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Requisite map

Overview

The Master of Behaviour and Systemic Change is a practical, impact-oriented 1.5-year course, which brings together powerful, transferable, change-oriented theories from behavioural psychology and economics, social and political sciences and interdisciplinary sustainability studies with grand challenges of our time - climate change, geopolitical security and the health of our communities.

Behavioural and systemic change approaches sit at the core of the course, with all students engaging with a comprehensive set of core studies on these topics and gaining an opportunity to learn from, apply and extend cutting-edge practice.

You will also choose a further study stream, extending your knowledge by tapping into Monash’s cross-Faculty expertise of key complex problems. Project units will see you apply behavioural and systemic approaches to real-world examples of your chosen stream, challenge bridging the theory-practice gap and prepare you for strategic and impact-oriented careers in government, business and third-sector organisations.

Behavioural and systemic approaches offer opportunities to create positive change on the grand challenges of our age. In this Masters, you can deepen your knowledge of these via a stream – climate change, geopolitics and security and health and communities or by undertaking a research thesis. The structure of the Master of Behaviour and Systemic Change brings your core studies into conversation with a sample of multi-disciplinary postgraduate units offered across Monash’s faculties, broadening your knowledge and skill set in relation to your chosen stream.

Climate change

You will select postgraduate coursework units from a curated list on climate change to extend your existing understanding of this challenge and build a comprehensive understanding of the causes, impacts, and solutions to this issue. You can learn about the scientific evidence and potential impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity, and human societies; the implications and management strategies for businesses; the interaction of climate change with other major challenges such as public health; and other dimensions such as legal implications.

Geopolitics and security

You will select postgraduate coursework units from a curated list to investigate theories and applied knowledge relating to development, human security and vulnerability, power, governance and conflict. You will draw on disciplinary knowledge from science, human geography, political science and more to support a broad and multi-disciplinary perspective on this challenge and underpin your efforts to make change.

Health and communities

You will select postgraduate coursework units from a curated list to build a multi-disciplinary knowledge of challenges relating to human health, equality and community cohesion. This could include exploration of the future of sustainable cities, the interaction of human rights with health, the role of power and spatial differences in community outcomes, and the relationship of food supply and security with community health and prosperity. Together, these support you to develop a pluri-perspectival view of thriving communities and the challenges in developing and maintaining them.

Course structure

Part A. Core studies48 credit points

You must complete 48 credit points from the following units.

Note 1. You may only complete one of ENS5530 or BEX5411 or APG5367.

Note 2. If you intend to complete the research pathway you will complete ENS5901 instead of BAS5555 and ENS5530 or BEX5411 or APG5367.

Part B. Discipline studies24 credit points

You must complete 24 credit points from one of the following areas of interest.

Note: If you intend to complete the research pathway you must complete ENS5902 in this Part, and you may not select ENS5910 or ENS5930.

Climate change

24 credit points

You may complete 24 credit points from the following units.

Note: You may only complete one of ENS5910 or ENS5930, not both. If you choose one of these units, you must undertake a project or internship relevant to your Extended study.

Geopolitics and security

24 credit points

You must complete 24 credit points from the following units.

Note: You may only complete one of ENS5910 or ENS5930, not both. If you choose one of these units, you must undertake a project or internship relevant to your Extended study.

Health and communities

24 credit points

You must complete 24 credit points from the following units.

Note: You may only complete one of ENS5910 or ENS5930, not both. If you choose one of these units, you must undertake a project or internship relevant to your Extended study.

Flexible path

24 credit points

You must complete 24 credit points of postgraduate coursework units from across Monash’s Faculty offerings. These must be at a study Level 5 and you must meet the enrolment requirements of the selected units.

Research pathway (optional)

24 credit points

The research pathway is available to students entering at entry Level 1 only. It is subject to meeting grade entry requirements for the thesis units.

Notes:
- In Part A, you must complete ENS5901 in place of BAS5555 and ENS5530 or BEX5411 or APG5367.
- In Part B, you must complete ENS5902, and you may not select ENS5910 or ENS5930 from this Part.

You must complete the following units.

The handbook's description of this structure

The course is structured in two parts. Part A. Core studies and Part B. Discipline studies. All students complete Part A. Depending upon prior qualifications and experience, you may receive credit towards Part B.

Part A. Core studies

These units establish the core concepts, skills, theories and methodologies required to research and practise behavioural and systemic change in complex contexts. Together they provide a comprehensive toolkit to develop and apply a solution-focus to any sustainable development or societal challenge. Core studies include BAS5555, a unit containing a substantial professional/research project component.

Part B. Discipline studies

In this part you will develop expertise in one of the streams via multi-disciplinary postgraduate units relating to a specific global challenge. You may also undertake applied, industry-facing units or embark on a research thesis to extend and expand your understanding of addressing global challenges, and build your knowledge and ability to participate in research, discourse and practice.

Master’s entry points

Depending on prior qualifications you may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines your point of entry to the course.

If you are admitted at entry Level 1, you must complete 72 credit points, comprising Parts A and B.
If you are admitted at entry Level 2, you must complete 48 credit points, comprising Part A.

Note: If you are eligible for credit for prior studies, you may elect not to receive the credit (and therefore participate in all parts if you choose to do so).

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

The course comprises 72 credit points structured into two parts: Part A. Core studies (48 credit points) and Part B. Discipline studies (24 credit points).

Units are 6 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Core studies (48 credit points)

You must complete 48 credit points from the following list:

Note 1. You may only complete one of ENS5530 or BEX5411 or APG5367.

Note 2. If you intend to complete the research pathway you will complete ENS5901 instead of BAS5555 and ENS5530 or BEX5411 or APG5367.

BAS5500 The challenge of change
BAS5515 Facilitating systemic change
BAS5525 Advanced understanding of behaviour and decision making
BAS5550 Designing impactful change projects
BAS5555 Advanced evaluation of change projects
ENS5510 Innovation to influence system change
ENS5520 Understanding human behaviour to influence change
ENS5530 Leading change for sustainable development or BEX5411 Creativity and entrepreneurship or APG5367 Campaigns, advocacy and change

Part B. Discipline studies (24 credit points)

You must complete 24 credit points from one of the following areas of interest.

Note: If you intend to complete the research pathway you must complete ENS5902 in this Part, and you may not select ENS5910 or ENS5930.

Climate change

You may complete 24 credit points from the following units.

Note: You may only complete one of ENS5910 or ENS5930, not both. If you choose one of these units, you must undertake a project or internship relevant to your Extended study.

BEX5200 Climate change and carbon management strategies
ECX5001 Economics of environment and sustainability
ENS5320 Climate change risk, resilience and security
ENS5340 Transforming cities for sustainability
MPH5042 Planetary health
ENS5350 Circular economy: Principles and solutions
ENS5910 Sustainability consultancy project (12 credit points) or ENS5930 Sustainability internship (12 credit points)

Geopolitics and security

You must complete 24 credit points from the following units.

Note: You may only complete one of ENS5910 or ENS5930, not both. If you choose one of these units, you must undertake a project or internship relevant to your Extended study.

APG5073 Conflict, security and development
APG5628 Development, power and practice
ECF5590 Poverty, inequality and opportunity
ENS5330 Water security and environmental pollution
LAW5464 Negotiation and influence: Strategy and skills (not offered in 2027)
MGF5911 Geo-politics and business globalisation
ENS5910 Sustainability consultancy project (12 credit points) or ENS5930 Sustainability internship (12 credit points)

Health and communities

You must complete 24 credit points from the following units.

Note: You may only complete one of ENS5910 or ENS5930, not both. If you choose one of these units, you must undertake a project or internship relevant to your Extended study.

APG5575 Inside disasters: Living through response and recovery
CIV5314 Planning urban mobility futures
ENS5340 Transforming cities for sustainability
FSC5070 Future food supply and security
MPH5255 Health and human rights
MPH5288 Public health fundamentals
ENS5910 Sustainability consultancy project (12 credit points) or ENS5930 - Sustainability internship (12 credit points)

Flexible path

You must complete 24 credit points of postgraduate coursework units from across Monash’s Faculty offerings. These must be at a study level 5 and you must meet the enrolment requirements of the selected units.

Research pathway (optional)

The research pathway is available to students entering at entry level 1 only. It is subject to meeting grade entry requirements for the thesis units.

Notes:

- In Part A, you must complete ENS5901 in place of BAS5555 and ENS5530 or BEX5411 or APG5367.

- In Part B, you must complete ENS5902, and you may not select ENS5910 or ENS5930 from this Part.

You must complete the following units:

ENS5901 Research thesis in environment and sustainability A
ENS5902 Research thesis in environment and sustainability B

Learning outcomes

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework and Monash Graduate Attributes.

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that you will be able to:

1
Develop advanced and integrated knowledge of change processes, including transformative change for complex societal challenges.
2
Integrate advanced knowledge and practice in behaviour change and systems transformation with domain-specific knowledge to effectively address complex issues.
3
Design, implement and evaluate practical change projects grounded in evidence and theories of behavioural and systemic change.
4
Effectively collaborate with diverse stakeholders to address systemic challenges and persuasively communicate pathways for change.
5
Critically and reflexively engage in emerging communities of systemic and behavioural change practice and contribute to cutting-edge discourse and research.
6
Demonstrate sound knowledge of selected global challenges and connect this with behavioural and systemic knowledge and change methodologies.

Entry requirements

English language

Monash Level A, that is: IELTS (Academic): 6.5 overall (no band lower than 6.0); or Pearson Test of English (Academic): score of 58 overall with no band lower than 50; or TOEFL Internet-based test: score of 79 overall with minimum scores: Writing: 21, Listening: 12, Reading: 13 and Speaking: 18; or Equivalent approved English test.

More information

Other information

The Master of Behaviour and Systemic Change is a practical, impact-oriented 1.5-year course, which brings together powerful, transferable, change-oriented theories from behavioural psychology and economics, social and political sciences and interdisciplinary sustainability studies with grand challenges of our time - climate change, geopolitical security and the health of our communities.

Behavioural and systemic change approaches sit at the core of the course, with all students engaging with a comprehensive set of core studies on these topics and gaining an opportunity to learn from, apply and extend cutting-edge practice.

You will also choose a further study stream, extending your knowledge by tapping into Monash’s cross-Faculty expertise of key complex problems. Project units will see you apply behavioural and systemic approaches to real-world examples of your chosen stream, challenge bridging the theory-practice gap and prepare you for strategic and impact-oriented careers in government, business and third-sector organisations.

Behavioural and systemic approaches offer opportunities to create positive change on the grand challenges of our age. In this Masters, you can deepen your knowledge of these via a stream – climate change, geopolitics and security and health and communities or by undertaking a research thesis. The structure of the Master of Behaviour and Systemic Change brings your core studies into conversation with a sample of multi-disciplinary postgraduate units offered across Monash’s faculties, broadening your knowledge and skill set in relation to your chosen stream.

Climate change

You will select postgraduate coursework units from a curated list on climate change to extend your existing understanding of this challenge and build a comprehensive understanding of the causes, impacts, and solutions to this issue. You can learn about the scientific evidence and potential impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity, and human societies; the implications and management strategies for businesses; the interaction of climate change with other major challenges such as public health; and other dimensions such as legal implications.

Geopolitics and security

You will select postgraduate coursework units from a curated list to investigate theories and applied knowledge relating to development, human security and vulnerability, power, governance and conflict. You will draw on disciplinary knowledge from science, human geography, political science and more to support a broad and multi-disciplinary perspective on this challenge and underpin your efforts to make change.

Health and communities

You will select postgraduate coursework units from a curated list to build a multi-disciplinary knowledge of challenges relating to human health, equality and community cohesion. This could include exploration of the future of sustainable cities, the interaction of human rights with health, the role of power and spatial differences in community outcomes, and the relationship of food supply and security with community health and prosperity. Together, these support you to develop a pluri-perspectival view of thriving communities and the challenges in developing and maintaining them.

Common questions

How long is Master of Behaviour and Systemic Change?

1.5 years full time, 72 credit points. At 24 credit points a semester, that is 3 semesters of full-time study.

Where can I study Master of Behaviour and Systemic Change?

At Clayton.

How do I plan my Master of Behaviour and Systemic Change units?

Open the course in the MonMap planner. It lays out your semesters, checks prerequisites as you drag units in, and tracks the credit points each requirement still needs.

Course details

Qualification: Master's Degree (Coursework)
AQF level: Level 9
Credit points: 72
Full time: 1.5 Years
Part time: 3 Years
Maximum time: 5 years

Faculty: Faculty of Science
CRICOS code: 115304F
Abbreviation: MBSC
Award title: Master of Behaviour and Systemic Change
Handbook years: 20262027