Master of Sustainability
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2025 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Master of Sustainability |
| Deakin course code | S727 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment |
| Campus | For students who commenced prior to 2024. |
| Online | No |
| Duration | 1.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| CRICOS course code | 108875G Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9 |
The final intake to this course version was in 2023. Students should contact a Student Adviser in Student Central for course and enrolment information. Further course structure information can be found in the handbook archive. | |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Alternative exits
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Specialisations
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Details of specialisations
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Do you want to build a rewarding career affecting positive change? Study Deakin's Master of Sustainability and gain the skills to address national and global sustainability issues and implement strategies that balance environmental, social and economic considerations.
Graduates of Deakin's Master of Sustainability are well positioned to engage in the development and implementation of practical solutions to complex sustainability challenges and may choose to seek employment in government roles, non-government organisations or in the private sector.
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.
Want the skills to develop and implement sustainability strategies across a range of sectors?
Globalisation, population growth and climate change are dramatically impacting the natural environments, economies, and societies of the world. A key focus of the Master of Sustainability 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.
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
Master of Sustainability (Professional) (S728)
Alternative exits
| Graduate Certificate of Sustainability (S527) | |
| Graduate Diploma of Sustainability (S627) |
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. 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 students must pass 12 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate.
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
- completion of STP710 Career Tools for Employability (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
Year 1 (8 credit points):
- 4 credit points of core units (4 credit points)
- 1 specialisation (4 credit points).
Year 2 (4 credit points):
- advanced discipline coursework pathway - 4 credit points of electives (see list below), or
- industry practice pathway - SLE766 Industry Practice (4 credit points) (subject to meeting unit requirements)
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.
Specialisations
Refer to the details of each specialisation for availability.
Course structure
Core
Year 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (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
Advanced Discipline Coursework Pathway
4 course elective units from the list below
OR
Industry Practice Pathway
| SLE768 | Industry Practice A (2 credit points)^ |
| SLE769 | Industry Practice B (2 credit points)^ |
SLE766 Industry Practice (4 credit points) [No longer available for enrolment from 2025, alternate unit SLE768 Industry Practice A (2 credit points) and SLE769 Industry Practice B (2 credit points)]
^ Students undertaking these units must have successfully completed STP710 Career Tools for Employability (0 credit point)
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 and Water Security |
| HMF702 | Healthy and Sustainable Agricultural Communities |
| HSN706 | Policy and Practice for Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems |
International development
| ADH717 | Climate Change and Sustainability |
| ADS701 | Introduction to International and Community Development |
| ADS705 | Participatory and Community Development Practice |
| AHA724 | Disaster Risk Reduction and Community Led Recovery |
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 |
| 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: Federalism, Power and Multi-Level Governance |
| AIP773 | Governance and Accountability in Turbulent Times |
| AIP780 | The Politics of Australia's Economy |
| ADS722 | Private Sector Development: Corporations, Social-Enterprise and Microfinance |
Humanitarian development
| AHL701 | The Humanitarian World |
ADH702 Humanitarian - Development Nexus [No longer available for enrolment]
| ADH714 | Gender, Race and Culture |
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 [No longer available for enrolment]
| 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.
Units
| SLE740 | Climate Change, Adaptation and Mitigation |
| SLE741 | Regional Development Economics for Sustainability |
| SLE742 | Systems Thinking for Sustainability and Resilience |
| SLE743 | Spatial Analysis and Geographic Information Systems |
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
- Contact Student Central
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or 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.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.