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Sustainability courses
We offer several sustainability-focused courses, majors and minors. You can choose from courses as varied as environmental sustainability to sustainable enterprise to communication for social change.
Sustainability study pathways
You can include a sustainability-focused course as part of many AUT programmes. We also have specific majors, minors and degrees that are more directly focused on sustainability.
Studying one of our flexible bachelor’s degrees? To see how to include sustainability courses in your degree, use the relevant degree builder.
Biodiversity Conservation (minor)
Discover the ecological science underpinning the conservation of biodiversity, specifically New Zealand’s flora and fauna.
Communication for Social Change (minor)
Explore the communication processes, techniques and media that can bring about equitable change, social transformation, and empowerment in society.
Environmental Sustainability (minor)
Learn multi-disciplinary approaches to solving sustainability problems at global and local scales.
Complement your sustainability studies with a business degree that has a strong focus on social impact.
Bachelor of Architecture and Future Environments
Learn how to prepare and present building design projects for sustainable future environments.
Global Tourism (major or minor)
Understand how tourism enriches communities’ wellbeing and protects the natural environment it relies on.
Environmental Science (major or minor)
Become an environmental problem solver and understand the science that supports healthy water, air, soils and ecosystems.
Marine Science (major or minor)
Explore fundamental marine science concepts and ways for you to make a difference for our oceans, on a local and global scale.
Design for Social and Environmental Justice (minor)
Explore strategies for social innovation and environmental impact and how these can contribute towards a more sustainable future.
Sustainable Enterprise (minor)
Sustainability takes long-term planning – learning how to strategise, engage and negotiate to drive environmental projects.
Build a degree that fits your passions and interests and learn how you can make a positive difference.
Sustainability courses by study area
Undergraduate courses
- ARDN504 Introduction to Social and Environmental Justice
- ARDN607 Design and Society
- ARDN608 Design and Ecology
- ARDN704 Applied Sustainable Design Project
- DESN705 Design Thinking Project
Postgraduate courses
- DESN806 Design For Health and Wellbeing
Learn to design resilient and regenerative buildings and built environments that generate energy, green space, water and food, and meet Māori kaitiakitanga principles.
Undergraduate courses
- ARCH501 Wānanga/Studio II: Materials and making
- ARCH502 Architectural Intelligence I: Anthropocene
- ARCH504 Architectural Ecologies I: Material Assemblies
- ARCH600 Wānanga/Studio III: Mauri Ora I
- ARCH601 Wānanga/Studio IV: Mauri Ora II
- ARCH602 Architectural Intelligence II: The Pacific City
- ARCH603 Architectural Ecologies II: Environmental Performance
- ARCH604 Architectural Ecologies III: Medium-scale Construction
- ARCH700 Wānanga/Studio V: Innovation
- ARCH701 Wānanga/Studio VI: Building Complex
- ARCH702 Architectural Intelligence III: Innovation in practice
- ARCH703 Architectural Ecologies IV: Integrated Systems
Postgraduate courses
- ARCH800 Wānanga/Studio I: Strategy
- ARCH801 Wananga Studio II: Resolution
- ARCH804 Architectural Practice III: Project Delivery
- ARCH805 Architectural Practice IV: Business and Entrepreneurship
Undergraduate courses
- ACCT608 Accounting for Social Impact
- BSYS705 Digital Transformation and Social Impact
- BUSS509 Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability
- ECON722 Applied Econometrics: Causal Inference for Social Impact
- ENTR701 Social Entrepreneurship: Inspiring Innovation and Impact
- FINA608 Social Impact for Finance
- HRMG701 Diversity and Inclusion for Social Impact
- INTB706 Global Social Impact
- MGMT704 Management for Social Impact
- MKTG704 Marketing for Social Impact
- SUSE501 Sustainability Leadership
- SUSE602 Managing Environmental Issues in Business
Postgraduate courses
- BSYS862 Designing Sustainable Supply Networks
- MGMT863 Responsible Leadership
- SUSE846 Transformative Change for Sustainability
Undergraduate courses
- COMM607 Communication for Social Change
- COMM608 Global Crises and Communication
- COMM711 Environmental Communication
- COMM715 Sustainable Development Communication
Undergraduate courses
- ENBU501 Construction Design and Implementation
- ENBU503 Introduction to Construction Materials
- ENBU615 Innovation, Advanced Construction Systems and Sustainability
- ENBU700 Architectural Design and Sustainability
- ENBU711 Building Energy Management
- ENBU812 Engineering Resource Efficiency
- ENBU814 Advanced Built Environment
- ENEL710 Sustainable Energy for Renewable Power
Postgraduate courses
- ENEL804 Sustainable Energy Systems
- ENGE815 Engineering Corporate Social Responsibility
Postgraduate courses
- EMGT807 Environmental Change and Humanitarian Action
- EMGT808 Disasters and Development
- EMGT809 Building Community Resilience
Undergraduate courses
- CULN409 Produce to Plate
- CULN603 Nutrition and Wellbeing
- CULN702 Food Ethics and Sustainability
- HOSP509 Hospitable Social Enterprise
- TOUR512 Tourism and Sustainability
- TOUR704 Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development
- TOUR711 Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Tourism, Hospitality and Events
Postgraduate course
- TOUR812 Sustainable Leadership in Hospitality, Tourism and Events
Postgraduate course
- LAWS939 Social Justice, Law and Society
Undergraduate courses
- BIOL601 Deep Sea Biology
- BIOL602 Biology of Marine Organisms
- BIOL603 Marine Invertebrates
- BIOL702 Estuarine Ecology
- CONS500 Biodiversity
- CONS621 Conservation Planning
- CONS701 Applied Conservation
- ECOL401 Foundation Ecology
- ECOL603 Ecology Concepts I
- ECOL604 Ecology Concepts II
- ECOL701 Plant Ecology
- ECOL731 Animal Behaviour and Ecology
- ECOL801 Advanced Ecology
- ENVS502 Environmental Science Skills
- ENVS503 Our Total Environment
- ENVS601 Environmental Law
- ENVS602 Environmental Risk Assessment
- ENVS603 Environmental Health
- ENVS703 Environmental Chemistry
- ENVS722 Socio-ecological Systems Analysis
- FOOD702 Sustainable Food Design and Packaging
- MASC500 Introduction to Marine Science
- MICR601 Environmental Microbiology
Postgraduate courses
- CONS801 Conservation Biology
- CONS803 Socio-Ecological Systems Analysis
- MASC802 Fisheries Science
- MASC803 Marine Ecosystem Functions
- MASC804 Marine Spatial Planning
Undergraduate course
- SOSC585 Climate Action
Undergraduate courses
- NUTR701 Lifestyle Nutrition
- SPOR603 Motu-Moana: Islands and Sea
- SPOR702 Sport Events and Entrepreneurship
We are making an impact
Sustainability-related research
Explore how we’re making an impact towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through our research.
Sustainability targets and progress
Find out more details about our sustainability targets and initiatives, and see how we’re tracking to meet our goals.