Major overview
Study sustainable development and tackle real-world environmental and social challenges
Major in sustainable development within our Bachelor of Arts and be part of solutions to the world’s most urgent sustainability challenges. Explore how environmental, social and economic systems intersect, and how to create more sustainable and equitable futures.
Throughout your sustainability major, you’ll examine issues such as climate change, resource use, inequality and global development. You’ll learn how to analyse complex systems, evaluate solutions and apply practical approaches to sustainability in real-world contexts.
You’ll study a reputable major with a long history of training sustainability professionals, while gaining hands-on experience on projects with local and international organisations through our Work Integrated Learning program.
As part of your Bachelor of Arts, you can combine this major with others to tailor your degree to your passions and career goals. Pair Sustainable Development with International Aid and Development or Community Development to design programs that support communities and sustainable outcomes, or with Sociology to understand the social drivers of change. You can also combine your studies with Politics and International Studies to explore environmental policy and governance, or with Philosophy to examine ethical approaches to sustainability. Broaden your perspective with History or Asian Studies to understand sustainability across cultures and time, or with Indonesian or Japanese to work across regions. You can also pair with English and Creative Writing or Theatre and Creative Production to communicate sustainability issues effectively or apply your skills in industry contexts with Tourism and Events.
3 reasons to study sustainable development at Murdoch University
- Study a highly regarded sustainability major that has helped shape sustainability professionals and change agents since 2000.
- Take part in sustainability volunteering projects that count towards your academic credit.
- Gain real-world experience with local and international organisations through our Work Integrated Learning program.
What you’ll learn
- Understand the principles of sustainable development across environmental, social and economic systems.
- Analyse global sustainability challenges such as climate change, resource use and inequality.
- Examine how policy, governance and communities shape sustainability outcomes.
- Apply practical approaches to designing and evaluating sustainability initiatives.
- Develop skills in systems thinking, problem-solving and collaboration.
- Communicate sustainability ideas clearly to different audiences and stakeholders.
Having completed three semesters and my honours research in Indonesia, I was able to get a much better idea of development on the ground. I found that when I graduated, I had a more realistic idea of what to expect in the workplace.
Karis Erceg, Bachelor of Arts
Your future career in sustainable development
If you’re exploring sustainability careers, a Sustainable Development major will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills to take action on environmental and social sustainability challenges. You’ll graduate ready to contribute to real-world solutions, with opportunities across government, environmental organisations, international development, consulting, community organisations and the private sector, particularly in roles focused on sustainability, policy and social impact.
Potential roles include:
- Sustainability officer or adviser
- Environmental policy officer
- Community or development project officer
- Social impact or sustainability consultant
- Non-governmental organisation (NGO) or international development worker
- Climate or sustainability analyst
For more details about our Sustainable Development major, download our information pack.
Start dates
| Starting period | Location | Face to Face | Online | Mixed mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1, 2026 | Murdoch | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Semester 2, 2026 | Murdoch | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Semester 1, 2027 | Murdoch | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Semester 2, 2027 | Murdoch | Yes | Yes | Yes |
View the dates for our teaching periods or find out more about attendance modes.
Major Structure
Visit the Course Handbook - Get detailed information on units, prerequisites, and pathways.
To help plan the structure of your course, search for our suggested course plans.
| Unit code | Unit name | Credit points |
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How to Apply
Majors are part of a degree and can't be applied on their own. Apply for a related degree first, then choose your major once enrolled.
Undergraduate
Course
Study a Bachelor of Arts at Murdoch University and choose from a wide range of flexible majors to tailor your degree. Apply today.
Undergraduate
Course
Study a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts at Murdoch University. Add an arts major to your legal studies and build skills for a diverse career. Apply now.