The sustainability of humans depends upon the capacity of the biosphere to provide the ecosystem services that sustain them. Climate change is challenging biosphere function as humans have become reliant on. Adapting to ongoing climate change depends on a strong scientific understanding of the fundamental climatic processes and it is clear integrative research will play a critical role in identifying pathways towards sustainability.
The Sustainability in Future Climate specialisation equips students with a theoretical and analytical toolkit for understanding the scientific basis needed to adapt to future climate variability and climate change. It builds skills to transfer that knowledge to inform social change, structures and polity. This is a 'hands-on' specialisation, with many opportunities to conduct small-scale research built into its components.
This specialisation is intended to develop and strengthen broad-based research skills and embedding them in an understanding of the role of research in addressing complex sustainability issues that climate change presents. Its completion at the appropriate level is good preparation for fourth-year Honours, and is recommended for students considering a sustainability-related career or research higher degree.
Learning Outcomes
- Build an understanding of the role of research in sustainability, both within and beyond academic domains.
- Think critically about climate science issues, integrate information, and construct logical, consistent and synthesised arguments.
- Apply critical methodological approaches to evaluate current human-ecological interactions and to critically evaluate proposed alternatives.
- Apply a range of written, oral and visual communication skills to communicate research outcomes effectively.
Other Information
This specialisation may only be undertaken in conjunction with the Bachelor of Environmental Science and Sustainability
Students should seek further course advice from the academic convener of this specialisation.
Back to the topRequirements
This specialisation may only be undertaken in conjunction with the Bachelor of Environment and Sustainability
This specialisation requires the completion of 24 units, of which a minimum of 12 units must come from completion of 3000- level courses
The 24 units must come from completion of courses from the following list:
12 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:
ENVS2013 Society and Environmental Change (6 units)
ENVS3020 Climate Change Science & Policy (6 units)
A minimum of 6 units from the completion of courses from the following list:
ENVS2004 Climate and It's Applications (6 units)
ENVS3004 Land and Catchment Management (6 units)
ENVS3005 Water Management (6 units)
ENVS3008 Fire in the Environment (6 units)
ENVS3013 Climate Change: Past, Present and Future (6 units)
ENVS3029 Palaeo Environmental Reconstruction (6 units)
A maximum of 6 units from completion of courses from the following list:
ENVS2005 Island Sustainable Development: Fiji Field School (6-12 units)
ENVS2007 Economics for the Environment (6 units)
ENVS2017 Vietnam Field School (6-12 units)
ENVS3033 International Environmental Policy (6 units)
MGMT2001 Corporate Sustainability (6 units)
POLS2011 Development and Change (6 units)
Course contributing towards this specialisation cannot be double-counted towards the satisfaction of another principal requirement of the Bachelor of Environment and Sustainability
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