Open Universities Australia 13 6736 Favourites
Open Universities Australia
  • Study online
    • Explore study online
    • Architecture & construction
    • Art & creative design
    • Business & management
    • Community services & care
    • Education & teaching
    • Engineering
    • Health & medical science
    • Humanities & social science
    • IT & computer science
    • Law & justice
    • Media & communication
    • Psychology & mental health
    • Science
    • Search all courses
    • Study types
    • Undergraduate degrees
    • Postgraduate courses
    • Pathways and pre-university
    • Single subjects
    • Short courses
    • Choosing a course
    • Help me choose a course
    • Chat with a student advisor
    • Compare courses
    • Degrees vs single subjects
  • How OUA works
  • Your studies
    • Getting started
    • Key dates
    • Minimum age requirements
    • How to enrol
    • Applying for credit
    • Study planning
    • Textbooks & study materials
    • Computer requirements
    • Exams
    • International students
    • Financial options
    • Student loans
    • Study allowances
    • Fees
    • Support
    • Getting advice
    • Study preparation
    • Disability support
    • Smarthinking
    • Special Circumstances
    • COVID-19 & Study
  • Advice
13 6736
Favourites
Sign in
  • OUA
  • Subjects

Undergraduate MUR-SUS100-2021

Introduction to Sustainable Development

Discover how sustainability has developed as a concept over the last four decades. Dig into the political economy of sustainability. Test the effectiveness of various approaches to sustainability in battling global sustainability problems.

From

$1,100 $1,350

Your upfront cost: $0

International student?

Duration

13 weeks

Study method

100% online

Available loans

  • HECS-HELP
  • FEE-HELP

Assessments

100% online

Prior study

Not required

Study terms

  • 01 Mar 2021
  • 30 Aug 2021
Murdoch University - Logo

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 2021

28

Times Higher Education Ranking 2021

29

  • 2021

Subject details

What you'll learn

On successful completion of the subject you should be able to:

  1. demonstrate how the idea of sustainability has changed and evolved over the last four decades;
  2. identify the key thinkers, events and publications in the history of sustainability;
  3. critically reflect on the main approaches to sustainability today;
  4. engage with the contestability of the concept of sustainability; and
  5. communicate clearly both orally and in writing.
Topics covered
    • The contested concept of sustainability;
    • 1960s: From Silent Spring to Limits to Growth;
    • 1980s: Global policy-­making for sustainable development;
    • 1990s: The rise and fall of sustainable development;
    • The state: The role of government in achieving Sustainability;
    • The market: Business and corporate sustainability and corporate solutions;
    • Civil society: Individual, household and collaborative political approaches;
    • North and South: Development perspectives;
    • Radical perspectives: Deep ecology, ecofeminism and subcultural radical elements;
    • The sceptics;
    • The role of the media;
    • Approach of the future
Entry requirements

No eligibility requirements

Special requirements

No special requirements

Description

This subject is a critical introduction to sustainability that traces the concept’s evolution and explores the political economy of sustainability. To this end, a range of different approaches to sustainability are introduced and compared, and analysis will be made of their respective effectiveness in addressing global sustainability problems.

Please Note: All students studying at Murdoch University will need to complete the compulsory unit, Murdoch Academic Passport (MAP100), which only takes 2-3 hours to complete online. Find out more: http://goto.murdoch.edu.au/MurdochAcademicPassport.

Assessments

A 2000-word written assignment provides an opportunity to explore an important sustainability issue in depth in light of divergent sustainability perspectives. Teaching staff provide feedback on the written assignment. Five on-line quizzes testing student understanding of key concepts. Students' contributions to tutorials and online discussions are also assessed. There is also a final assessment. Marking rubrics are provided for all assessment work, providing detail on assessment criteria used.

  • Participation (15%)
  • Essay (30%)
  • Online quizzes (25%)
  • Final assignment (30%)
Textbooks

Check the learning management system (LMS) of your university for textbook details.

Check the learning management system (LMS) of your university for textbook details.

Related degrees

Undergraduate MUR-AID-DEG-2021

Bachelor of Arts International Aid and Development

1 available major
close
  • Major Subjects

Undergraduate MUR-ASD-DEG-2021

Bachelor of Arts Sustainable Development

1 available major
close
  • Major Subjects

Undergraduate MUR-CDV-DEG-2021

Bachelor of Arts Community Development

1 available major
close
  • Major Subjects

Tell us a little about yourself

Open Universities Australia
Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
  • Contact us
  • About us
  • OUA Blog
  • Media centre
  • Partnerships
  • Universities
  • Your career
  • FAQ and glossary
  • Work with us
  • Courses
  • MBA online
  • COVID-19 and study
  • Partner Hub
  • Open2Study

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation.
© Open Universities Australia 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Cookies
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Terms of use
  • Site map