Sustainability
Course Overview
The Sustainability program delivers cross-disciplinary qualifications aimed at producing sustainability professionals able to extend their discipline-specific skills with an appreciation of the technological, commercial, legal, environmental, governmental and societal imperatives underpinning sustainability issues.
The Master of Sustainability builds upon the Graduate Diploma with a capstone experience in which students research current sustainability problems in collaboration with a workplace (including their own employment if appropriate). The definition of 'workplace' is broad and includes government, academic, industry, business and not-for-profit organisations. The workplace can be in Sydney, elsewhere in Australia or overseas. The project's aim is to assist in delivering solutions to the partner organisation's sustainability problems.
Course outcomes
Graduates of the Master of Sustainability degree will:
- Demonstrate expert theoretical knowledge in sustainability relevant to current issues facing the planet.
- Apply contemporary multidisciplinary and integrates knowledge of sustainability principles to complex systems of interwoven physical, economic, and social scenarios.
- Investigate, critically analyse and synthesise complex problems of resource supply in economic, environmental and societal contexts using evidence-based research on sustainability.
- Apply sound technical research principles and skills in quantitative and/or qualitative analysis techniques to analyse sustainability problems and tailor research findings to create positive outcomes and change.
- Resolve sustainability dilemmas in topics such as biodiversity, food security, population and health policies and energy technology in regional and national settings in a professional and ethical manner.
- Reflect critically on how local and global institutions and organisations address sustainable development and apply problem-solving skills to develop evidence-based solutions to complex problems.
- Communicate effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences on topics related to sustainability, demonstrating a high level of personal autonomy and accountability.
- Investigate a substantive individual or small group research question relevant to two or more sustainability theme areas; identifying and applying evidence-based interventions; assessing the impact, efficacy and sustainability of these interventions; and present the findings in written and oral modes.
Master of Sustainability
These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2014 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Coursework Policy 2014, the Resolutions of the Faculty, the University of Sydney (Student Appeals against Academic Decisions) Rule 2006 (as amended), the Academic Honesty in Coursework Policy 2015 and the Academic Honesty Procedures 2016. Up to date versions of all such documents are available from the Policy Register: http://sydney.edu.au/policies.
Course resolutions
1 Course codes
|
Code |
Course title |
|---|---|
|
GCSUSTAI-01 |
Graduate Certificate in Sustainability |
|
GNSUSTAI-01 |
Graduate Diploma in Sustainability |
|
MASUSTAI-01 |
Master of Sustainability |
2 Attendance pattern
0.
The attendance pattern for these courses is full time or part time according to candidate choice.
3 Master's type
4 Embedded courses in this sequence
(2)
Providing candidates satisfy the admission requirements for each stage, a candidate may progress to the award of any course in this sequence. Only the highest award completed will be conferred.
5 Admission to candidature
(1)
With approval from the Dean, available places will be offered to qualified applicants according to the following admissions criteria:
(b)
experience which is considered to demonstrate the knowledge and aptitude required to undertake the units of study.
(b)
completion of the requirements of the Graduate Certificate in Sustainability from the University of Sydney or equivalent qualification.
(a)
a degree of Bachelor with a credit average from the University of Sydney or equivalent qualification; or
(b)
completion of the requirements of the Graduate Diploma in Sustainability from the University of Sydney or equivalent qualification.
6 Requirements for award
(1)
The units of study that may be taken for these awards are set out in the table for Sustainability postgraduate courses. With the approval of the Dean and the program coordinator, candidates for the graduate certificate, graduate diploma or master's degree, with special aims or interests, may be allowed to substitute up to 12 credit points with relevant postgraduate units from outside the table.
(2)
To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Sustainability a candidate must complete 24 credit points, including:
(b)
12 credit points of units of study selected from the remaining core units of study or elective units of study.
(3)
To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Sustainability a candidate must complete 48 credit points, including:
(b)
12 credit points of units of study selected from the remaining core units of study or elective units of study.
(4)
To qualify for the Master of Sustainability a candidate must complete 72 credit points, including:
(b)
12 credit points of elective units of study from the remaining core units of study or elective units of study; and