The Graduate Diploma of Sustainable Regional Development builds on the core units offered in the graduate certificate to provide students with an increased understanding of research planning and management, and the opportunity to undertake elective studies in a complementary area of their choosing. This course is ideally suited to those interested in acquiring knowledge about sustainable regional development, without the desire to pursue a research project.

You’ll develop an in-depth understanding of the key biophysical, socioeconomic, geographic and infrastructure factors that influence the development of regions, as well as the strategic and technological tools to analyse and act on information to sustainably guide regional economic development.

Sustainable regional development is critical to the economic performance of both developed and developing countries. With two thirds of Australia’s export earnings come from regional industries such as agriculture, tourism, retail, services and manufacturing, demand has risen sharply for professionals with the ability to undertake regional socioeconomic and environmental planning that looks to the long-term competitive advantages of regional areas, and propose appropriate policy responses.

As a graduate of this course, you’ll be well prepared to take advantage of these opportunities and equipped with the knowledge, skills and competencies to create new economic, social and environmental opportunities for regional/rural areas and communities by harnessing changes in globalisation, population growth and climate change.

Course structure

To complete the Graduate Diploma of Sustainable Regional Development, students must attain 8 credit points. Most units (think of units as ‘subjects’) are equal to 1 credit point. So that means in order to gain 8 credit points, you’ll need to study 8 units (AKA ‘subjects’) over your entire degree. Most students choose to study 4 units per trimester, and usually undertake two trimesters each year.

The course comprises a total of 8 credit points, which must include the following:

• five (5) core units
• Completion of STP050 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
• three (3) elective units selected from the list of discipline electives

Graduate outcomes

Career outcomes

This course will prepare students for a career in planning (strategic, economic, rural, environmental, statutory), management (including environmental management), policy development, socio-economic and demographic analysis among others. Potential employers include: government (national, state and local) departments and agencies with a focus on regional areas, economic development, agriculture, the environment or policy development; planning, economic and environmental firms; statutory authorities such as catchment management authorities; and any organisation seeking graduates with formal training in strategic thinking and planning.

Course learning outcomes

Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.