Professional skills clusters

hese subject clusters highlight subjects that will assist you to develop particular general knowledge and skills that are important to across a number of environmental professions.

Research skills

Learning outcomes

Skills for planning and conducting and evaluating research.

Additional information

  • Students will generally take only 1-2 of these subjects.
  • Research design subjects often help you develop a research proposal and so are best completed before commencing your research project.
  • Some require pre-requisites study or background knowledge in statistics, engineering or social sciences – check these carefully.
  • Select the subject that is best aligned with your intended research after seeking advice from potential supervisors.

Sustainable business skills

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and skills for influencing change through business-based approaches to promoting sustainability.

Additional information

  • These subjects are available to students with no background in economics. If you have some formal economic training, other options may be available to you.
  • If you are not sure where to start, consider Environmental Policy Instruments or Sustainable Business Practices.

Environmental assessment and risk management skills

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and skills for assessing and monitoring the outcomes or risks associated with environmental change.

Additional information

  • ENST90002 and EVSC90015 provide a starting point if you want to understand broad assessment strategies for consultancy and other practices.
  • The EVSC code subjects allow you to specialise in environmental science-based approaches to environmental assessment and risk management.
  • Some of these subjects may have pre-requisites or assume background knowledge. Check these carefully and contact Subject Coordinator if you are not sure of your eligibility.
  • Some subjects combine theory with skills development (e.g. ENST90002 and GEOG90020) and require capacity for theoretical reflection.

Social change skills

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and skills for influencing social change using a range of communication and engagement strategies.

Additional information

  • Many of these subjects combine theory and skill development and so require capacity for theoretical reflection.

Project management skills

Learning outcomes

Skills for planning and evaluating projects.

Additional information

  • Select only one subject from this cluster, or perhaps two if you want to separately consider project design and project evaluation.
  • Subjects are designed for projects in different contexts: development (DEVT), business (MGMT), science (SKIL) or construction (ABPL), but are likely to cover similar material adapted for that context. Choose the subject that fits best with your career direction.
  • Project management skills are highly valued in many contexts, but particularly consultancy or development.

Spatial analysis skills

Learning outcomes

Skills for analysing and interpreting spatial data.

Additional information

  • Spatial analysis skills are particularly highly valued in urban or conservation planning roles.

Environmental modelling skills

Learning outcomes

Technical skills in data-driven modelling of environmental incomes.

Additional information

  • These subjects are best taken in second part of degree as they require application of skills developed in earlier studies.
  • These subjects usually require strong numerical skills.
  • Select one subject from this list, based on relevance to your field of specialisation.

Policy development and governance skills

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and skills for developing and evaluating environmental policy.

Communication skills

Learning outcomes

Enhanced skills for communication in different contexts.

Additional information

  • Core and compulsory subjects will provide opportunities for developing high level of communication skills across a range of academic and professional contexts. Subjects in this cluster are selected to develop communication skills for specific contexts.