Help protect the environment with a law degree
Become a defender of the environment with this dual degree. You’ll cover all the academic courses required for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia, and build practical skills through active learning experiences right from your first year. You’ll also gain an in-depth understanding of human impacts on the environment, with a strong focus on tropical and subtropical environments. Law Honours is available, usually without extending the time required to complete your degree.
- 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.
Become a defender of the environment with this dual degree. You’ll cover all the academic courses required for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia, and build practical skills through active learning experiences right from your first year. You’ll also gain an in-depth understanding of human impacts on the environment, with a strong focus on tropical and subtropical environments. Law Honours is available, usually without extending the time required to complete your degree.
In this program you will:
- Research answers to legal problems, prepare advice, present legal argument, observe court proceedings, and take part in simulated court presentations in USC’s Moot Court
- Develop your skills by working with legal service clients under legal supervision in law practice
- Build your skillset and knowledge by specialising in an environmental area such as coastal and marine environments, urban design and town planning, geospatial analysis and global environment security and policy.
- Travel to fieldwork locations such as Fraser Island and the Noosa Biosphere to learn about conservation and restoration of the natural environment
Career opportunities
- In-house counsel for industry, conservation or research organisation
- Government positions
- Natural resource management
- Ecosystem conservation and restoration
- Policy and legislation development
- International negotiations
- Solicitor
- Barrister
- Judge's associate
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 Health Law
LAW101 Family Law
LAW102 Cultural Legal Studies
LAW103 The Language of Design
LAW104 Introduction to Design and Concept
Developing and Graduate courses (20) 240 units
14 required courses (168 units):
LAW201 Visual Identity
LAW202 Visual Communication & Meaning
LAW203 Graphic Design C
LAW204 Graphic Design D
LAW205 Graphic Design E - Internship/Professional Project
LAW206 Graphic Design F - Professional Portfolio
LAW301 Introduction to Design and Concept
LAW302 Visual Identity
LAW303 Visual Communication & Meaning
LAW304 Graphic Design C
LAW401 Medical Microbiology
LAW402 Pharmaceutical and Food Microbiology
LAW403 Microbial Pathogenesis
LAW404 Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
PLUS select 6 elective courses (72 units) from:
Not all electives are offered every year. For a list of current Law elective courses click HERE.
LAW307 Introduction to Creative Entrepreneurship
LAW310 Introduction to the Creative Industries
LAW311 Playing with Words : an Introduction to Creative Writing Craft
LAW312 Playing with Genre
LAW313 Communication and Thought
LAW315 Introduction to Screenwriting: The Art of Visual Storytelling
LAW318 Editing for the Communications Professional
LAW405 Writing for Young Adults
LAW406 Creative Writing for the Illustrated Book
LAW407 Writing the Short Story
LAW408 Writing Poetry
LAW409 Writing Your Novel
LAW410 Creativity, Design and Communication Project
LAW411 Creative Writing and Editing for Publication
LAW412 Professional Creative Writing Practice: Industry Engagement
LAW414 Accounting for Managers
LAW415 Economics for Managers
LAW416 Managing Research
LAW417 International Business Law and Ethics
LAW418 Managing Across Global Cultures
LAW419 International Trade and Finance
LAW420 Marketing in an International Environment
LAW421 Contemporary and Emerging Issues in Health Sector Business Management
The following 2 elective courses (24 units) are only available to students who have been accepted into Honours in Law:
LAW440 Management Informatics
LAW441 Leading and Managing Organisations
School of Science and Engineering courses
Introductory courses (4) 48 units
ENS120 Leading People
ENS103 Corporate Governance, Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
SCI102 Marketing Management
SCI110 Food Marketing
Developing and Graduate courses (11) 132 units
ENP211 Project Management Principles
ENS204 Leadership in Clinical Practice
ENS221 Qualitative Research: Approaches and Practice
ENS223 Quantitative Research Methods
ENS253 Learning and Teaching in the Practice Environment
ENS300 Research in Health Care
ENS351 Special Project: Evaluating Practice Knowledge
GEO310 Special Project: Translating Knowledge into Practice
SUS201 Accounting for Managers
PUB262 Economics for Managers
PLUS select 1 course (12 units) from:
ENS330 Managing Research
ENS333 International Business Law and Ethics
SRP301 Managing Across Global Cultures
SUS310 International Trade and Finance
WPL310 Marketing in an International Environment
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.