Environmental Sustainability (MULT90004)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Email: emma.hudgins@unimelb.edu.au
July
Email: emma.hudgins@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 July |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Environmental Sustainability is one of two core subjects for the Master of Environment degree. This subject provides students with a strong foundation in interdisciplinary understanding of critical environmental sustainability issues, and how and why they have emerged, in the context of policy, management, and governance across scales and sectors.
Exploring environmental sustainability through an interdisciplinary lens, this subject considers concepts and principles fundamental for understanding the complex nature of the environmental crises facing humanity and, in turn, for developing solutions. Environmental Sustainability will cover:
• The fundamental earth system processes that provide humanity’s life-support system;
• The conditions that have led to the Anthropocene, and its implications for life as we know it;
• Global and local environmental challenges, including for biodiversity, water, energy, and food, in relation their natural and social environments;
• Complex social-ecological systems and their role in contributing to and solving critical environmental sustainability issues;
• Different perspectives, and the influence of worldview, values and beliefs on sustainability;
• The role of individuals, governments, business and innovation in building a sustainable future; and
• Management, governance, and social-ecological issues for achieving environmental sustainability.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students will have:
- Developed a critical and interdisciplinary understanding of the conceptual and practical dimensions of sustainability as they apply to a range of different scales and contexts and their implications for governance and leadership; and
- Extended their capacities for leadership and understanding of governance through the further development of their skills of analysis, interpretation, communication, collaboration, problem-solving and decision-making appropriate to the field of environmental sustainability.
Generic skills
In this subject, students will build the skills to enable them to:
- Enhance their interdisciplinary thinking and learning skills, including skills for understanding complex systems, collaboration, and communication;
- Further develop their critical thinking and analysis though weekly readings, class discussions, and assessment tasks;
- Confidently conduct independent research on environmental sustainability topics;
- Improve visual, verbal and written communication skills.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
An individual written task of about 1,200 words
| Week 4 | 20% |
A group verbal, visual and written report - the written report to be a combined total of about 3,000 words
| Week 8 | 30% |
An individual research essay of about 3,000 words due before the end of semester
| Week 12 | 40% |
A class participation component including leading of tutorial discussions and engagement in scenario activities | 10% | |
| Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass this subject. | N/A |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Emma Hudgins Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total of 33 hours - 22 hours of lectures (1 x 2 hours per week across semester), 11 hours of tutorials (1x 1hour per week across semester) on Fridays in Weeks 1-12 Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025 Last self-enrol date 14 March 2025 Census date 31 March 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025 Assessment period ends 27 June 2025 Semester 1 contact information
Email: emma.hudgins@unimelb.edu.au
- July
Coordinator Emma Hudgins Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Six days of classes, including 2x 2hr lectures and 2x 1hr tutorial per day. The subject is taught over six Fridays (8:30am – 4:30pm) at the beginning of semester with follow up assignment work. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 31 July 2025 to 12 September 2025 Last self-enrol date 8 August 2025 Census date 22 August 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 3 October 2025 Assessment period ends 26 October 2025 July contact information
Email: emma.hudgins@unimelb.edu.au
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Urban Planning Course Graduate Diploma in Environment Course Graduate Certificate in Environment Course Master of Environmental Science Course Master of Urban Design - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 4 March 2025