The BSc (Hons) in Sustainable Development is a four-year course run by the School of Geography and Sustainable Development, with contributions from the Schools of Biology, Chemistry, and the School of Management.
St Andrews also offers an MA in Sustainable Development, which may be more suitable for students who wish to take sustainable development alongside Arts subjects. The sustainable development element within both the BSc and MA degree programmes is exactly the same.
The first two years of study illustrate the breadth of issues involved in sustainable development as well as how to move from unsustainable to sustainable development.
Alongside sustainable development, in the first year of the studies, students will be required to study an additional two subjects. In the second year you will usually carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two.
The knowledge they gain will prepare them for their final two years, during which they will have the opportunity to choose from a range of modules from different Schools. These modules allow them to pursue their specific interests and explore the practice of sustainability through specific field visits. Subjects in these modules include (but are not limited to):
- climate change
- environmental management
- environmental politics
- ocean governance
- sustainable technologies
- social justice
- urban sustainability.
During the final year, they will also carry out a dissertation module which focuses on a topic of their choice, with structured support from an academic in an appropriate school.
The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits.
