Core modules
Teaching on this course will be equally split between the GSD Department and the Economics Department. In the first year you will study core GSD modules designed to provide a critical understanding of the 'three pillars of sustainable development':
- Economic Principles of Global Sustainable Development
- Environmental Principles of Global Sustainable Development
- Social Principles of Global Sustainable Development
You will also study the core Global Sustainable Development Project module, giving you the chance to see how the principles of GSD apply to a real case affecting a local community. For the Economics half of the workload, you will take one core module, Economics 1. You will follow either the ‘Stats’ route or the ‘Quantitative Analysis' route, taking the appropriate Economics modules for your choice.
In the second year, in GSD you will have the opportunity to engage with a key issue in sustainability, studying one optional core module from the following:
- Health and Sustainable Development
- Security, Sovereignty and Sustainability in the Global Food System
- Inequalities and Sustainable Development: Inclusion and Dignity for All
You will also choose optional modules with a GSD focus from within or outside of the School for Cross-faculty Studies. For the Economics half of the workload, you will take one core module: Economics 2. You will also take either Econometrics 1 or Applied Econometrics.
You may choose to study abroad for part of your second year at Monash University. In Term One at Warwick you will study an optional core GSD module, an optional module with a GSD focus, Economics 2: Microeconomics, and Applied Econometrics modules. The remaining study will consist of pre-approved modules at Monash University.
In the final year you will take the core GSD dissertation module. You will also take optional modules with a GSD focus from within or outside of the School for Cross-faculty Studies. The Economics half of the workload will consist of two optional core modules and 50% optional modules offered by the Economics Department. The core modules are Topics in Development Economics or Economics of Public Policy.
Year One
Why and how can economics address issues of global sustainable development? In this module, you will learn about the relationship between economic activity, social inclusion and environmental sustainability, and critically analyse the economic theories that underpin sustainable development policy interventions and how those theories impact upon policy design.
Read more about the Economic Principles of Global Sustainable Development moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
This module focuses on the natural science of the world’s most pressing environmental issues. We will cover well-known topics like climate change and biodiversity loss and less prominent problems like biochemical flows. You will evaluate existing governance and management efforts and develop innovative responses of your own. You will learn how to write a policy briefing and create a policy briefing paper and policy pitch, aimed at a specific decision-making audience.
Read more about the Environmental Principles of Global Sustainable Development moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
This is an exciting, innovative, and practical module. It is designed to give you research and analysis skills and to enable you to apply the theories from your other first-year core modules. You will learn how to research sustainability by designing and developing a group project on the topic of sustainable transport, under the guidance of an academic supervisor. Staff from across the GSD Department with expertise in transport policy as well as research methods teach this module.
Read more about the Global Sustainable Development Project moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Economics 1
You'll develop an understanding of fundamental and intermediate concepts in micro- and macroeconomic analysis, equipping you with a range of appropriate analytical skills, including descriptive, graphical and mathematical methods. This will develop your ability to analyse economic trends, institutions and policies and the capacity to apply analytical techniques to real-world problems.
Read more about the Economics 1 moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Statistical Techniques A
This module will provide you with an introduction to statistical ideas in economic and social studies, probability theory and techniques of statistical inference. By the end of the module you'll be able to demonstrate an awareness of statistical ideas and a foundation in statistics.
Read more about the Statistical Techniques A moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
or
Statistical Techniques B
This module will provide you with the requisite quantitative background for a thorough and rigorous study of economic analysis, econometric methods and applied economics subjects acting as a secure foundation for your further study on the course. You'll develop knowledge of statistical methods and statistical modelling and generate an awareness of data and of data handling.
Read more about the Statistical Techniques B moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Year Two
Choose one module from:
Viable and equitable solutions in health and sustainable development require interdisciplinary and critical thinking. The first part of the module will introduce you to fundamental concepts of global health governance and health systems, whilst acquainting you with key global health priorities like drug resistance and mental health from the perspective of global sustainable development. The second part of the module will focus on issues that relate to policies and behavioural change, and are also applicable beyond health, for example in areas like education or technology transfer.
Read more about the Health and Sustainable Development moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Goal 2 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims to end hunger, end all forms of malnutrition, and ensure sustainable food production systems. However, the world population will likely increase to nearly 10 billion people by 2050. After decades of positive change, the incidence of malnourishment is again on the rise, global stocks of key food are contracting, and it is currently more expensive to buy food than for most of our planet’s modern history.
This module addresses these significant challenges by encouraging students to adopt a 'food systems approach' in responding to the imperative agendas of food security, sovereignty and sustainability. The module is taught in collaboration with researchers from across various disciplines at Warwick, especially those involved in the University's Global Research Priority on Food.
Read more about the Security, Sovereignty and Sustainability in the Global Food System moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
This module focuses on how inequalities shape our societies, economies, environments and politics. Starting with the question ‘Does inequality matter?’, you will critically reflect on the United Nations' decision to integrate inequalities into the Sustainable Development Agenda. You will then explore six different dimensions of inequalities (work, politics, environmental justice, societal discrimination, automation and globalisation, empowerment) and gain an understanding of the complexities of these problems. Finally, you will appreciate the challenges faced by today’s policy makers who aim to address issues of inequalities while taking into consideration all three pillars of sustainable development.
Read more about the Inequalities and Sustainable Development: Inclusion and Dignity for All moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Economics 2
In this module, you'll develop a deeper understanding of some of the key economic concepts introduced in your first year, but will also be introduced to new concepts in both micro- and macroeconomic analysis. These include material drawn from general equilibrium, welfare economics, game theory, risk and uncertainty within microeconomics and the three-equation macro model, open economy macroeconomics and the labour market within macroeconomics. It will introduce you to the analysis of public policy issues such as market failure, insurance, monetary unions and fiscal policy, and will give you a range of tools to analyse economic problems. Your analysis will be underpinned by a rigorous theoretical understanding acquired on the course.
Read more about the Economics 2 moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Applied Econometrics
You'll learn important skills of both academic and vocational value, an essential part of the intellectual training of an economist and social scientist, and also useful for your future career. These skills include awareness of the empirical approach to economics and social science; reviewing and extending fundamental statistical concepts; methods of data collection and analysis; regression analysis, its extensions and applications; and use of statistical packages such as STATA. You will then be able to apply this knowledge to a research project of your own.
Read more about the Applied Econometrics moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
or
Econometrics 1
You'll be equipped with important skills of both academic and vocational value, being an essential part of the intellectual training of an economist and also useful for your future career. This includes an awareness of the empirical approach to economics; experience in analysis and use of empirical data; understanding the nature of uncertainty and methods of dealing with it; and using econometric software packages as tools of quantitative and statistical analysis. With the required necessary skills and knowledge to critically appraise work in applied economics, you'll have a good grasp of the dangers, pitfalls and problems encountered in applied modelling. You will then be able to apply this knowledge to a research project.
Read more about the Econometrics 1 moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Final Year
In this module you will bring together all your learning and experiences on the course – the theoretical concepts and principles and your practical know-how – to address a specific sustainable development problem of your own choosing. This will be a problem that concerns you most and which you would like to tackle.
You will be supported by an academic supervisor to devise a suitable project and to undertake research to explore the issue, taking a transdisciplinary approach to your investigation in order to produce an original research output. This may be a concept paper, a practical project, a film production, a long essay, an advocacy campaign...use your creativity!
You will design a strategy for disseminating your findings (for example at a conference presentation, via online publication or an article in a journal, or at a public meeting that you have arranged). This provides you with an opportunity to have your voice heard in a forum where it matters and could have lasting impact.
Read more about the GSD Dissertation/Long Project moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
One of two optional core modules from Economics:
Topics in Development Economics
The module aims to enable you to obtain an understanding of a range of problems in economic development in low income countries, and to demonstrate how the tools of economic analysis can throw light on economic behaviour (and especially household behaviour) and help formulate appropriate policies to remedy acute problems linked to poverty in low income countries.
Read more about the Topics in Development Economics moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
or
Economics of Public Policy
This module aims to develop your understanding of the theory and applications of public policy. It will equip you with various tools of analysis and skills that can be applied to selected theoretical and applied problems in the economics of public goods, public expenditure, externalities and taxation, as well as in aspects of political economy.
Read more about the Economics of Public Policy moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Optional modules
Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:
GSD
- Managing Natural Resources
- The Energy Trilemma
- Human Rights and Social Justice in Latin America and the Caribbean
- Challenges of Climate Change
- Realising Sustainable Development
- Surviving the Apocalypse
Read more about our optional modules.Link opens in a new window
Economics
- Macroeconomic Policy in the EU
- International Trade
- The International Economy in the Twentieth Century
- Topics in Development Economics
- Behavioural Economics: Theory and Applications
Co-curricular Certificates
We offer a range of unique certificates outside of the curriculum as a way of continuing your professional development.
In the first year, you can complete certificates in Climate Literacy and Professional Communication.
Explore our range of certificates.
