Your experience is just the beginning
You’re passionate about changing the world for the better. You want to make your mark in sustainability. And you know the pressing challenges we face locally and globally can’t be solved on your own. You’ve come to the right place.
We’ve developed a Master degree that will build on your passion and teach you how to cross boundaries and develop interdisciplinary solutions. So that you can help us create a more sustainable and equitable world.
The experience you bring to this is just the beginning. In the first part of the course, you’ll gain an interdisciplinary foundation that allows you to analyse the interdependence of nature, society and the economy. You’ll then specialise in an emerging field by choosing one of five different specialisations. Then you’ll apply your specialist and interdisciplinary knowledge and skills in the field through internships, industry-linked interdisciplinary or sustainability projects, or a pure research thesis.
Read more about this forward-thinking course in the Monash Handbook.
Course structure
This 96 credit point (2 years FT, 4 years PT) course is structured in four parts.
Part A provides a broad and interdisciplinary foundation, so you can communicate and collaborate across disciplines. Part B prepares you for your specialisation. Part C allows you to develop knowledge and skills in a specialisation of your choice.
In Part D, you’ll gain experience and apply both your specialist and interdisciplinary knowledge and skills with internships in the field, industry-linked interdisciplinary or sustainability projects, or a pure research thesis.
Start in semester 1 or 2 and study full or part-time. Depending upon prior qualifications, you may choose to apply for and receive credit for Part B or D (1.5 or 1 year FT).
For entry requirements, or to apply now, see Study.Monash.
Part A
Environment and sustainability core studies (24 points)
In these studies you will develop an understanding of the interactions and interdependence between nature, society and the economy, and the basic principles of sustainability (social, economic and environmental).
Students complete:
Part B and Part C
Specialisation preparatory studies (24 points) and Specialist studies (24 points)
Preparatory studies will introduce you to advanced graduate studies in your specialisation. They are intended for students whose previous qualification (or experience) is not in a academically acknowledged field to the chosen specialisation. Part C studies enable you to develop expertise in one specialist area of environment and sustainability. Students complete preparatory studies and specialist studies for one of the following specialisations:
Part D
Advanced practice (24 points)
In this part you will undertake professional or scholarly work that will contribute to a portfolio of professional development in your area of specialisation.
Students complete either a. OR b. and c. below:
Research pathway
a. One research project unit from the following (24 points):
- ENS5900 Research thesis in environment and sustainability (24 points).
- ENS5901 Research thesis in environment and sustainability Part A (12 points) and ENS5902 Part B (12 points)
Note:This option allows you to undertake your project over two semesters.
Coursework and project/internship
b. One unit from (12 points):
- ENS5910 Interdisciplinary industry project for sustainable development solutions (12 points)
- ENS5920 Environment and sustainability project (12 points)
- ENS5930 Sustainability internship (12 points)
And c. 12 points of units chosen from the list of electives listed for the relevant specialisation
Part D Advanced Practice
Please have a look on the quick guide below if you are interested in taking Part D Advanced Practice.
Specialisations
Corporate Environmental and Sustainability Management
In this specialisation you will examine corporate sustainability challenges and opportunities in social, economic and environmental domains. You will develop the core competency of corporate management for sustainable and accountable development from the perspectives of governance, ethics, marketing and management. This specialisation is designed to meet the growing need for skilled professionals who have competencies in both business and environmental/sustainability management and who understand the nexus between the two.
Students complete:
- APG5433 Corporate sustainability management
- APG5434 Sustainability measurement
- BTF5910 Sustainability regulation
For further details see the specialisation handbook entry or contact the specialisation coordinator Wendy Stubbs.
Environment and Governance
In this specialisation you will examine the role, structure and processes of government, market and civil society in relation to the environment and sustainability agenda. You will examine social and institutional frameworks for environmental governance and the tools for environmental analysis and decision making within the context of different doctrines of development. The specialisation will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to critically analyse problems of environmental governance and sustainability to enable societal and governmental change.
Students complete:
- APG5230 Ecosystems and environmental management
- APG5426 Environmental analysis
- APG5428 Environmental governance and citizenship
For further details see the specialisation handbook entry or contact the specialisation coordinator Wendy Stubbs.
Environmental Security
In this specialisation you will examine the threats posed to society by different forms of environmental change, such as climate change and resource depletion, and the responses needed to ensure sustainability for life support. You will draw on relevant global policy to understand the scientific evidence base required for effective environmental security policy and management across all levels of government and society. The specialisation is designed to equip you with professional skills and with the knowledge and skills to help society mitigate and adapt to global environmental change, so securing a sustainable future.
Students complete:
- ENS5310 Securing biodiversity & ecosystems
- ENS5320 Climate change, energy & human security
- ENS5330 Water security& environmental pollution
For further details see the specialisation handbook entry or contact the specialisation coordinator Susie Ho.
International Development and Environment
This specialisation will introduce you to comparative perspectives on the theory and practice of international development, and frameworks for understanding the environmental impacts of development and for working towards sustainability. You will gain rigorous theoretical and practical training in analysis of international development practices and programs. The specialisation recognises that international development is a dynamic and changing sector, and will equip you with knowledge and skills to work in the sustainability and community development sector in Australia and internationally.
Students complete:
- APG5627 Political ecology: Critical explanations of socio-environmental problems (6 points)
- APG5628 Deconstructing development (6 points)
- APG5805 Project planning and management in international development (6 points)
For further details see the specialisation handbook entry or contact the specialisation coordinator Wendy Stubbs.
Leadership for Sustainable Development
This specialisation will enable you to develop your capacity to lead change and implement sustainability solutions in a range of contexts, reflecting different organisational settings (community, business, government and non-government), geographic scales (local to global) and problem domains (environmental, social and economic). The specialisation is designed to equip you with professional skills and with the capacity to analyse complex systems, identify effective intervention points and collaboratively design processes of influence to achieve more sustainable outcomes.
Students complete:
- ENS5510 Processes to influence change
- ENS5520 Understanding human behaviour to influence change
- ENS5530 Leading change for sustainable development
For further details see the specialisation handbook entry or contact the specialisation coordinator Annette Bos.
Who you'll be working with
- Who we are
When you choose Monash, you aren't just choosing Monash.
You'll also become part of a culture dedicated to working on the planet's biggest challenges. From biosecurity to global economic development, we're working on it. You'll also benefit from a truly multidisciplinary course that harnesses the expertise of Monash Arts, Science, School of Business and the Monash Sustainable Development Institute (MSDI).
MSDI hosts the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the Australia/Pacific region, and our chair, Professor John Thwaites, is one of the network's regional leaders.The network's job is to support the implementation of the UN's global Sustainable Development Goals.
- Annette Bos
“Achieving the global commitments of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement requires leadership. We need people who are prepared to lead the way, who want to innovate, and are able to shape the conditions needed for positive change. We bring together individuals from diverse disciplines to generate new solutions and develop their leadership abilities for exerting influence and effecting change for sustainable development. This Masters prepares you for a job in a changing, complex world and creates a new generation of interdisciplinary professionals who are able to drive pathways for securing equitable outcomes for people and planet”.
- Dr Annette Bos
Senior Lecturer, Manager of Sustainable Development Education (MSDI) and specialisation coordinator for Leadership for Sustainable Development - Susie Ho
“In this course, you’ll become part of a community of like-minded people, passionate about creating sustainable solutions. Our students and researchers bring different disciplinary and professional backgrounds to the table. We see this as a strength. Complex global problems require interdisciplinary collaboration. In order to turn your passion into action, you’ll need to understand the different ‘languages’ of scientists, policy-makers, economists, and more. This course will develop your capacity to effectively translate and integrate your niche expertise across disciplines, sectors and national borders. Get involved.”
- Dr Susie Ho
Lecturer, Course Coordinator, and specialisation coordinator for Environmental Security - Wendy Stubbs
"I was a corporate executive in IT and telecommunications when I started to question the ‘business-as-usual’ approach. I wanted to work out how business could better address its environmental, social and economic responsibilities. That's why I became an academic I used my PhD to develop a model that integrates sustainability into an organisation's core business model.
Sustainable business models envisage organisations as part of a circular economy that mimics nature's processes. Waste streams become inputs to other processes or other organisations. And businesses that pursue a social purpose, such as B Corps. It's the future."
- Associate Professor Wendy Stubbs
Associate Professor and specialisation coordinator for Corporate Environmental and Sustainability Management, Environment and Governance, and International Development and Environment
More reasons to choose this course
- Career pathways
Feel free to dream big. In the last decade or two, the sustainability job market has been rising rapidly.
This master’s degree will set you up for many meaningful roles. Graduates of this course’s precursor have found jobs in business, in all sectors of government (including quasi-governmental agencies like the Environment Protection Authority), in national and international NGOs, at universities, research centres and think tanks, and in consulting.
Obviously, your specific options depend on your specialisation. Choose ‘environment and governance’, and you could implement sustainability strategies, programs or initiatives, analyse environments and develop policy, or advance public education and advocacy projects.
If you’re considering the ‘corporate environmental and sustainability management’ specialisation, note that there is a growing demand for sustainability leaders in business. In the US, corporations from General Motors to Google have created chief sustainability officer positions in the last couple of years. In Australia, the big four banks are now ranked in the 2016 Global 100 index – the top 100 most sustainable businesses in the world.
‘Environmental security’ directly addresses the challenges of global environmental security – energy shortages, loss of biodiversity, extreme temperatures, emerging infectious diseases and food and water insecurity. You’ll graduate with science literacy skills to manage and create policy around using sustainable resources and protecting the environment. The specialisation is ideal if you want to work either nationally or internationally with those organisations who are working to ensure life on earth has a future.
Developing nations need a new generation of experts. Our ‘international development and environment’ specialisation will allow you to unpack issues of poverty, disadvantage and environmental change, and equip you to take on leadership roles in organisations that are building human rights, social equity and sustainable development.
The 'Leadership for sustainable development' specialisation, unique in Australia, gives you the skills to influence, persuade, plan and lead transformative change. You'll work more effectively across teams, disciplines and sectors. You'll identify new opportunities and map strategic pathways toward ambitious, innovative projects. Whether you're embedded in a large organisation, small business or creating entrepreneurial projects yourself, this specialisation helps you to create a bigger impact. - Design your degree
Change careers, or move forward in your field.
You won’t waste your previous experience – instead, you’ll build on what you already know and develop a strong platform for the next stage in your career. We’ll also give you credit for relevant qualifications. Credit shortens your course – and, consequently, lowers your fees.
- Flexible study
We’re looking for passionate people.
You may be straight out of your undergraduate degree, or you may already be working. Whatever your situation, we want to make graduate study easy.
There are two entry points during the year, so you can choose which will work best for you. You can study full or part-time (full-time only for international students), with many resources available online or after work hours. When you do come to our Clayton campus, you can take advantage of our Graduate Student Hub, with access from 7am to midnight, where you can study solo or as a team. There are many ways we support our graduate students - see the FAQ for more details.
Student Stories
- Daniela Marquez Ardilla
Watch NowSparked by an interest in environmental security, Colombian student Daniela Marquez Ardilla looked for a Masters degree that would align with her career aspirations. She found that the Monash Master of Environment and Sustainability program is highly ranked globally and is the host university for the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the Asia-Pacific region.
- Joshua de Groot
Watch nowHow do you tackle the global problem of environmental waste - especially when it involves thousands of discarded TVs and cellphones? Monash Master of Environment and Sustainability student Joshua de Groot has undertaken a number of internships which will give him a head start towards a career with the United Nations' Environment or Development Program, which addresses environmental justice issues.
- Kathryn Goodwin
Watch nowComing from an Arts background, Kathryn Goodwin found the Monash Master of Environment and Sustainability is the best fit for her with its global reputation, internship component and the program's extensive industry connections.
- Remy Shergill
watch nowRemy Shergill completed a Master of Environment and Sustainability in 2019 and currently works as a Project Manager for Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub.
“I love my role at the Climate and Health Alliance, where I work in campaigns and communications. I empower health professionals to speak about climate change with their clients, patients and colleagues, and draw clear links between climate change impacts and hazards to our health. I also work with the media to elevate this issue into the public sphere. This is my second role in climate change communication since graduating in 2019.”
Watch the start of Remy’s journey below.
- Violette Snow
watch nowWith a former career focusing on the social and environmental impacts of the garment industry, Violette's passion for governance and policy change was further developed by the holistic scope of the Monash Master of Environment and Sustainability - taught by engaging academics and professionals.
- Sacha Breidahl
As the Communications Manager for Global Voices, Master of Environment and Sustainability student Sacha Breidahl has helped to grow the organisation’s reach and impact through developing new partnerships and greater opportunities for a diverse range of young Australians to participate in.
“Through my role, I work closely with our scholars to develop a strong media engagement strategy, in hopes to raise the number and diversity of youth voices represented in Australian media, as well as to help have their work in the form of a Policy Paper recognised more broadly.”
- Dickson Ho
Dickson Ho completed a Master of Environment and Sustainability, specialising in international development and the environment. He is currently working on meaningful youth engagement with multilateral environmental agreements on both the national and international level.
“As part of my work for DFAT, under a joint working group called Australian Youth for International Climate Engagement, I have been working to get the Australian Youth voice to the multilateral discussions that the Australian Government are involved in. My other focus area, as the facilitator for the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth’s platform for Chemicals and Waste and a steering committee member of UNEP MGCY, is on international youth engagement with UN processes related to Chemicals and Waste."
Next steps
Do you have an undergraduate qualification relevant to your specialisation of choice? Speak to us to learn about options for your course map and to check if you are eligible to reduce your course duration to 1.5 years full time or 3 years part time.
Do you have professional and or research experience related to sustainability?
Speak to us if you would like to check your eligibility for a one year full-time or two year part-time course structure.
Are you an industry professional who would like to study part time, or even take a single unit in the program to upskill in a key area? Contact us to discuss your options. Did you know domestic students can alter their course load each semester to suit their lifestyle? There are block mode, evening and remote unit options to suit busy professionals.
If you would like to learn more about this course, book a one-on-one appointment with the Course Director, Dr Susie Ho.
View the entry requirements
Learn about the course requirements and units (Handbook)
Apply now (online application)
“We are the first generation that can end global poverty. We are the last generation that can address climate change before it is too late.”
- Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations
FAQs
We know you’ve got questions. That’s good. The people we’re looking for ask lots of questions.
You can find out more about this course by exploring its entry on study.monash.
Q1. I don’t know a lot about science. Is that going to be a problem?
A. Absolutely not. The point of this course is to attract a mix of expertise. Through your compulsory units, you’ll gain a deep understanding of the trends, issues and, yes, the science underlying sustainable development.