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.

Green company

Sustainable Enterprise (minor)

Sustainability takes long-term planning – learning how to strategise, engage and negotiate to drive environmental projects.
Business

Bachelor of Business

Complement your sustainability studies with a business degree that has a strong focus on social impact.
tourism

Global Tourism (major or minor)

Understand how tourism enriches communities’ wellbeing and protects the natural environment it relies on.
Arts

Bachelor of Arts

Build a degree that fits your passions and interests and learn how you can make a positive difference.
Architecture

Bachelor of Architecture and Future Environments

Learn how to prepare and present building design projects for sustainable future environments.
Environment

Environmental Sustainability (minor)

Learn multi-disciplinary approaches to solving sustainability problems at global and local scales.
social change

Communication for Social Change (minor)

Explore the communication processes, techniques and media that can bring about equitable change, social transformation, and empowerment in society.
Green justice

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.
Science

Environmental Science (major or minor)

Become an environmental problem solver and understand the science that supports healthy water, air, soils and ecosystems.
Green company

Biodiversity Conservation (minor)

Discover the ecological science underpinning the conservation of biodiversity, specifically New Zealand’s flora and fauna.
Marine science

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.

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

Learn about the role of the media in the reporting and representation of sustainability, the environment and climate change, and become familiar with communication strategies and network building with sustainability and environmental groups.

Undergraduate courses

  • COMM607 Communication for Social Change
  • COMM608 Global Crises and Communication
  • COMM711 Environmental Communication
  • COMM715 Sustainable Development Communication

Postgraduate courses

  • COMM816 Media & Sustainability
  • COMM818 Change and Sustainability

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

In our environmental, marine and conservation science courses, you’ll explore scientific and socio-cultural approaches that are essential to manage ecosystems, and help them thrive and adapt in a rapidly changing world.

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're making an impact

Laces made from wool
Sustainable poster competition
hive photo
Labs at AUT
Laces made from wool
Woo-Lace
Goal 4Goal 12
Jacob Smith, a second-year Bachelor of Design Te Tohu Paetahi mō te Hoahoa student, designed the Woo-Lace – a biodegradable, sustainably sourced shoelace made from strong wool, a locally produced fibre often wasted due to low market value. The wool comes from Palliser Ridge Farm in the Wairarapa and is dyed with natural products like onion, avocado skins and coffee grounds. Unlike polyester or nylon laces that take centuries to break down into microplastics, Woo-Laces are fully home compostable.

Jacob Smith, a second-year Bachelor of Design Te Tohu Paetahi mō te Hoahoa student, designed the Woo-Lace – a biodegradable, sustainably sourced shoelace made from strong wool, a locally produced fibre often wasted due to low market value. The wool comes from Palliser Ridge Farm in the Wairarapa and is dyed with natural products like onion, avocado skins and coffee grounds. Unlike polyester or nylon laces that take centuries to break down into microplastics, Woo-Laces are fully home compostable.
Sustainable poster competition
Sustainable business ideas
Goal 9
As part of the final assessment in the Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability course, students created posters to communicate sustainable business ideas that mitigate the sustainability problems brought about by fast-fashion.

As part of the final assessment in the Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability course, students created posters to communicate sustainable business ideas that mitigate the sustainability problems brought about by fast-fashion.
Photo
For the love of bees
Goal 4Goal 13
The ‘For the love of bees’ project was started with an aim to make Auckland the safest city in the world for bees. After reviewing the options, the team decided to install flower towers on the AUT campus so that any bees that wandered onto AUT grounds, would be able to find food.

The ‘For the love of bees’ project was started with an aim to make Auckland the safest city in the world for bees. After reviewing the options, the team decided to install flower towers on the AUT campus so that any bees that wandered onto AUT grounds, would be able to find food.
Photo
Living Laboratories
Goal 4Goal 13
AUT’s Living Laboratories research programme is focused on the restoration of native forests. It allows rangatahi, school students and community groups to learn about repairing nature, enhancing resilience, and engaging with mātauranga Māori, as well as engaging with citizen science projects.AUT’s Living Laboratories research programme is focused on the restoration of native forests. It allows rangatahi, school students and community groups to learn about repairing nature, enhancing resilience, and engaging with mātauranga Māori, as well as engaging with citizen science projects.
Shaye Va
Harry Creevey
Mackenzie Freeman
Ryan Ouderkirk
Taichi Arioka
Shaye Va
Student testimonialsShaye VaSustainability Advisor, Watercare Services LimitedBachelor of ScienceHer love of the ocean is what encouraged her to study science, says Shaye Va who completed a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences and Marine Biology.Her love of the ocean is what encouraged her to study science, says Shaye Va who completed a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences and Marine Biology.
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Harry Creevey
Student testimonialsHarry CreeveyGraduate Diploma in ScienceNow enrolled in a Graduate Diploma in Science, Harry Creevy would be the first to admit that his journey towards studying environmental science was far from straightforward.Now enrolled in a Graduate Diploma in Science, Harry Creevy would be the first to admit that his journey towards studying environmental science was far from straightforward.
Read full story
Mackenzie Freeman
Student testimonialsMackenzie FreemanDoctor of Philosophy
Bachelor of Business
Bachelor of Business (Honours)What is the relationship between supply chain resilience and climate change? That’s the interesting topic Mackenzie Freeman is exploring for her PhD research.What is the relationship between supply chain resilience and climate change? That’s the interesting topic Mackenzie Freeman is exploring for her PhD research.
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Ryan Ouderkirk
Student testimonialsRyan OuderkirkBachelor of Science
Master of ScienceHe decided to study marine science due to his profound love for fresh and saltwater ecosystems, says current Master of Science student Ryan Ouderkirk.He decided to study marine science due to his profound love for fresh and saltwater ecosystems, says current Master of Science student Ryan Ouderkirk.
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Taichi Arioka
Student testimonialsTaichi AriokaDoctor of PhilosophyHow can advanced technologies be integrated into companies’ practices and help them achieve their sustainability goals? Taichi Arioka explores this for his PhD.How can advanced technologies be integrated into companies’ practices and help them achieve their sustainability goals? Taichi Arioka explores this for his PhD.
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Sustainability-related research

Explore how we’re making an impact towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through our research.

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Sustainability targets and progress

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Find out more details about our sustainability targets and initiatives, and see how we’re tracking to meet our goals.

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