United Nations Sustainable Development
Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals
Education for SDGs: specific courses on sustainability. Have dedicated courses (full degrees, or electives) that address sustainability and the SDGs.
UniSC offers a range of dedicated courses and full degree programs that directly address sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These programs enable students to gain in-depth knowledge of the SDGs and apply it in professional settings.
Full Degrees and Majors
- Bachelor of Arts – Global Sustainable Development
This interdisciplinary program focuses on environmental change, poverty, and social exclusion, preparing students for careers in government, NGOs, and the private sector. It includes courses such as Foundations of Sustainability, Global Environmental Politics, and Globalisation, Development and Indigenous Peoples. - Bachelor of Arts – Sustainability (Society)
This degree explores the social dimensions of sustainability, including ethics, justice, and community resilience. The sustainability major guides students through a social and human-focused lens, examining issues like corporate social responsibility and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. - Combined Degrees
UniSC offers sustainability-focused options in combined degrees such as: - Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Business – Global Sustainable Development
- Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science – Global Sustainable Development
These programs integrate sustainability with business and science, promoting cross-sectoral thinking.
Electives and Minors
Students can also choose sustainability-related electives and minors, including:
- SCS201 International Development and Global Justice
- SUS101 Foundations of Sustainability
- SUS202 Communicating Sustainability
These courses are available across multiple campuses and online, making them accessible to a wide student body.
Pedagogical Commitment
UniSC’s teaching approaches, such as community service learning, case studies, and problem-based learning—are designed to build sustainability competencies like systems thinking, ethical reasoning, and anticipatory thinking across all faculties.
Interdisciplinary relevance
These dedicated offerings are available to students from all faculties, ensuring that future professionals in business, education, science, law, and health can integrate sustainability knowledge into their fields.
Student impact
Enrolments in these programmes continue to increase, reflecting strong demand for SDG-focused learning. Students often participate in applied projects, working directly on sustainability challenges with community and industry partners. For instance, the Sustainability Research Cluster addresses urgent sustainability issues at local, regional, and global levels through collaborative, transdisciplinary research that combines diverse expertise, encourages innovation, and promotes actionable solutions for a sustainable future. As well, the Creative Ecologies Research Cluster produces high-quality, innovative research that benefits people, the planet, and all living beings within the biosphere.
Summary
UniSC offers dedicated sustainability degrees, majors, and electives that embed SDG principles into interdisciplinary learning, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to address global challenges.