Bachelor of Arts (Sustainable Development)

There are increasing employment opportunities for graduates who are knowledgeable, skilled and passionate about sustainable development, at federal, state and local government, in non-government organisations, international agencies, corporations, local business and the media.

Professional recognition

 Learn how to turn your passion for sustainability into a rewarding career where you can make a difference within communities and regions, in Australia and overseas. 

Higher education via OUA

Successful completion of 2 subjects at Open Universities Australia (OUA), or an Australian University.

Higher education

Transferring from another degree or university

If you have successfully completed university studies equivalent to at least 2 subjects (6 Murdoch credit points) you can apply to transfer to Murdoch University using your previous studies.

For all other minimum entry requirements and pathways, please refer to the course you are interested in on https://search.murdoch.edu.au/s/search.html?collection=mu-course-search.

Secondary education

School leavers gain an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) from four degree subjects completed during Year 12, or OP (Overall Positions) in Queensland.

To apply to Murdoch University after Year 12, you must achieve English competency and have achieved your WA Certificate of Education (WACE) or its interstate equivalent along with the ATAR (or OP) relevant for your chosen degree.

An ATAR of 70.00 or higher (or a Queensland Overall Position of 14 or less) is required for admission to a Commonwealth Support Place in this degree.

VET studies

If you have successfully completed a Certificate IV or higher you can apply for admission into a Commonwealth Support Place.

Work and Life

• Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
  • STAT is a national test for mature age people designed to assess aptitude for learning in a tertiary environment. It is not a test of your knowledge on specific academic subjects. It is recognised in all Australian states. You must achieve a minimum of 140 in the Written English and 135 in the Qualitative or Multiple Choice sections of the STAT to gain entry to Murdoch.
• Completed secondary education more than two years ago
• Enabling Programs
  • STAT preparation course - Applicant needs to sit the STAT after the course is completed.
  • Murdoch University OnTrack / OnTrack Sprint / FlexiTrack - If you have successfully completed Murdoch University's OnTrack or Flexitrack program you can apply for admission into a Commonwealth Support Place. Details are available at http://www.murdoch.edu.au/OnTrack/

Additional information

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre - http://www.murdoch.edu.au/Kulbardi/
• International Students - http://www.murdoch.edu.au/study/how-to-apply
• For further admission information about this degree, please refer to Murdoch Admission Information - Arts

English Proficiency Requirements

To demonstrate English language competency you will need a scaled mark of at least 50 in  ATAR English, Literature or English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD).

Special requirements

Proof of citizenship is not required for admission; however, it is required for access to Higher Education Loan Programs (HELP). Please upload a scanned copy of your birth certificate or Australian passport or citizenship certificate along with your application.

Find out if you are eligible and apply at https://www.murdoch.edu.au/study/courses/undergraduate-courses/recognition-of-prior-learning.

This course aims to train the next generation of sustainability leaders for world-changing work in Australia and overseas. Students explore the environmental, economic, social and cultural dimensions of sustainability, and develop a wide range of much-needed green skills. Areas covered include urban and rural sustainability, sustainability ethics and economics, and sustainable lifestyles and behaviour change. The emphasis is on giving students the sustainability expertise needed to ‘make a difference’ within communities and regions and at the global level.

Recommended Study Pattern

To get the most from this degree, students are recommended to follow these steps:

LEVEL 1

• ART100 Communication and Persuasion (3cp) - required
• ART101 Coming into Community (6cp) - core elective
• SUS100 Introduction to Sustainable Development (3cp) - required
• COD125 Introduction to Community Development (3cp) - required
• Complete at least 3 subjects (9cp) of Level 1 General Electives from any OUA subject.

​LEVEL 2

• ART200 The Power of Perfect Text: Writing for Professional Contexts (3cp) - core elective
• ART208 Presenting in Public: Writing and Performing for Professional Contexts (3cp) - core elective
• SUS203 Sustainability, Ecology and Communities (3cp) - required
• SUS207 Overseas Aid and International Development (3cp) - required
• ENV245 Global and Regional Sustainability (3cp) - required
• MSP200 Building Enterprise Skills (3cp) - core elective
• Complete at least 3 subjects (9cp) of Level 2 or 3 General Electives from any OUA subject.

LEVEL 3

• SUS301 Resilient Regions: Sustainability in Practice (3cp) - required
• SUS305 Economics of Sustainability (3cp) - required
• SUS310 Sustainable Urban Communities (3cp) - required
• Choose 1 of the core subjects below:
  • ART303 Research Project (3cp) OR
  • COD303 Preparing for Professional Community Practice (3cp)
• Complete 4 subjects (12cp) of Level 2 or 3 General Electives from any OUA subject.

Award Requirements

To qualify for the Murdoch University Bachelor of Arts (Community Development) students must complete 72 credit points (24 subjects). This degree is structured around the following key elements:

• Required Degree Subjects (Core) 12 credit points.
• Required Major Subjects (Major) 24 credit points.
• General Elective Subjects (Options) 36 credit points.

Degree Structures

Murdoch’s degree structures combine all the required elements to make a student knowledgeable, experienced, confident and successful within a chosen career. Each level of an undergraduate degree requires 24 credit points, the equivalent of a year of full-time study.  

Choose your subjects

Electives

Options (General Electives) – 12 subjects (36 credit points)

The number of electives undertaken at each level varies depending on selection of core electives.

• Complete at least 3 subjects (9 credit points) of Level 1 General Electives from any OUA subjects
• Complete 9 subjects (27 credit points) of Level 2 points or 3 General Electives from any OUA subjects.

Select from any subjects offered by OUA, subject to individual subject prerequisites. Students who are considering a second major are advised to consider using General Elective points (from Murdoch offerings) to meet the requirements of a second major.

Students are recommended to Register with Murdoch University before starting their Level 2 subjects to receive enrolment advice.

A fee of $250 is payable on registration.

To obtain an Application for Registration Form, please download the form from this website:
http://our.murdoch.edu.au/OUA/Forms/

This program has undergone a major structure change in 2023.

The Arts courses at Murdoch are being reformed under a vision for future-facing program design, improved reputation and impact, increased staff and student engagement, and economic sustainability.

As approved changes to core units include increasing the number of options, students will not be disadvantaged. Any student who has started studying prior to 2023 will have existing core/spine units credited.

Please refer to this Course Requirements (PDF) document for more information.

Contact:

Academic Chair for Sustainable Development major:

Mr Allan Johnstone - A.Johnstone@murdoch.edu.au / Tel: +61 8 93606278