BACHELOR DEGREES
Bachelor of Environment and Society
Melbourne City
Prepare to lead environmental and social change, and develop sustainable communities and organisations with RMIT’s Bachelor of Environment and Society.
Learn to drive sustainable patterns of consumption and production to create a better future for everyone.
You’ll be part of a like-minded community of passionate and engaged students and supportive teachers, who want to make a difference in the world.
Gain real-world experience and a network of industry contacts in leading environmental agencies and organisations through work placements and assessments involving external partner organisations.
This unique program focuses on the social elements of environmental issues, while encouraging you to think critically and develop skills to communicate with a wide variety of audiences.
Studying the Bachelor of Environment and Society is the first step to a career that will address the most pressing global and urban issues of our time, including biodiversity protection, food and water security, corporate responsibility, resource depletion and climate change.
As a graduate of the program you will be able to implement skills learned to evaluate environmental policies and management strategies at local and global levels. Check out some of the great work being done by RMIT environmental graduates.
Students also have the opportunity for overseas study to investigate how other countries are seeking to achieve environmental and social sustainability.
This program is also available as a double degree: Bachelor of Environmental Science/Bachelor of Environment and Society
RMIT offers a variety of learning and teaching approaches including lectures, seminars, workshops, presentations and group work.
Many of the courses use online materials and activities to supplement class-based work. All programs are delivered in English. You will have access to online resources through the myRMIT student portal.
Assessment in this program includes:
- field work
- examinations
- individual and group assignments and projects
- research reports
- reflective journals
- assessed tutorials
- presentations
- self-assessment and peer-assessment.
Students will participate in a 20-day formal work placement in the final semester of the degree.
RMIT assists students to find work placements, which are often paid, at a variety of environmental and related organisations, including:
- Environment Protection Authority (EPA)
- Department of Primary Industries (DPI)
- CSIRO
- Landcare
- Cultivating Communities
- Environmental consultancies
- BORAL
- Parks Victoria
- Agriculture Victoria
- water and catchment management authorities
- local wineries
- municipal councils and local government
- non-government organisations
- international aid and development agencies.
Past graduates have often used opportunities provided by formal work placements to gain employment after graduation.
Additional work-related experience occurs through consulting with industry organisations on real-world projects while you are studying.
The academic staff publish in their specialised areas of knowledge and many have public media profiles. They also undertake collaborative research projects within industry and government and are up-to-date with current environmental debates.
RMIT University is committed to providing you with an education that strongly links formal learning with professional or vocational practice.
Employers value the practical communication, problem-solving and research skills with which our environment graduates are equipped.
Your knowledge and skills will prepare you to become effective agents for environmental improvement in Australian and internationally. You may find work with:
- Commonwealth, state and local governments
- consulting firms
- community organisations
- private and public businesses in metropolitan and rural areas
- non-government aid and development agencies.
Professional environmental careers may see you undertaking tasks relating to environmental management, identifying community needs, sustainability planning and environmental reporting.
Careers
- policy maker
- environmental activist/advocate
- environmental manager
- sustainability manager
- sustainability consultant
- environmental protection officer
- environmental policy officer
- community educator.
Professional recognition and accreditation
The program is accredited by the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand. All graduates will be eligible for membership.
You will have the opportunity to apply your knowledge to real-world projects in international contexts. Students are encouraged to take up semester-long study overseas at RMIT partner universities in Hong Kong, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands or the Philippines.
Our students have been prominent participants in project teams working with partner organisations in countries such as Vietnam, Nepal and in Mexico. Other international intensives are being introduced for 2016.
Since 2002, selected students in a small multi-disciplinary group have undertaken a yearly research project in Vietnam, coordinated for an in-country environmental and sustainable development organisation. This project provides an authentic experience that replicates professional practice, allowing students to apply their core knowledge and skills to a pressing environmental issue.
RMIT’s Education Abroad Unit (EAU) supports students to undertake an exchange or short term mobility activity with over 165 partner universities worldwide.
For further information about this program, please make an enquiry.
Info Corner
330 Swanston Street (cnr La Trobe Street)
Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel. +61 3 9925 2260
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Program and course information
Key content
Make a difference to the world you live in
Forge a career that tackles the most pressing global and urban issues of our time.