Master of Design Science (SUSTAINABLE DESIGN)

Sustainable design is concerned with both the process and outcomes of creating buildings to meet needs of a world that is growing increasingly conscious of the large impacts made by buildings on the worlds ecological systems and on human kind. As the world shifts to a more sustainable form of development in the coming millennium the task facing designers is uniquely challenging and different from previous eras.

The program aims to assist design professionals and allied practitioners to recalibrate their knowledge and skills to meet this challenge through emphasizing some core aspects of sustainable design. The course is a journey from ethical concerns for the ecology of the planet and the effects of building on its makeup to the concerns for the internal environment and developing principles to help guide and nature practice.

This involves gaining an understanding of the underlying ethical issues underpinning sustainable design thinking including resource efficiency as well as the core issues related to why we should sustain the natural environment through the appropriate design of our buildings.

The externalities and internalities of buildings are also explored, looking at both the context to sustainable design and indoor environmental quality in designing buildings that make better use of acoustics, heat and light, and harnessing the local climate conditions to provide comfort. Adaptive measures to combat the consequences of climate change and associated effects are covered.

Case studies are used to show how building/designer professionals have worked though the complexity, interest and enthusiasm for sustainable design in practice. The success stories and frustrations are part of design research, which feeds back into theory and provide a point of reflection.

Students from an architecture or design background may be able to take the Sustainable Studio in the Master of Architecture program.

Who should take this course?

The program is aimed at building design professionals and allied para-professionals wishing to gain further knowledge skills in the area of sustainable design. Increasingly sustainable design is forming a central part of architectural practice with niche areas in the environmental and social and economic parameters, to building procurement and delivery. Knowledge in these niche areas provides new opportunities in practice.

The program is aimed at providing professional knowledge in these niche areas through engagement with the staff and postgraduate students working in the program.

Program Director: Professor Richard Hyde

Admission Requirements

Masters and Graduate Diploma applicants should hold a bachelors degree. Graduate Certificate applicants should hold a bachelors degree or possess experience which is considered to demonstrate the knowledge and aptitude required to undertake the course.

Modes of Study

This program can be taken as a Graduate Certificate (six months full time), Graduate Diploma (one year full time) or Master degree (one and a half years full time). Part time study is available for Australian citizens and permanent residents.

Students may apply to upgrade at the completion of their course from the Graduate Certificate, through to the Diploma and then to the Masters by maintaining a credit average over the course of study.

Masters and Diploma students may also opt to graduate with a lower level of certification once the required units are complete.

This program can also be taken as double stream Master degree in combination with another Design Science Program or Facilities Management. Individual units can also be taken as Continuing Professional Development short courses without enrolling into a degree.

Intensive units

Many units of postgraduate study are delivered in ‘block-mode’ intensives, meaning students attend classes over a number of full day blocks, rather than weekly lectures.

Please refer to the current class Timetable or Faculty Handbook to explore the delivery method of you chosen subjects