Warning! This degree has changed. Read the transition arrangements.
Available loans
Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Total subjects
23
Price
$21,513
Study method
100% online
Assessments
100% online
Credit available
Yes
This research-based university in Perth has a strong interdisciplinary focus and a reputation for outstanding teaching and ground-breaking research. With more than 22,000 students and 2,000 staff from over 90 countries, and campuses in Dubai and Singapore, Murdoch embraces free thinking, shared ideas and knowledge to make a difference, and Open Universities Australia is certainly part of that.
QS RANKING
Times Higher Education Ranking
Degree structure
Degree details
At the completion of this degree students will be able to:
- demonstrate substantive knowledge of the history and evolution of sustainable development thinking and practice
- develop and manage sustainable development projects of increasing complexity, working both independently and collaboratively
- construct compelling arguments that support change-making for sustainability
- formulate clear and persuasive written and spoken communication for community and professional audiences, using a range of appropriate styles and formats
- engage with complex and often controversial sustainability issues in ways that are respectful, collaborative, ethical, and interdisciplinary
- apply a wide range of sustainable development principles and practices at the local, regional and global levels.
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.
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
- Murdoch Institute of Technology - http://www.murdochinstitute.wa.edu.au/
- 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/ and https://www.open.edu.au/degrees/flexitrack-murdoch-university-mur-ftk-deg
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 Australian citizenship is required. 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 degree aims to train the next generation of sustainability leaders for world-changing work in Australia and overseas. You’ll 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 you 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 (total of 24 points)
- ART101 Coming into Community (6cp)
- SUS100 Introduction to Sustainable Development (3cp)
- COD125 Introduction to Community Development (3cp)
- MSP100 Career Learning: Managing Your Career (3cp)
- Complete 9 credit points (3 subjects) of Level 1 General Electives from any OUA subject
LEVEL 2 (total of 24 points)
- BAR200 Developing Research Skills and Methods (3cp)
- SUS203 Sustainability, Ecology and Communities (3cp)
- SUS207 Overseas Aid and International Development (3cp)
- ENV245 Global and Regional Sustainability (3cp)
- MSP200 Building Enterprise Skills (3cp)
- Complete 9 credit points (3 subjects) of Level 2 or 3 General Electives from any OUA subject.
LEVEL 3 (total of 24 points)
- ART202 The Weight of Data (3cp)
- ART201 Global Citizenship (3cp)
- SUS310 Sustainable Urban Communities (3cp)
- SUS301 Resilient Regions: Sustainability in Practice (3cp)
- SUS305 Economics of Sustainability (3cp)
- ART208 Presenting in Public: Writing and Performing for Professional Contexts (3cp)
- Complete 6 credit points (2 subjects) of level 2 or 3 General Electives from any OUA subject.
Award Requirements
To qualify for the Murdoch University Bachelor of Arts (Sustainable Development) students must complete 72 credit points (23 subjects).
The Murdoch Degree Framework
(72 Points of Credit: 24 points core, 24 points major, 24 points options)
A Murdoch University degree is structured around four key elements:
- Murdoch Career Spine (Core)
- Required Degree Subjects (Core)
- Required Major Subjects (Major)
- General Elective Subjects (Options)
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) – 8 subjects (24 credit points)
- Complete 3 subjects (9 credit points) of Level 1 General Electives from any OUA subjects
- Complete 5 subjects (15 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/
Changes to Bachelor of Arts degree at Murdoch University in 2020
The Bachelor of Arts has undergone a major change in 2020.
- Those students already progressing towards the Bachelor of Arts (Community Development), Bachelor of Arts (International Aid and Development), or Bachelor of Arts (Sustainable Development) will encounter some structural changes.
- Those students already progressing towards the Bachelor of Arts (Security, Terrorism and Counterterrorism major) will be transitioned into the new Bachelor of Global Security (Terrorism and Counterterrorism Studies).
The revisions to the Bachelor of Arts degree structure will not place any extra requirements on existing students in terms of completing your degree and graduating on time. If you have already completed a subject that is going to be discontinued you will still receive credit for it, and be considered to have met that requirement for the degree - there will be no need for you to take the subject that is replacing it.
Bachelor of Arts (Sustainable Development) Recommended Study/Transition Plan (PDF, 158Kb)
If you have any queries about any of these changes, you can ask a question in Murdoch’s ‘MyAnswers’ (https://myanswers.custhelp.com/), providing your student number and identifying your degree (or intended degree). You can also contact Murdoch via phone:1300 687 3624 and email: studentcentre@murdoch.edu.au.
You may also directly contact the Academic Chair of the degree in which you wish to graduate.
- Academic Chair for Community Development major: Mr Cameron Tero - c.tero@murdoch.edu.au / Tel: +61 8 93692992
- Academic Chair for International Aid and Development, and Sustainable Development majors: Mr Allan Johnstone - A.Johnstone@Murdoch.edu.au / Tel: +61 8 93606278