Master of Environmental Management and Development

COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Environmental Management and Development at Australian National University is a 96-unit postgraduate program designed to prepare students for leadership roles in environmental policy, governance, and sustainable development. The degree begins with a pre-sessional foundation that builds academic writing, research skills, and social, political, and policy analysis capabilities. Students then complete 24 units of compulsory core courses, including environmental economics for public policy, transformative approaches to sustainability, research methods for environmental management and development, and environmental governance, which together provide a strong interdisciplinary grounding. A minimum of 36 units is taken from a broad range of environmental management and governance subjects covering topics such as climate change policy, environmental communication, pollution and waste management, biodiversity conservation, land and water governance, disaster risk reduction, food security, and development in the Anthropocene. The program also allows up to 36 units of electives, enabling students to specialise further through research pathways such as a thesis or research project, internships and professional experience, or field-based study tours. Additional thematic electives span areas including climate change, environmental security, food and agriculture systems, economic analysis, international development, and environmental law and policy. This flexible structure allows students to tailor their learning to specific career goals while gaining practical and theoretical expertise. Overall, the program equips graduates to address complex environmental and development challenges across local, regional, and global contexts through evidence-based policy, governance, and sustainable management solutions.