“I was drawn to both the depth and variety of study offered by the Sustainable Development course here. The ability to select a partner-subject to structure your degree around particularly appealed to me, in order to develop in greater depth my own particular interests within the SD framework. I’m hoping to spend my third year in a North American university – a fantastic way to get an alternative perspective on the politics of SD – although I’ll miss St Andrews!”
Rebecca (Dunfermline, Fife)
of perspectives and new models of knowledge production and exchange. The programme explores the issues underlying many of the most challenging global problems such as climate change, poverty, natural resource depletion, declining biodiversity, social justice and energy use. It also provides critical analysis of possible solutions.
Summary of Course Content You can register for either an MA or a BSc degree in Sustainable Development (SD), depending on your interests and background. Because they are based in different Faculties, the range of other subjects available to you in the first two years is different. At each level of the degree there are specific SD modules which are supplemented by modules taught in the contributing Schools. To a considerable extent, therefore, you can construct a degree pathway of your choice, matching your interests, enthusiasms and aspirations.
First Level (1st year) The module Sustainability: ensuring our common future, uses case studies to illustrate sustainable solutions to pressing global issues. Staff from different Schools teach the history of the concept of sustainable development, environmental protection, international policy agreements, the geopolitics of water use, carbon management and alternative fuels, recycling, global warming, economic growth indicators, and ethics. Students choose two continuous assessment topics from a range of options across this spectrum. We are currently developing an additional first year module.
Second Level (usually 2nd year) In Semester 1, students explore environmental and ecological aspects of sustainable development in a module that explores ecosystem functions and services, anthropogenic effects on ecosystem functions and services, uses of technology in environmental management and conservation and protection strategies. In Semester 2, students investigate more social and economic aspects of sustainable development, critically assessing the development of the sustainability paradigm, further exploring historical contexts, then examining methods for the measurement, management and regulation of sustainable development, studying the relationships between trade, business and sustainability, probing social justice issues and finally looking at the critical perspectives to sustainability and development offered by anthropological approaches. Students are assessed on essays, seminars on relevant topics of their choice, a poster presentation and a social audit.
Honours (3rd and 4th years) At Honours level, two case study modules explore contemporary issues in sustainable development, such as decision making, alternative energies, HIV/Aids, mining and SD, agriculture and food production, knowledge and society, fisheries and water management, exploring these from different perspectives and disciplines and developing different skills to enhance the ability to address sustainability issues. Students also undertake fieldtrips and are assessed on a range of projects, including the development of a scenario report, a policy brief, an analysis
of the sustainability of a food or agricultural region and the creation of a sustainable design. Students also undertake a review essay of their choice, under a broad thematic structure. Finally, the dissertation module offers students the opportunity to pull together their expertise from partner disciplines with an understanding of sustainable development to research a topic of their choice, with structured support from academics within a range of Schools.
Teaching Teaching is based on semester-length modules comprising lectures, tutorials/seminars, laboratory classes, field excursions, a range of assignments, investigations of case studies and research projects. Performance is measured by continuously assessed work, examinations and, at Honours level, by a review essay and a research dissertation. You are encouraged throughout the programme to develop literacy and numeracy skills and to acquire appropriate IT and life skills.
Careers St Andrews is one of the first universities to offer undergraduate degrees in Sustainable Development. Those who graduate from here will be highly literate and numerate, with a unique combination of skills acquired at a prestigious university. At a time when sustainable development is rising ever higher up the national and international agenda, and as businesses and organisations accept the need to adopt more sustainable practices, graduates with a degree in Sustainable Development are in strong demand. Graduates will be welcomed in central and local government, NGOs, teaching, conservation and other environmentally related areas, impact assessment, management, strategic planning and consultancy. Many will proceed to further training, for example, further specialising in an area of application of sustainability, or undertake postgraduate research.
Please see page 42 for details of the University’s Careers Centre.
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J Melville’s fishing yawl in St Andrews harbour – c. 1900
Sustainable Development
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