Address environmental issues with an understanding of the law
If you have an interest in law and a passion for the environment, this dual program is for you. Upon graduation you'll be prepared for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia and have the practical skills and tools required for immediate entry into an environmental management career.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
- ^ It is recommended that students planning to study part-time apply for the Bachelor of Laws rather than a double degree.
- ^ It is recommended that students planning to study part-time apply for the Bachelor of Laws rather than a double degree.
If you have an interest in law and a passion for the environment, this dual program is for you. Upon graduation you'll be prepared for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia and have the practical skills and tools required for immediate entry into an environmental management career.
Through the law component of this program, you'll engage in active learning experiences and gain practical skills right from your first year. You will observe volunteer lawyers conducting client interviews at the Suncoast Community Legal Service. You will research answers to legal problems, prepare advice, present legal argument, observe court proceedings and take part in simulated court presentations in our new Moot Court venue.
Environmental management field work activities will see you travelling to locations such as Fraser Island and the Noosa Biosphere. Learn to minimise human impacts on the environment, manage resources sustainably, and conserve and restore habitats, biodiversity and ecosystem services. With a strong focus on tropical and subtropical environments and peri-urban areas, making it highly relevant to our region as well as your job prospects. In addition, you can specialise with a range of minors such as coastal and marine environments, climate change adaptation, planning studies, environmental health, geospatial analysis and environmental geography.
Law Honours is available, usually without extending the time required to complete your degree.
Career opportunities
Careers in the field of environmental management are diverse and include opportunities at local, state, national and international levels, in industry, government, conservation, and research organisations. These include environmental assessment and protection (air, water, land), natural resource management, ecosystem conservation and restoration, sustainable procurement and corporate stewardship, communications and public awareness, environmental education, policy and legislation development, international negotiations, and research and development of environmental technologies.
Law graduates have opportunities as solicitor, barrister, government legal officer, judge's associate, law academic, corporate counsel, business and public sector administration and policy development.
Membership
The Law degree is an approved academic qualification for admission to the legal profession. After graduating you must undertake a further period of practical legal training before being admitted as a legal practitioner.
On graduation you can apply to become Associate Member of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) while you acquire relevant work experience. You can apply for Full Membership in EIANZ after you acquired two years of professional experience in one or more functional areas of environmental practice.
Program structure
USC Law School courses
Introductory courses (5) 60 units
COR109 Public Relations Events Project
LAW101 Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults
LAW102 Creative Writing for the Illustrated Book
LAW103 Creative Advertising
LAW104 Advanced News Reporting
Developing and Graduate courses (20) 240 units
14 required courses (168 units):
LAW201 International Communication
LAW202 Research into Journalism
LAW203 Creative Writing B: Novel Ideas
LAW204 Creativity and Literature: Chaucer to Romantics
LAW205 Creativity and Literature: Victorians to Moderns
LAW206 Reality Bites: An Exploration of Non-Fiction
LAW301 Wonderworlds: An Exploration of English Literature
LAW302 Environment, Heritage and Tourism
LAW303 Communication and Thought
LAW304 Foundations of Australian Law A
LAW401 Foundations of Australian Law B
LAW402 Criminal Law and Procedure A
LAW403 Criminal Law and Procedure B
LAW404 Torts A
PLUS select 6 elective courses (72 units) from:
LAW307 Torts B
LAW310 Contracts A
LAW311 Contracts B
LAW312 Property A
LAW313 Property B
LAW315 Constitutional Law
LAW318 Equity & Trusts
LAW405 Corporations Law
LAW406 Civil Procedure
LAW407 Administrative Law
LAW408 Professional Conduct
LAW409 Evidence
LAW410 Regulation
LAW411 Commercial Law
LAW412 Children & the Law
LAW414 Law Professional Practice
LAW415 Competition and Consumer Law
LAW416 Building & Construction Law
LAW417 Indigenous Legal Issues
LAW418 Advocacy
LAW419 Legal Dispute Resolution
LAW420 Planning and Environment Law
The following 2 elective courses (24 units) are only available to students who have been accepted into honours in Law:
LAW440 Elder Law and Succession
LAW441 Law Honours Thesis
Please note: Semester offerings for Law elective courses are subject to change and are dependent on student demand. For more information on elective availability please contact your Program Coordinator.
School of Science and Engineering courses
Introductory courses (4) 48 units
ENS120 Introduction to Environmental Management
ENS103 Earth's Surface Processes
SCI102 Biodiversity and Ecology
SCI110 Science Research Methods
Developing and Graduate courses (11) 132 units
ENP211 Planning and Environmental Law
ENS223 Environmental Impact Assessment
ENS221 Plant Diversity and Ecology
ENS222 Terrestrial Vertebrate Diversity and Ecology
ENS253 Geographic Information Science and Technology
ENS300 Environmental Economics
ENS351 Integrated Environmental Management
GEO310 Globalisation, Development and Indigenous Peoples
SUS201 Advancing Sustainability: Planet, People and Prosperity
SUS202 Communicating Sustainability
PLUS select 1 course (12 units) from:
SRP301 Special Research Project
WPL310 Workplace Learning I
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 480
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 480 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete no more than 15 introductory level (100 coded) courses (180 units) in total, including the core course
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
- Semester offerings for Law elective courses are subject to change and are dependent on student demand. For more information on elective availability please contact your Program Coordinator
- Honours in Law available for high performing students
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.