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Course Structure

Sustainability is core to business strategy and practice, creating both opportunities and risks. This postgraduate program is designed to meet the growing demand for suitably trained and skilled professionals to lead the transformation of organisations. It will equip you with essential insights and competency in designing, implementing and facilitating sustainability solutions for business. The complex mix of social, ecological and economic sustainability imperatives is the primary focus of this program. This program is available to people from a broad range of disciplines, professions and levels of experience and includes graduate diploma and graduate certificate options.

Elective themes	Core knowledge units
A number of elective units can be chosen from the following themes.	Corporate sustainability management The 21st century business challenge Sustainable development drivers Markets and measures Mapping organisational competencies Organisational change models for practice Building the business case for sustainability	Sustainability measurement Corporate management accounting and reporting systems 'Hidden' costs associated with poor sustainability practices and inefficiencies Alternative methods for enhancing the transparency of corporate accounting practices Implications of sustainability issues for financial decision making	Perspectives on Environment and Sustainability Defining 'Sustainability' and its historical development Disciplinary, interdisciplinary and other forms of knowledge Analysing different worldviews, environmental values and stakeholder positions Alternative Sustainability frameworks Concept Mapping as a tool for advancing Sustainability principles	Corporate environmental responsibility Environmental law in Australia and its application to business and development International environmental obligations and corporations Common law rights Government responsibilities and emerging regulatory models Role and implications of economic incentives
Business management
Environmental management
Risk Management
Research Methods
Environment and law
International development
International trade

Core knowledge units

We recommend for students who are undertaking the Masters course, to enrol in the 5th year level option of the core units (ENV537E, ENV5020, ENV541E)

Corporate Sustainability Management

explain leading-edge concepts and practice in the field of corporate sustainability management
understand the range of social, economic, regulatory and physical environmental drivers for corporate sustainability
strategically assess the sustainability challenges and opportunities for a given business sector
prepare and effectively communicate a business case for sustainability for a given business;
outline various conceptual frameworks and practical tools to apply sustainability assessment techniques in an organisational setting
understand organizational change models for sustainability

Sustainability Measurement

understand why effective measurement is critical in driving the sustainability agenda
develop measurement strategies and approaches
select the most appropriate measurement frameworks, tools and indicators for a given situation
apply the different sustainability measurement, reporting and verification standards and guidelines
critical insight into how leading organisations are measuring and reporting sustainability

Perspective on Environment & Sustainability

· discuss the changing state of the environment and perspectives on contemporary environmental issues

· identify the key stakeholders and relevant disciplines for addressing specific environmental management issues and explain their relative roles and modes of participation

· take a holistic approach to analysing environmental management issues

· explain the concept of sustainability giving due recognition to its many interpretations

· apply the principles of sustainability in given case study situations

· critique the concept of sustainability as a framework for environmental management and discuss alternative perspectives and concepts

· identify barriers to ‘sustainability’ deriving from a broad range of administrative, legal, political, social and economic factors

Corporate Environmental Responsibility

a broad understanding of the nature of environmental problems facing the Australian community and the role of international organisations, government agencies, corporations and non-government organisations in the development of environmental policy
a broad understanding of the various sources of environmental regulation in Australia, including the role of the common law, international agreements, relevant Federal and State government legislation and industry codes of practice
appropriate research and legal analysis skills in environmental law, particularly the ability to locate and analyse the relevant statutes, case law, government reports and other key documents in this area
an understanding of the practical implications from a business management perspective of contemporary environmental law issues

Supervised internship or research project

If you gain a Distinction average in the core units, you may enrol in the internship or research project units. Otherwise, choose coursework electives.

Internship GYM 5460

The internship offers students the opportunity to apply and consolidate the knowledge and professional skills they have acquired through their previous study. Under supervision of an approved industry supervisor, the student will undertake and report on practical and analytical work within the operating context of a business or other organisation outside Monash University (government department, or non-government organisation).

Research project GYM5480

This unit involves the preparation of a major research paper on a topic appropriate to corporate sustainability completed under the supervision of a staff member. This research will enable students to consolidate the theoretical knowledge and analytical skills acquired in coursework components in a research context. It requires independent learning and research and offers an alternative option to students wishing to pursue a more academically oriented piece of research instead of the corporate sustainability internship.