The course includes research and research related study, via the Research Frontiers Project (SLE763) and Research Thesis units (SLE764 and SLE765). In addition, there are several coursework units that support the research training requirements.