Sustainability, Ecology and Communities
UndergraduateMUR-SUS2032025
Approach sustainable development from conceptual, practical and policy perspectives. Define sustainable governing practices. Discover how to foster change in individuals, organisations and communities. See how policy can aid ecological sustainability.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 24 Feb 2025
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Sustainability, Ecology and Communities
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- demonstrate a critical understanding of the principal concepts and theories of Systems thinking and Resilience thinking and their application to sustainability
- discuss the multiple inter-disciplinary perspectives which can be brought to bear in responding imaginatively to sustainability problems and in developing sustainability solutions
- analyse the range of tools and processes to implement sustainability through Government, Business and Community sectors
- develop coherent sustainability solutions, based on a range of policy tools and a range of models of change
- work both independently, and collaboratively and respectfully with a range of people
- communicate effectively both orally and in writing
- Introduction to Systems Thinking
- Applying Systems Thinking to Sustainability
- Applying Systems Thinking to the Socio-Ecological System – Resilience
- A systems approach to implementing sustainability through Government
- Tool: Planning & Policy-Making for Sustainability
- Taking it further: Participation and Partnerships for Sustainability
- A systems approach to implementing sustainability in Business
- Tool: Measuring and Assessing Sustainability
- Taking it further: Innovation and Leadership for Sustainability
- A systems approach to implementing sustainability in Civil Society
- Tool: Behaviour Change in Communities and Individuals
- Taking it further: Visioning and Actioning a Sustainable Future
This subject was previously known as SUS214 Sustainability, Ecology and Communities.
This subject develops knowledge of the conceptual, practical and policy aspects of sustainable development. The subject focuses on the implementation of sustainability at a local and sub-national level. Systems thinking and resilience are presented as key tools to both understand sustainability problems and develop sustainability solutions within socio-ecological systems. The implementation of sustainability is then explored through governance, business and civil society approaches.
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.
- Invigilated Exam (open book) (35%)
- Learning journal (30%)
- Major Project (35%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
This research-based university in Perth has a strong interdisciplinary focus and a reputation for outstanding teaching and ground-breaking research. With more than 25,000 students and 2,400 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.
Learn more about Murdoch University.
Explore Murdoch courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 26
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 31
Entry requirements
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
MUR-SUS214 (Not currently available)
Others
Students must have completed 18 credit points (6 OUA subjects) at Level 1 before enrolling in this subject.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateMUR-BAR-DEG
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