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Unit of study_

SUST5001: Introduction to Sustainability

2024 unit information

This unit of study will introduce students to the concepts and multidisciplinary nature of sustainability, starting with the physical basis of climate change and its impact on the environment and human development. This will be followed by several case studies covering Energy, Health, Development and Environment. The case studies will be presented by industry professionals and will illustrate sustainability issues currently before Australia- their origins, impacts and industry responses. The unit of study will provide students with a holistic systems lens through which to view their learning throughout the Masters program. This will underpin understanding of the integrated nature of sustainability and facilitate the challenging of silo-based assumptions- their own and those of others. The intention is to ground understanding of complex systems in the real world through the use of case studies that will demonstrate organisational change and problem solving in a world with competing values and conflicting views of what it means to live sustainably. Students completing the unit of study will have a "sustainability tool kit" to apply to sustainability issues in their professional and community activities.

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Science Faculty

Code SUST5001
Academic unit Science Faculty
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
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None
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
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None
Assumed knowledge:
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None

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. define, discuss and understand various concepts of sustainability and sustainable development
  • LO2. articulate your own preferred understanding of sustainability and be able to justify this position
  • LO3. discuss a range of sustainability issues in different fields and academic disciplines
  • LO4. communicate through essays, reports and verbal presentations on aspects of sustainability
  • LO5. work effectively with group members to understand and communicate sustainability issues from different countries
  • LO6. undertake further study at Master level in specific aspects of sustainability and understand how this work articulates with the history, scope and debates within sustainability.

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2024
Normal evening Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 2 2024
Normal evening Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Outline unavailable
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2020
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 2 2020
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2021
Normal evening Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2021
Normal evening Remote
Semester 2 2021
Normal evening Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 2 2021
Normal evening Remote
Semester 1 2022
Normal evening Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2022
Normal evening Remote
Semester 2 2022
Normal evening Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 2 2022
Normal evening Remote
Semester 1 2023
Normal evening Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 2 2023
Normal evening Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Modes of attendance (MoA)

This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.

Important enrolment information

Additional advice

Note: Students in the Graduate Certificate in Sustainability, Graduate Diploma in Sustainability or Master of Sustainability must take this unit in their first semester of study. This unit of study involves essay-writing. Academic writing skills equivalent to HSC Advanced English or significant consultation via the Writing Hub is assumed.