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.
- ** Campus note: In addition to being able to study all courses at Sippy Downs, students may choose to complete some core and foundation business subjects at the Noosa Centre or Gympie campus. There may be a limited selection of subjects available at South Bank. The option to study at Noosa or Gympie is not available to international students on a Student visa.
- * It is recommended that students planning to study part-time apply for the Bachelor of Laws rather than a double degree.
- ** Campus note: In addition to being able to study all courses at Sippy Downs, students may choose to complete some core and foundation business subjects at the Noosa Centre or Gympie campus. There may be a limited selection of subjects available at South Bank. The option to study at Noosa or Gympie is not available to international students on a Student visa.
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)
COR109 3D Design A
LAW101 3D Design B
LAW102 3D Design C
LAW103 Communication and Thought
LAW104 Secondary Professional Learning 1: Transitioning into the Profession
Advanced courses (20)
14 required courses:
LAW201 Introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
LAW202 Dimensions of Learner Engagement
LAW203 Secondary Professional Experience 2 : Managing the Diverse Learning Environment
LAW204 Arts Education: Curriculum A
LAW205 The World of Geography Education: Curriculum A
LAW206 Arts Education: Curriculum B
LAW301 The World of Geography Education: Curriculum B
LAW302 Responding to Diversity and Inclusion
LAW303 Secondary Literacy and Numeracy Across the Curriculum
LAW304 Communication and Thought
LAW401 Secondary Professional Learning 1: Transitioning into the Profession
LAW402 Introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
LAW403 Arts Education: Curriculum B
LAW404 The World of Geography Education: Curriculum B
PLUS select 6 elective courses from:
LAW305 Dimensions of Learner Engagement
LAW306 Secondary Professional Experience 2 : Managing the Diverse Learning Environment
LAW307 Arts Education: Curriculum A
LAW309 The World of Geography Education: Curriculum A
LAW310 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in Learning and Teaching
LAW311 Responding to Diversity and Inclusion
LAW316 Secondary Professional Learning 3: Diversity and Inclusion
LAW318 The Psychology of Learning
LAW405 Secondary Literacy and Numeracy Across the Curriculum
LAW406 Secondary Assessment and Reporting
LAW407 Using Data for Learning
LAW408 Secondary Professional Learning 4: The Professional Empowered and Engaged
LAW410 History of Australian Popular Culture: The Twentieth Century and Beyond
LAW411 Global Citizens: A History of Humanity
LAW412 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
LAW414 Heritage: Australian and Global Contexts
LAW415 Explorations in Environmental History
LAW416 Talking History: Memory and the Past
The following 2 elective courses are only available to students who have been accepted into honours in Law:
LAW440 Nationalism and Identity in the 20th Century: Themes and Tensions
LAW441 Research Project in History and Australian Studies
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)
ENS120 Historical Geographies
ENS103 Questioning History: Explorations in the Thinking and Practice of History
SCI102 History of Australian Popular Culture: The Twentieth Century and Beyond
SCI110 Global Citizens: A History of Humanity
Advanced courses (11)
ENS223 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
ENS221 Heritage: Australian and Global Contexts
ENS222 Explorations in Environmental History
SUS201 Talking History: Memory and the Past
SUS202 Nationalism and Identity in the 20th Century: Themes and Tensions
ENS253 Research Project in History and Australian Studies
ENS300 Historical Geographies
ENS351 Public Relations: Contemporary Perspectives
GEO310 Event Management
ENP211 Sport and Event Marketing
PLUS select 1 course from:
SRP301 Tourism, Leisure and Special Interests
WPL310 Business Events
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 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)
- 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 Planning your study page to manage your progression
- You may wish to use electives to complete an additional major or minor
- Register your selected major(s) and/or minor(s)