Ground-breaking new Economics of Sustainability courses for professionals

Launched in September, these three innovative courses address an important gap in economics education today. Ecological economics shows us what changes are necessary to live within planetary boundaries, and modern monetary theory gives us the tools to implement those changes.

Now for the first time, professionals interested in gaining this unique set of skills can enrol in one of the three online flexible courses and study while working anywhere in the world.

• Graduate Certificate of Economics of Sustainability
• Graduate Diploma of Economics of Sustainability
• Master of Economics of Sustainability

A qualification in sustainable economics will be a valuable tool in a world shaped by the unfolding climate emergency, net-zero emissions targets, social and political instability and limited natural resources. We need skilled economists, strategists and policy advisors to guide us through the transition to a greener, more sustainably prosperous future.

If you want to be a changemaker for a better future, these courses offer you a path forward. But what exactly do you learn, and who can enrol? Read on to have your questions answered.

Who should study an Economics of Sustainability course?

These three courses designed in partnership with Modern Money Lab are perfect for working professionals who have a background or education in policy, business, government, economics, finance, non-profits, consulting, international development, accounting, strategy, analytics, revenue management or any other related field.

They are designed for passionate individuals who wish to position themselves as experts in environmentally sustainable economics, whether in the public, private or not-for-profit sectors.

To enrol as a domestic or an international student, you must typically have some combination of prior education and work experience in one of the areas listed above.

If you need an option that has fewer entry requirements, the Graduate Certificate of Economics of Sustainability is the ideal place to start. This course is an entry pathway to the Graduate Diploma and Master of Economics of Sustainability.

What will you learn in an Economics of Sustainability course?

The subjects on offer in each of these courses have been specifically designed to develop your critical thinking and analysis skills while introducing the foundational concepts of ecological economics and modern financial systems.

You will learn how to apply empirical research methods to analyse economic and ecological issues. You will be equipped with the tools and knowledge you need to shape the strategy and policy needed for the global transition towards a sustainable future.

In short, you will learn the essential skills and frameworks you need to be a changemaker for a sustainable economy.

The core subjects you can choose from include:

• Foundations of Real World Economics (Graduate Certificate)
• Foundations of Modern Money Institutions and Markets (Graduate Certificate)
• Data Analysis for Economic and Ecological Issues (Graduate Diploma and Masters)
• Contending Perspectives in Economic Analysis (Graduate Diploma and Masters)
• Ecological Economics (Graduate Diploma and Masters)

In addition to the core subjects listed above, you will have the option to choose several elective subjects, depending on your field and your interests. Some of the elective subject options you can choose from include:

• Real-World Microeconomics
• Macroeconomics of the Real World
• Methods of Empirical Investigation
• Professional Economic Writing
• International Finance and Modern Monetary Theory
• Sustainable Development Indicators
• Inequality, Equity and Employment

Can you still work in your job and complete these courses?

The simple answer to this question is: yes. These courses are fully online and flexible, meaning they can be completed at a full-time or part-time pace, depending on your working schedule. You can complete these courses as a domestic or international student, from anywhere in the world.

What benefits will the Economics of Sustainability courses bring to your career?

These courses are ideal for professionals such as policy advisors, business strategists, financial analysts, consultants and those in similar roles, who want to become sustainable economics experts shaping the green economy of tomorrow.

At present, this is the only such university economics program in the world combining Modern Monetary Theory with sustainability. It is a unique and highly regarded qualification, developed in consultation with distinguished experts in the field.

Course content is designed by renowned economists such as Adjunct Professor Philip Lawn, one of Australia’s leading ecological economists and author of several important books on the topic of ecological economics including ‘Resolving the Climate Change Crisis: The Ecological Economics of Climate Change’.

Another notable guest consultant is Professor Stephanie Kelton, author of the New York Times best-seller, ‘The Deficit Myth - How to Build a Better Economy’, former Chief Economist on the Senate Budget Committee in Washington D.C. and the world’s most prominent modern monetary theory economist.

Learning from some of the world’s most prominent thinkers on the topic of ecological economics will accelerate your career in this important, emerging discipline.

Some career outcomes you can position yourself towards with these qualifications include:

• Sustainable Development Advisor
• Sustainable Economic Policy Advisor
• Sustainable Business Analyst
• Sustainable Business Consultant
• Sustainable Finance Lead
• Trade Policy Advisor
• Sustainable Accounting
• Ecological Impact Assessment, Monitoring and Reporting
• Emissions Targets Monitoring and Reporting

Torrens University Australia is now accepting enrolments for the Economics of Sustainability suite of courses. To find out more about these ground-breaking new courses or to apply, follow the link to each course page:

• Graduate Certificate of Economics of Sustainability
• Graduate Diploma of Economics of Sustainability
• Master of Economics of Sustainability