Study Sustainable Living courses

Explore the history and literature of sustainability, including the formation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. You’ll develop the skills to think critically about sustainability in your own life and community. Plus, you’ll develop the research and communication skills to implement sustainability solutions in your community. This is a compulsory core unit.

*Estimated weekly study for this unit is 8 hours

Science of Gardening is for everyone, from avid green thumbs with a lifetime of experience to those planting their first seedling. In this unit, you’ll learn the science behind traditional and modern gardening techniques, and this will change the way you see your plants, and change the way you garden.

Sustainable living starts at home, so in this unit you’ll learn the science behind traditional and modern gardening techniques, and this will change the way you see your plants, and change the way you garden.

*Estimated weekly study for this unit is 5-7 hours

You will explore the roles of climate and soils in shaping the types of plants that grow in different regions; the origins of domesticated plants; and the roles of predators, pathogens, mutualists and symbionts in extending or limiting plant growth.

Science of Gardening 2 will equip you with the knowledge to make more informed decisions about your garden design and will heighten your appreciation of your natural environment.

*Estimated weekly study for this unit is 7-10 hours

As the world warms, wildfires are behaving in new, less predictable ways, which present fundamental challenges to our established methods of preventing, fighting and living with fire. And with increasing populations on the wildland-urban interface, we urgently need to find new solutions to these challenges.

Learn what causes fire and why wildfires behave the way they do, as well as how to evaluate your own level of fire risk. This unit was developed in consultation with members of the indigenous community and Tasmanian practitioners and UTAS Fire Centre (led by Professor David Bowman). It provides a holistic perspective on the scientific, social, economic and ethical issues inherent in moving towards a sustainable co-existence with wildfire.

*Estimated weekly study for this unit is 7-9 hours

Have you noticed the climate changing around you and want to learn more? Or do you want to better understand the science that predicts Earth’s future climate? Science of Climate Change provides an engaging entry into the subject.

*Estimated weekly study for this unit is 10 hours

Explore pathways to reduce the most extreme effects of climate change, including international agreements on reduction of greenhouse gases and other mitigation measures such as carbon sequestration and drawdown and alternative energy sources.

Whether you’re looking at building, buying, renovating, or simply learning, smart housing design can have huge benefits for you and our planet. Learn about the environmental and human health impacts of using creative decision making in the design and renovation of houses.

*Estimated weekly study for this unit is 10 hours

Build on your practical knowledge of sustainable design for houses, expanding your thinking to houses within landscapes - both natural and constructed - and interacting with climate, biodiversity, human health and urban and regional food systems.

Backyard Biodiversity is for everyone; from people keen to deepen their understanding of the wildlife in their local area, to those ready to convert their backyard into a biodiverse haven, and people just interested in coexisting more sustainably with life on earth.

Some of the important and interesting questions we cover in this unit include: what is biodiversity, and how does it impact our lives? How are animals classified into different groups, and how can that knowledge help us identify backyard animals? What are the best observation techniques for different types of animals, and which ones can you use in your own backyard? How can you attract the animals you want, while keeping your backyard, your family, your pets and the wildlife, safe? How can you help meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals simply by increasing the biodiversity in your garden?

*Estimated weekly study for this unit is 5-7 hours

Science of Fishing is for everyone; from people wanting to develop their skills and knowledge in fishing, those looking to enhance their recreational fishing experience, to those looking to contribute to a sustainable fishery.

Learning from experts from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, you will explore habits of different species based on their environment, learn about the variety of fishing gear and methods, and understand the science of fishing sustainably.

*Estimated weekly study for this unit is 8-10 hours

Become better prepared to deal with a variety of culturally challenging situations. Develop an appreciation of the personal and professional benefits that come from being more culturally aware and competent in increasingly diverse settings.

*Estimated weekly study for this unit is 5-10 hours

Dive into the complex world of global food security in the 21st century, a crucial and multifaceted challenge that entails sustainable food production and equitable food access. This interdisciplinary unit equips you with the skills and knowledge pertinent to all citizens and professions. Engage with peers and lecturers from various disciplines in this online unit to critically examine the many aspects of global food security, encompassing environmental, technical, economic, cultural, political, and moral dimensions. Enhance your ability to integrate and evaluate diverse information, formulate arguments, and advocate positive responses. Discuss pressing issues such as hunger, obesity, resources, poverty, population, justice, and sustainability, and engage in meaningful debates on contentious topics like diets, biofuels, biotechnology, and capitalism.

*Estimated weekly study for this unit is 8-9 hours

Do you want to participate in transformations for a better world and learn how you can make a difference? In this unit you will assess environmental, social, and economic implications, evaluate approaches to sustainability and analyse and communicate information to aid decision-making.

*Estimated weekly study for this unit is 8-10 hours

Life on Earth has nearly been extinguished five times since the explosion of complex life some 550 million years ago. The causes of the five major events are debated. This unit will explore the science, governance and values relevant to the issue of mass extinction and human Earth shaping.

*Estimated weekly study for this unit is 6-9 hours

After completing the Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainable Living, you can receive advanced standing for four 12.5 credit point units of the Diploma of Sustainable Living.

This means you only need to study an additional four units to graduate with the Diploma. Building on that pathway, you can articulate from the Diploma into the Bachelor of Science, depending on which specific 100 level units you pick.

Domestic students commencing in 2027 and/or 2028 are eligible to receive a 100% HECS fee scholarship. The HECS fee scholarship will be automatically applied on enrolment. Visit the course page for details.

Looking for your next step? Study a Bachelor of Science with a major in sustainability.

For more information on this course, please visit the Bachelor of Science.