Why Bachelor of Sustainability and Climate Change?
Explore sustainability and climate change from an Aboriginal perspective.
With sustainability and climate change on everyone’s minds – the impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples is uniquely personal. As their ancient connection to the land spans over 60,000 years, explore the profound effect of climate change on Aboriginal communities. Learn about Aboriginal cultures and philosophies – connections to space, place and belonging – from esteemed Aboriginal academics and professionals. Become an informed advocate for Australia’s Aboriginal Peoples, equipped to address climate change issues on the local or global stage.
Overview
Our Bachelor of Sustainability and Climate Change develops your understanding of climate change from a political and environmental science lens. Analyse policy and deepen your understanding of sustainability principles. Explore the influence of climate systems – with a focus on moving towards a healthier, greener Earth. Consider how to drive sustainable transformations in key industries, and influence strategies to change our response to global warming. Its broader focus will cultivate skills and knowledge relating to major Australian industries with an international context.
With our Aboriginal Studies major, you’ll explore key issues affecting Aboriginal Peoples and communities in professional and civic spaces. You’ll study land-based learning with a focus on connection to space, place and belonging. Cultivate an appreciation of ancient knowledge as you learn from esteemed Aboriginal academics. Explore Aboriginal philosophies, knowledge, systems and processes as they apply to country, land and the environment.
Key features
Grow into an ethical communicator equipped to speak expertly in your area of expertise.- Explore Aboriginal cultures and philosophies, including connections to space, place and belonging.
- Hear about sovereign stories and subjectivity in media with a focus on cultural integrity.
- Gain analytical and research skills while learning how to use innovative technologies.
- Build a toolbox of skills and knowledge to equip you for a local or international career.
- Become an advocate for the global push towards net zero emissions.
What you'll learn
Our three-year Bachelor of Sustainability and Climate Change introduces you to vital issues arising from global climate change.
Deepen your understanding of climate systems and the political systems that influence them. Build future-forward skills like advocacy and planning.
The first year will introduce you to fundamental concepts. You’ll learn how climate change is influenced by natural and anthropological forces – and understand the causes and effects on a local and global scale.
The second year will equip you to address climate change issues. Learn how to respond to, and communicate about, challenges related to climate change. Engage in targeted professional development aligned with your personal career goals.
Final year focuses on the real-world application of climate change policy and sustainable development. You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in an internship, where you’ll build professional confidence and gain insights into your potential future careers.
In our Aboriginal Studies major, discover a range of topics:
- Aboriginal Cultures
- Indigenous Philosophies
- Space, Place and Belonging
- Lore and Law
- Relatedness and Indigenous Peoples
- Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing
- Indigenous Nation Building and Governance
- Sovereign Stories and Subjectivity in Media.
Engage with issues significant to Aboriginal Peoples and communities in professional and civic environments. Build an understanding of Aboriginal knowledge, colonial disruptions, and Indigenous re-assertion in the current era, locally and globally. Gain unique insights about the practical, conceptual and spiritual role of Country in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
With a selection of majors to choose from, you can create a study plan to align with your future career goals.
Majors
The Bachelor of Sustainability and Climate Change is also available with the following majors:
What courses you'll study
Complete 144 units comprising:
- 66 units for Core courses, and
- 48 units for one Major from Majors, and
- 12 units for all Work integrated learning, and
- 18 units for Electives
Complete 66 units comprising:
- 18 units for all Common core, and
- 48 units for all Program core
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
UG Common Core 1
|
Course code
AUXX1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UG Common Core 2
|
Course code
AUXX2000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UG Common Core 3
|
Course code
AUXX3000
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Humanity in a Changing Climate
|
Course code
ENVI1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fundamentals of Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Culture, Society and Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Responding to Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Communicating Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Climate Change Policy
|
Course code
ENVI3000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Climate Change and Sustainable Development
|
Course code
ENVI3001
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
 |
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Humanity in a Changing Climate
|
Course code
ENVI1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Fundamentals of Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Cultures
|
Course code
INDG1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Indigenous Philosophies
|
Course code
INDG1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Culture, Society and Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI1002
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Communicating Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Space, Place and Belonging
|
Course code
INDG2000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Aboriginal Peoples Law and Land
|
Course code
INDG2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Relatedness and Indigenous Peoples
|
Course code
INDG2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Responding to Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Climate Change and Sustainable Development
|
Course code
ENVI3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Wellness and Wellbeing
|
Course code
INDG3000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Indigenous Nation Building and Governance
|
Course code
INDG3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Sovereign Stories and Subjectivity in Media
|
Course code
INDG3002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Climate Change Policy
|
Course code
ENVI3000
|
Units
6
|
Complete 48 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Cultures
|
Course code
INDG1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Indigenous Philosophies
|
Course code
INDG1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Space, Place and Belonging
|
Course code
INDG2000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Lore and Law
|
Course code
INDG2001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Relatedness and Indigenous Peoples
|
Course code
INDG2002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Wellness and Wellbeing
|
Course code
INDG3000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Indigenous Nation Building and Governance
|
Course code
INDG3001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sovereign Stories and Subjectivity in Media
|
Course code
INDG3002
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Humanity in a Changing Climate
|
Course code
ENVI1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Fundamentals of Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Cultures
|
Course code
INDG1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Indigenous Philosophies
|
Course code
INDG1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Culture, Society and Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI1002
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Communicating Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Space, Place and Belonging
|
Course code
INDG2000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Aboriginal Peoples Law and Land
|
Course code
INDG2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Relatedness and Indigenous Peoples
|
Course code
INDG2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Responding to Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Climate Change and Sustainable Development
|
Course code
ENVI3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Wellness and Wellbeing
|
Course code
INDG3000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Indigenous Nation Building and Governance
|
Course code
INDG3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Sovereign Stories and Subjectivity in Media
|
Course code
INDG3002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Climate Change Policy
|
Course code
ENVI3000
|
Units
6
|
Complete 12 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Humanity in a Changing Climate
|
Course code
ENVI1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Fundamentals of Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Cultures
|
Course code
INDG1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Indigenous Philosophies
|
Course code
INDG1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Culture, Society and Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI1002
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Communicating Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Space, Place and Belonging
|
Course code
INDG2000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Aboriginal Peoples Law and Land
|
Course code
INDG2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Relatedness and Indigenous Peoples
|
Course code
INDG2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Responding to Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Climate Change and Sustainable Development
|
Course code
ENVI3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Wellness and Wellbeing
|
Course code
INDG3000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Indigenous Nation Building and Governance
|
Course code
INDG3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Sovereign Stories and Subjectivity in Media
|
Course code
INDG3002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Climate Change Policy
|
Course code
ENVI3000
|
Units
6
|
Complete 18 units comprising:
- 18 units for all University-wide electives
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Humanity in a Changing Climate
|
Course code
ENVI1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Fundamentals of Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Cultures
|
Course code
INDG1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Indigenous Philosophies
|
Course code
INDG1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Culture, Society and Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI1002
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Communicating Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Space, Place and Belonging
|
Course code
INDG2000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Aboriginal Peoples Law and Land
|
Course code
INDG2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Relatedness and Indigenous Peoples
|
Course code
INDG2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Responding to Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Climate Change and Sustainable Development
|
Course code
ENVI3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Wellness and Wellbeing
|
Course code
INDG3000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Indigenous Nation Building and Governance
|
Course code
INDG3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Sovereign Stories and Subjectivity in Media
|
Course code
INDG3002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Climate Change Policy
|
Course code
ENVI3000
|
Units
6
|
Career outcomes
The future is promising for graduates with a Bachelor of Sustainability and Climate Change majoring in Aboriginal Studies.
As Australia increasingly prioritises climate action and the rights of Aboriginal communities, your unique expertise will be in demand across various industries.
You could work as an environmental consultant, helping organisations balance development with ecological and cultural preservation. As a cultural heritage manager, you might oversee projects that protect important sites and preserve Aboriginal history. Or, as a community engagement officer, you could collaborate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to co-design sustainable initiatives.
Other potential roles include:
- Land and cultural officer
- Sustainability coordinator
- Policy advisor
- Climate change adaptation specialist
- Environmental trainer
- Carbon and environmental auditor
- Renewable energy project coordinator.
Industry trends
Strong employment growth is predicted by the Australian Government's Job Outlook within environmental, sustainability, and Aboriginal-related fields – particularly as Australia intensifies its focus on climate action, reconciliation and land management.
According to Skills IQ, there is growing demand in the job market for skills related to climate change, sustainability, and Aboriginal studies. This trend is evident in industries like conservation where the need for qualified professionals is increasing.
The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) supports employment initiatives for Aboriginal Peoples, especially in environmental and sustainability roles. Graduates with a major in Aboriginal studies may discover valuable opportunities through these programs.
Ready to apply?
Please note that a non-refundable application fee of AUD$150 applies for every application submitted to Adelaide University.
Your study experience and support
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
- Career advice and mentoring services
- Personal counselling
- LGBTQIA+ support
- Academic support
- Fees and finance help
- Security services
- Accommodation services
- Common rooms
- Prayer rooms.
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
Your campus
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Study hours
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
- Case studies
- Essays and assignments
- Examinations
- Group projects
- Internships and placements
- Practicals
- Presentations
- Reports and project documentations
- Research projects
- Workplace and classroom contributions.
