Environmental Studies
Humans have constructed and transformed the environment through their social and technological systems. Humanities disciplines have given increasing attention to environmental matters as crises such as climate change become more pressing.
Environmental Studies at UNSW
Teaching and research on the environment is spread across UNSW. Studying Environmental Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences allows you to concentrate on the social and policy implications of human impacts on the environment. The program will also develop your critical thinking capacities about the relationship between human society and the rest of the environment, and assist you in discussing and writing coherently about the complexity of environmental change.
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Environmental Studies program is interdisciplinary, drawing on the approaches of history, philosophy, politics, sociology, geography, science, law and economics in order to understand contemporary environmental concerns. It explores the values and world-views that determine human choice in environmental policy and management.
The program focuses on how and why environmental concerns have risen to the forefront of current policy agendas since the latter part of the twentieth century. It examines how social, economic and technological systems dominate human interaction with the environment, how these systems vary across the world and evolve with time and the ways in which environmental decisions are made and controversies resolved.
Environmental Studies offers courses from across the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Science. The School of Humanities leads UNSW interdisciplinary teaching and research in Environmental Humanities.
Download the Environment Studies Information brochure (PDF) (1 Mb)
Careers
Environmental Studies opens up diverse career opportunities, from research and journalism to policymaking in government agencies to industry management or community consultancy and dispute resolution. It also helps to develop valuable generic skills that will be useful in any professional setting. An environmental sequence of study will help you take your place among decision-makers contributing to vital issues such as how to avoid pollution, how to implement new energy technologies or how to clean up contaminated sites. You will be equipped to work in a planning team, together with engineers and other technologists, or you may decide to contribute to the public participation processes that are now a normal part of major project decisions. Environmental Studies graduates include: policy maker working in a government environment agency; management role in industry; consultant for a community organisation.
International Opportunities
Students have the opportunity to complete an international exchange for one or two semesters as part of their degree. UNSW manages a large and active exchange program with over 180 different student exchange opportunities in 32 countries.
Program Information
Environmental Studies is available as:
- a major or minor within the three-year Bachelor of Arts and other combined programs
- a major in the Bachelor of Social Science
The major or minor may be combined with a wide variety of other areas within these degrees.
- fourth (honours) year for high achieving students
- postgraduate studies, including the sought after Master in Environmental Management from the Institute of Environmental Studies
Program Coordinator: Dr Thom Van Dooren
View your course options in the UNSW Handbook
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Media (Communication & Journalism)
- Bachelor of Media (Media Production)
- Bachelor of Media (Screen & Sound)
- Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Social Science
- Combined Programs
Courses
Courses available are listed at the UNSW Handbook.
