Why Bachelor of Sustainability and Climate Change?
Make the world a safer, greener place to live in.
With global conflicts, cyber threats and climate change impacting national stability, our global landscape has become increasingly unpredictable. This is where international security plays a crucial role.
In our Bachelor of Sustainability and Climate Change majoring in International Security, you’ll examine two of today’s most pressing issues – climate change and international security.
You'll tackle big questions. What conflicts could arise over scarce resources like water? How can we address the threat of religious extremism? What are the driving forces behind national security risks like cybercrime?
Immerse yourself in thought-provoking topics. Analyse global negotiations, crisis decision-making, terrorism, ethics, security and justice from a worldwide perspective. Become a green-collar worker. Join the movement towards creating a safer and more sustainable planet.
Overview
Our Bachelor of Sustainability and Climate Change builds your understanding of why climate change is happening – and what you can do to combat it.
Explore how people influence – and are influenced by – climate systems. Enrich your understanding of sustainability principles. Learn how to drive green transitions in key industries. Build the skills to influence strategies, transforming the way we respond to global warming.
How are global capitalism, poverty and ecological issues connected? What are the different theoretical perspectives and debates concerning sustainability? How is nature conceptualised in policy-making?
In the International Security major, you’ll study the strategies and policies of the future. Engage with international security experts through guest lectures, workshops and internships. Cultivate the advanced skills to assess and address complex regional and international security threats. Learn how professionals in the field make life-changing decisions that influence nations and individuals.
You'll gain a deeper understanding of the ongoing security risks facing Australia and the Indo-Pacific. Build analytical and strategic thinking skills. Unpack international negotiations, terrorism, ethics, security and justice in Australia – and beyond.
Key features
Analyse global environmental politics and the pathways to a sustainable world.- Grow into an informed leader and advocate for the global push towards net zero emissions.
- Examine how global political conflicts evolve.
- Get better at research and analysis so you can come up with new and improved solutions to global issues.
- Benefit from a real-world work placement and professional development while studying.
- Understand the relationship between security and justice in the globalised world.
What you'll learn
Our three-year Bachelor of Sustainability and Climate Change majoring in International Security is interdisciplinary – drawing on environmental science, global politics, and social sustainability to paint the bigger picture.
In first year, you’ll study the fundamentals of climate change. Discover how natural forces and human actions shape climate change. Unpack its broader consequences, locally and globally.
By the second year, you’ll be implementing innovative solutions to climate change challenges. You'll build the skills to respond to key issues in the field and develop advanced communication strategies.
Your final year brings it all together in the real world. Hone your skills during a practical internship in an industry environment. Grow your professional confidence and get clear on where your career is heading.
In our International Security major, you’ll build a toolbox of transferable skills – from critical thinking and problem solving to report writing. Learn from simulations, practical workshops, group projects and case studies.
Study future-focused courses in areas such as:
- Humanity in a changing climate
- Culture, society, and climate change
- Global environmental politics
- Globalisation, justice and a crowded planet
- Security, justice and rights
- Terrorism and global politics
- International negotiations and crisis decision-making.
Immerse yourself in the issues of global environmental politics. Explore the concept of ‘security,’ and the relationship between security and justice in the globalised world. Unpack the complexity of terrorism and warfare. Tackle the issues of globalisation, religious extremism, nuclear weapons, cybercrime, food security and environmental degradation.
Majors
Adelaide University’s Bachelor of Sustainability and Climate Change is also available with majors in the following:
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
Introduction to International Security
|
Course code
POLI1009
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Culture, Society and Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Security, Justice and Rights
|
Course code
POLI1010
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Strategic Cultures and Grand Strategies in the Indo-Pacific
|
Course code
POLI2008
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Communicating Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Decolonising Security
|
Course code
POLI2009
|
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
|
|
Course name
Terrorism and Global Politics
|
Course code
POLI2007
|
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
Threatening Periphery: Global Security and State Marginalisation
|
Course code
POLI3018
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Security in Asia: Managing Critical Challenges in Australia’s Backyard
|
Course code
POLI3019
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
International Negotiations and Crisis Decision Making
|
Course code
POLI3020
|
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
Introduction to International Security
|
Course code
POLI1009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Security, Justice and Rights
|
Course code
POLI1010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Terrorism and Global Politics
|
Course code
POLI2007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Strategic Cultures and Grand Strategies in the Indo-Pacific
|
Course code
POLI2008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Decolonising Security
|
Course code
POLI2009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Threatening Periphery: Global Security and State Marginalisation
|
Course code
POLI3018
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Security in Asia: Managing Critical Challenges in Australia’s Backyard
|
Course code
POLI3019
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
International Negotiations and Crisis Decision Making
|
Course code
POLI3020
|
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
Introduction to International Security
|
Course code
POLI1009
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Culture, Society and Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Security, Justice and Rights
|
Course code
POLI1010
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Strategic Cultures and Grand Strategies in the Indo-Pacific
|
Course code
POLI2008
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Communicating Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Decolonising Security
|
Course code
POLI2009
|
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
|
|
Course name
Terrorism and Global Politics
|
Course code
POLI2007
|
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
Threatening Periphery: Global Security and State Marginalisation
|
Course code
POLI3018
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Security in Asia: Managing Critical Challenges in Australia’s Backyard
|
Course code
POLI3019
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
International Negotiations and Crisis Decision Making
|
Course code
POLI3020
|
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
Introduction to International Security
|
Course code
POLI1009
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Culture, Society and Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Security, Justice and Rights
|
Course code
POLI1010
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Strategic Cultures and Grand Strategies in the Indo-Pacific
|
Course code
POLI2008
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Communicating Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Decolonising Security
|
Course code
POLI2009
|
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
|
|
Course name
Terrorism and Global Politics
|
Course code
POLI2007
|
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
Threatening Periphery: Global Security and State Marginalisation
|
Course code
POLI3018
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Security in Asia: Managing Critical Challenges in Australia’s Backyard
|
Course code
POLI3019
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
International Negotiations and Crisis Decision Making
|
Course code
POLI3020
|
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
Introduction to International Security
|
Course code
POLI1009
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Culture, Society and Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Security, Justice and Rights
|
Course code
POLI1010
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Strategic Cultures and Grand Strategies in the Indo-Pacific
|
Course code
POLI2008
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Communicating Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Decolonising Security
|
Course code
POLI2009
|
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
|
|
Course name
Terrorism and Global Politics
|
Course code
POLI2007
|
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
Threatening Periphery: Global Security and State Marginalisation
|
Course code
POLI3018
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Security in Asia: Managing Critical Challenges in Australia’s Backyard
|
Course code
POLI3019
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
International Negotiations and Crisis Decision Making
|
Course code
POLI3020
|
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
With climate change and global warming increasing over the past 20 years, the world needs leaders who can drive positive change. And with the ongoing threats of cybersecurity and terrorism, leaders need to understand the wide-reaching instability affecting organisations today.
Our Bachelor of Sustainability and Climate Change majoring in International Security empowers graduates to build satisfying careers in the sustainability and security sectors.
You could work in career roles such as:
- Environmental analyst
- Community development officer
- Climate policy adviser
- Policy officer
- Environmental protection and compliance officer
- International relations specialist
- Foreign affairs analyst.
Take the lead as a ‘green-collar’ professional – informing government policy, implementing organisational compliance measures, analysing national security risks or supporting global climate strategies. Or, follow a different path and work for a research institution. Analyse global security and climate change issues – and the risks of inaction.
Industry trends
Forge a career with the Australian Government in international relations and diplomacy. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s graduate program in foreign policy and international security reflects a growing need for skilled diplomats and policy advisors in Australia (DFAT, 2024).
With Australia racing towards a 2050 net zero greenhouse gas emissions target as part of the Paris Agreement, the future of work looks promising for green-collar professionals (DCCEEW, 2024).
It’s predicted over 76,000 new roles will be needed in the renewable energy, ecosystem restoration and climate reduction sectors (Climate Council of Australia, 2024)(APS Jobs, 2023).
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.
