Program Overview

Study Deakin's Master of Sustainability and gain the skills to address national and global sustainability issues and implement strategies that balance environmental, social and economic considerations.

Graduates of Deakin's Master of Sustainability are well positioned to engage in the development and implementation of practical solutions to complex sustainability challenges and may choose to seek employment in govenrment roles, non-government organisations or in the private sector.

Those choosing to undertake the advanced research study option in the final year of this degree will also be well positioned to pursue further research studies, including a master by research or PhD.

The flexible structure of the course provides you with the opportunity to build the degree for the career you want. You’ll first acquire a solid foundation in sustainability before broadening your studies through pursuit of a specialisation that interests you most. Towards the latter part of your studies, you will have the option to either undertake a focused research project, industry practice or further broaden your skills through your choice of elective units spanning climate change adaptation and mitigation, regional development, environmental management, risk assessment and control, health promotion, community consultation and more.

Connections to industry are an integral part of this course and ensures you have the opportunity to gain an industry perspective and establish professional networks prior to graduation. Guest lectures from key industry partners are embedded into the course to provide you with an understanding of sustainability issues in a real-world context.

Major: Sustainable Regional Development
Sustainable Regional Development is critical to the economic performance of both developed and developing countries, especially in the face of globalisation, population growth, economic structural adjustments and climate change. Two thirds of Australia’s export earnings come from regional industries such as agriculture, tourism, retail, services and manufacturing. As such, demand has risen sharply for professionals with the ability to undertake regional socioeconomic and environmental planning that looks to the long-term competitive advantages of regional areas, and propose appropriate policy responses.

The specialisation is appropriate for developed and developing country contexts, and the second year research project can be focused on international (overseas) regional development situations. Graduates will develop an in-depth understanding of the key biophysical, socioeconomic, geographic and infrastructure factors that influence the development of regions, as well as the strategic and technological tools to analyse and act on information to sustainably guide regional economic development.