Why Bachelor of Sustainability and Climate Change?
In a global society, you can turn the tides of climate change.
Our actions can have a real impact on our environment: we can reduce carbon emissions, preserve natural landscapes and endangered species, and source more eco-friendly resources. But we can only change our environment if we can change ourselves. Climate change priorities are driven by the turns of political views and cultural beliefs.
With a major in sociology at Adelaide University, you can discover the powerful influence that social change can have on international climate action. Investigate deeper into the human dynamics surrounding the science to help protect our future.
Overview
With our Bachelor of Sustainability and Climate Change majoring in Sociology, you’ll discover new perspectives on protecting the environment through the power of social transformation. You will gain the skills to act with compassion and creativity to address one of the most important societal shifts in history: climate change.
Learn how to analyse and influence environmental policies. Explore the social drivers to support change in local and global industries. Examine the impact of media and technology on mobilising and dividing people. Gain problem-solving and collaborative skills. Connect to your future career with hands-on work experience in your industry of choice.
Your specialised knowledge in how social changes can be constructed and steered will distinguish you in your field. Equipped with an in-depth understanding of local and international climate challenges, you will graduate prepared to lead the next industry movements for a greener tomorrow.
Key features
Become an ethical leader, equipped to tackle local and global challenges.- Gain unique social insights that can inform and transform climate initiatives.
- Investigate the complex relationship between human behaviour and the environment.
- Enhance your research, analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Get practical experience in a real-world work placement during your study.
- Discover how a society is constructed – and how you can influence change in the world.
What you'll learn
This three-year degree in Sustainability and Climate Change majoring in Sociology will prepare you to enter a career in an industry with increasing demand for environmental solutions. As you build specialised skills in societal change and political advocacy, you will also build the climate knowledge needed to inform and educate your strategies.
With your focus on sociology, you’ll have the opportunity to take an intensive study of how societies move through the essential, major changes needed to address climate change. You will learn to objectively analyse moral panics and contemporary crises. You'll gain the skills to motivate a society and to break down practical solutions for leaders in environmental policy.
Throughout your studies, you’ll learn about:
- Steering the future through social theory
- Social disadvantage and inequalities
- Innovations in climate change research
- Environmental policy
- International relations and politics
- Geography and urban green spaces
- The impacts of technology on our social experience
- How conflicts and political collapse can occur in societies
- Imagining new social worlds to create global change.
With case studies on real-world scenarios, you will have the opportunity to do an internship in your third year to explore your field of interest under skilled guidance. You’ll take career planning courses to educate and drive your career choices.
You will gain meaningful insights into cultural biases and become an inspiring, perceptive communicator. With a comprehensive skillset across professional collaboration, political leadership, policy, climate science and anthropology – you will become a valued specialist in your field.
Majors
The 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
The Remarkable Power of Society: An Introduction to Sociology
|
Course code
SOCI1000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Making Sense of Societies: Sociology in Practice
|
Course code
SOCI1001
|
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
Social Disadvantage in an Unequal World
|
Course code
SOCI2004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Communicating Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Think Big: Changing the World Through Social Theory
|
Course code
SOCI2008
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Mediating Social Life
|
Course code
SOCI2005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Responding to Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2001
|
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
The Social Life of Technology
|
Course code
POLI3005
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
What Tears Societies Apart
|
Course code
POLI3006
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Imagining New Social Worlds
|
Course code
POLI3007
|
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
The Remarkable Power of Society: An Introduction to Sociology
|
Course code
SOCI1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Making Sense of Societies: Sociology in Practice
|
Course code
SOCI1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Social Disadvantage in an Unequal World
|
Course code
SOCI2004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Mediating Social Life
|
Course code
SOCI2005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Think Big: Changing the World Through Social Theory
|
Course code
SOCI2008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
The Social Life of Technology
|
Course code
POLI3005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
What Tears Societies Apart
|
Course code
POLI3006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Imagining New Social Worlds
|
Course code
POLI3007
|
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
The Remarkable Power of Society: An Introduction to Sociology
|
Course code
SOCI1000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Making Sense of Societies: Sociology in Practice
|
Course code
SOCI1001
|
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
Social Disadvantage in an Unequal World
|
Course code
SOCI2004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Communicating Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Think Big: Changing the World Through Social Theory
|
Course code
SOCI2008
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Mediating Social Life
|
Course code
SOCI2005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Responding to Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2001
|
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
The Social Life of Technology
|
Course code
POLI3005
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
What Tears Societies Apart
|
Course code
POLI3006
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Imagining New Social Worlds
|
Course code
POLI3007
|
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
The Remarkable Power of Society: An Introduction to Sociology
|
Course code
SOCI1000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Making Sense of Societies: Sociology in Practice
|
Course code
SOCI1001
|
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
Social Disadvantage in an Unequal World
|
Course code
SOCI2004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Communicating Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Think Big: Changing the World Through Social Theory
|
Course code
SOCI2008
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Mediating Social Life
|
Course code
SOCI2005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Responding to Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2001
|
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
The Social Life of Technology
|
Course code
POLI3005
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
What Tears Societies Apart
|
Course code
POLI3006
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Imagining New Social Worlds
|
Course code
POLI3007
|
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
The Remarkable Power of Society: An Introduction to Sociology
|
Course code
SOCI1000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Making Sense of Societies: Sociology in Practice
|
Course code
SOCI1001
|
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
Social Disadvantage in an Unequal World
|
Course code
SOCI2004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Communicating Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Think Big: Changing the World Through Social Theory
|
Course code
SOCI2008
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Mediating Social Life
|
Course code
SOCI2005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Responding to Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI2001
|
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
The Social Life of Technology
|
Course code
POLI3005
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
What Tears Societies Apart
|
Course code
POLI3006
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Imagining New Social Worlds
|
Course code
POLI3007
|
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
Global warming impacts are increasing on an international scale, affecting homes, resources, safety, migration, and dramatic political shifts. You will graduate with a unique understanding of the social forces that can push the cause for our survival to the front of our collective focus. And you’ll have the skills to deliver practical steps to make that change possible.
A major in sociology in a Bachelor of Sustainability and Climate Change will give you a dynamic skillset in collaboration, leadership and climate research. You will launch into a career with the ability to envision, communicate and enact critical transition plans across government and industries worldwide.
You could find yourself at the forefront of disaster prevention and humanitarian causes, advising on government policy, or advocating for change across sectors. You might consult with small businesses on ways they can transition to biodegradable products. Perhaps you'll lead innovation in the latest sustainable technology to be rolled out globally.
You could also be a:
- Climate and social policy adviser
- Renewable energy specialist
- International climate diplomat
- Cultural and humanitarian consultant
- Climate research leader
- Environmental analyst
- Project and development manager
- Urban planner.
No matter where you go, you'll be prepared to help protect our future.
Industry trends
Government policy in Australia is expected to deliver net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 since the Paris Agreement (DCCEEW, 2024). Adelaide University’s comprehensive courses will provide you with the knowledge to inform and lead local and international industries into sustainable practices.
In a society with conflicting motivators around sustaining industry and environmental needs, there are diplomatic challenges to be addressed across industries. Essential resources in agriculture, energy and transport will need to rapidly pivot to new practices. The demand for new jobs in this field is only increasing, as social change drives the movement for environmental sustainability.
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.
