Handbook

Environmental and social issues are often studied separately. Yet, environmental issues and challenges contribute to social injustices and inequalities, and the actions of societies have potential to worsen or improve environmental problems. Social scientists and social science skills are essential for solving these combined socio-environmental problems. The Environment and Society Major explores issues of environmental and social justice and their connections, in urban, regional and natural settings.

Key areas explored include:

• Environmental justice issues such as inequitable exposure to environmental harms (e.g. heat stress, bushfires, floods) and benefits (e.g. green space, clean air and water).
• Minorities, marginalised populations and access to public space.
• Indigenous and cross-cultural perspectives on environmental issues.
• Just and sustainable food production, distribution and consumption.
• Fair and sustainable housing.
• Energy justice and security.
• Protecting and managing cultural and environmental heritage.
• Equitable disaster resilience for communities.
• Climate change, intergenerational equity and action.
• Care and justice for the natural world and other species.
• Environmental decision-making from the individual to the global scale.
• Urban planning and community engagement as tools for addressing environmental and social injustices.

Graduates are equipped with skills in social and environmental impact assessment, community engagement, field-based research, analysis for policy and planning, written and oral communication and advocacy, and other transferable work skills sought after across the public, private and community sectors.

Studying the Environment and Society Major as part of a broader undergraduate degree opens diverse career opportunities across the government, not-for-profit, higher education, and corporate sectors including: food systems policy and advocacy, environmental and social impact assessment, urban and strategic planning, housing policy and advocacy, sustainable waste management, Indigenous caring for Country, environmental consultancy and conservation, renewable energy development, disaster and emergency management, cultural heritage management, climate change resilience planning, national parks management, and more.