Community Development

The world's economies, living standards, commercial and political systems are at the heart of the study of economics. Economics involves weighing up choices and alternatives and seeing how they impact upon businesses, societies and individuals. By applying quantitative analysis to current issues and trends, economists can develop and model scenarios to predict possible results and make recommendations on how to respond to produce the best outcomes.

You will look at how modern economies operate - how they trade and grow, the role of prices, supply and demand, and how business and government both affect and are affected by the economy. The insights economists provide allow organisations and individuals to plan and make better decisions for the future.

You will develop analytical skills to enable you to consider both quantitative and policy-based economic issues - practical skills and knowledge that can be then adapted to a range of careers.

One of our longest-standing degrees, the Bachelor of Arts (BA) is still relevant in today’s world. It equips you with the creative, critical and analytical skills in demand by employers, and is transferable across a range of workplaces. When you study a BA at UNE, you have the freedom to become a specialist in the discipline of your choice.

By studying UNE’s Bachelor of Social Science degree you will develop a comprehensive and valuable understanding of human societies and social thought, behaviour and relationships in their varied social, psychological and political manifestations, with potential for a rewarding career in social science related areas. You will get a thorough grounding in sociology and psychology, plus you can choose from a broad range of majors to graduate with specialised knowledge. With skills in research, critical analysis and evaluation that are transferable across a range of employment opportunities, you can ensure your career is future fit for life.

The world requires skilled scientists and innovators to develop solutions to the complex environmental problems facing a rapidly changing planet. Our Bachelor of Environmental Science is a highly flexible course that provides you with a broad foundation in the core theories and specialised applied skills that underpin environmental science, together with a strong scientific understanding of local and global environmental issues and their management.

Future fit your career for life with the knowledge and practical skills you will need to thrive as an environmental scientist, and help to find the solutions we will need to build environmental, socially and fiscally sustainable systems.

Urban and regional planners develop strategies and design communities in which we all live, work and play. Planning helps balance community, environmental and economic needs, while recognising cultural significance in order to improve our quality of life and create sustainable and vital communities. Our Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning provides you with the necessary knowledge and skills to critically analyse and solve complex problems — skills that help you adapt as a professional in a changing world.

The UNE Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws provides you with the opportunity to combine your study of law with an area of interest drawn from a wide variety of the arts, humanities and social sciences. As a double degree for the future, it has been developed in response to the needs of today’s rapidly changing workplaces and a growing employer demand for double degree graduates.

Your choice of arts major allows you to become an expert in a discipline of your choice. The legal knowledge and practical skills will also enable you to pursue many pathways in law, benefiting from UNE’s deep expertise in regional, rural and remote legal issues.

With economics and law influencing almost every aspect of society, the UNE Bachelor of Economics/Bachelor of Laws will equip you with a valuable portfolio of knowledge and skills relevant to a wide range of careers. You will graduate with knowledge and skills in the most recent theory and practice of law and an in-depth practical understanding of how the economy works, as well as transferable critical thinking, problem solving and analysis skills to apply to many industries. Study online in a timeframe that suits your lifestyle and get job-ready practical skills to future proof your career.

Do you dream of a career where you’re helping to address the big issues facing humanity? Or perhaps you crave the excitement of being at the forefront of scientific discovery? Maybe you wish to instil your passion for the environment into future generations? Our Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science is uniquely positioned to help you reach your goals, with wide-spanning knowledge and a diverse set of skills to be adaptable in a rapidly changing world. This combined degree will help lay the foundation for you to acquire the ability to innovate and problem-solve — attributes that are in demand more than ever by employers in Australia and internationally.

Workplaces value employees who have a broad range of real-world skills, and this combined degree will equip you to excel in today’s dynamic working environment. In our Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business, you’ll gain business knowledge and learn to think like an entrepreneur. You’ll develop creative and/or socio-cultural knowledge, plus skills in critical thinking and communication.

Our degree fosters the accumulation of knowledge and the acquisition of a diverse set of skills, essential to helping you be an independent thinker, and empowering you to create a new future, new career prospects and the ability to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing modern workplace.

Business and economics make a powerful combination. Graduates with skills in both disciplines are highly sought after for a range of roles in business, government and non-profit organisations.

Studying the combined Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Economics at UNE gives you flexibility to take your career in whichever direction you choose. You will combine a solid grounding in accounting, business ethics, management and marketing with the quantitative and analytical skills needed to solve complex problems in the real world.

Add an area of expertise to your CV and gain an undergraduate qualification — without committing to a full bachelor's degree. You will develop research, critical thinking, and writing skills in the core units. With the minor and elective units, you tailor the course to your specific interests and career objectives by choosing from an extensive selection of arts, humanities and social science units.

With our Advanced Diploma in Arts you have the freedom to explore related subjects, or a range of different topics. With this flexibility, your advanced diploma can be customised to your aspirational and practical needs. It will also qualify you to go on to a Bachelor of Arts if you're keen to continue your studies. Become future fit with these advanced studies. 

Designed to provide an opportunity for first-time university study, UNE's Diploma in Town Planning will open doors to a career in planning with employment potential across all Australian regions. This online course provides you with foundation knowledge and skills to put you on track for a career in town planning, including rural planning and urban development, that aims to help communities work and thrive. As a pathway to university study, this diploma is also your springboard to further study and career development.

Did your arts degree prompt a burning question or a passion for independent research? If so, consider applying for an honours year. A capstone to your formal education, honours is an opportunity to drill deeper into a specialised area, to extend your intellectual range, and sharpen your research capabilities. It will enable advanced communication techniques and deep subject knowledge, to hone your analytical abilities, and gain high-level personal and professional skills. These are valuable attributes that provide a solid foundation for postgraduate study, give you a competitive edge in the job market, and help future proof your career in a rapidly changing world.

Communities and regions face complex challenges as they work towards improving living standards and wellbeing. Economists play a critical role in community and regional development by informing the decisions of government and non-government agencies as they strive for sustainable economics growth and stability around the world.

UNE’s Master of Economic and Regional Development will equip you with the expertise to help solve the issues faced by regions and nations as they define their directions and chart a course toward a better future.

UNE’s Master of Arts is designed to equip you with specialised knowledge as well as a wide range of transferrable skills that employers highly value, such as communication and critical thinking. This course is also a focused pathway to higher degree research.

With a master's degree, you can make a switch to a new career field or gain additional expertise to enhance your existing path. At UNE, you can select a major from 17 specialty areas, dive into research and tailor the program to your interests and career goals. Explore history, linguistics, philosophy, sociology, theatre and more.

Planning experts work strategically, often with competing stakeholders, to achieve the best social, environmental and economic outcomes. UNE's Master of Urban and Regional Planning offers a multi-disciplinary, comprehensive course that integrates the knowledge and skills required by planning experts to achieve the best outcomes.

The course is fully accredited with the Planning Institute of Australia and graduates are eligible for membership of the Institute's Urban and Regional Planning Chapter.

Economics influences almost every aspect of business, government and society. Policy makers and leaders in all organisations need to understand the economics interactions of global political and commercial systems, whilst considering living standards, and resource and environmental constraints. Economists provide these insights and influence decisions about how to prioritise actions and allocate resources in a continuously changing environment.

UNE's Master of Economics is perfectly positioned to build your expertise and hone your analytical skills to solve today’s economic challenges and advance your career.

In modern economies, the relationships between global growth, prices, supply and demand are complex and dynamic. Using quantitative modelling and critical thinking, economists analyse how these economic forces interact and explore how to solve current challenges to trade, commerce, policy and living standards in a constantly changing world.

With UNE's Graduate Diploma in Economics you will upgrade your analytical skills and build advanced economic knowledge to enhance your career, enabling you to add value in all sectors of business, government and society.

Design a bespoke course and prepare for a rapidly evolving workplace with the UNE Graduate Diploma in Professional Practice. Whether you want to advance your career, hone your skills or embark on a new career direction, we'll work with you to design a course to match your skills and aspirations.

You will have the freedom to assemble your course from a full breadth of subjects, play to your strengths and draw from your experience to achieve your goals. Learn in a way that suits your timeframe and do it all with the support of an expert academic success advisor—with one-on-one guidance from start to finish. You'll be paving your pathway to the next stage of your career.

Planning integrates environmental, economic and social aspects of development with the competing needs of communities, companies and governments. This complex and dynamic field requires planning professionals to maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills to keep up with a rapidly-changing environment. Whether you are looking to upskill or enter the planning profession, UNE's postgraduate Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning offers a strong foundation of core units for understanding the complexities of urban and regional planning, and your choice of three from a long list of special areas. This course is fully accredited with the Planning Institute of Australia.

By developing specialist knowledge, plus wider skills including critical thinking and problem solving, you will be well positioned to adapt to a professional environment that is constantly evolving.

Are you a graduate looking to add new skills to your CV to reinforce or redirect your career? Perhaps you are keen to pursue a personal interest in the arts or humanities. Or maybe you are interested in completing a master's but aren't sure if you can commit to a full degree. If any of the above fits your situation, the Graduate Certificate in Arts is the perfect course for you.

Your choice of majors include, but are not limited to, history, philosophy, media and communications, English literature, classical languages, writing, and a range of modern cultural studies. In addition, you will be trained to discover and process information, think independently, and communicate effectively.

Adapt to an evolving workplace and open the door to new career opportunities with UNE's Graduate Certificate in Professional Practice. Whether you want to create more career choices, hone your specialist skills, or take a new career direction, we will work with you to customise a course to match your skills and aspirations.

Choose from a full breadth of subjects. Avoid getting bogged down in a lengthy, traditional course, and instead, play to your natural strengths, refine your skills and draw on your experience to prepare for the future. And do it all with the support of an expert academic success advisor with 1:1 guidance from start to finish.

A Doctor of Philosophy is the pinnacle of academic study. Using rigorous and systematic research, combined with critical analysis, you will add to society's understanding of complex issues at the cutting-edge of your discipline or profession.

When you complete your PhD at UNE, you will be recognised as an expert in your area of study. Your original discoveries and innovations will be applied to benefit society and industry in Australia and worldwide.

High quality research and analysis allows us to better understand the complex issues we face in industry and society. With UNE's Master of Philosophy by research, your original findings and insights will add to the body of knowledge and inform decision-making in your specialist area.

You will work independently, with personalised support from recognised experts in your area of study every step of the way. Expand your expertise, hone your research skills, and immediately apply your knowledge in a research topic of your choice.

The world is full of possibilities, with so much to discover and learn. There are endless opportunities to enrich your knowledge to prepare for the future, but what if you don’t want to undertake a full degree? And how can you zero-in on the subjects that matter most to you? That’s what a Non-Award with UNE will help you to achieve.

Studying a Non-Award means you can learn without the need to complete entire course requirements or take on a full course load.  Whether it’s a language you want to learn, a business unit to enhance your career, an improvement of your IT skills, an update on education principles or developing your management style, Non-Award study gives you the flexibility and control to explore what matters to you.

If you are enrolled at another university, you can choose to study subjects at UNE that will count towards your course. Apply as a cross-institutional student directly and complete one or several individual subjects (units) from the full scope of UNE's discipline areas.