What is special about this course?

If you want to explore the past, present and future of our changing world, this BA (Hons) Sustainable Development and History is the course for you.

Sustainable Development, from the local to the global, is essential if society is to tackle the challenges we currently face. With the prospect of a global climate emergency, decision-makers are grappling with understanding and responding to the corresponding pressures on our environment and society. The necessary changes will impact on every facet of society, culture and the economy, making this a critical moment to study sustainability.

History involves the study of the past to create a better understanding of the present this course will allow you to investigate the cultural, political, social and economic links between the Highlands and Islands, Scotland and the northern European and northern Atlantic regions.

You will develop a critical understanding of the three pillars of sustainability (social, environmental, economic), learn the facts about climate change, explore the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and consider potential and emerging solutions such as the Green New Deals, the concept of ‘degrowth’ and the transition to wellbeing economies. You will also be introduced to the general study of history, from the medieval to the modern period, before examining, in-depth, particular topics, places, periods and themes which utilise the research specialisms of your teaching team. Through the combination of both subjects, you will consider the role of people and communities and how they shape their surroundings.

Special features

• Exciting new modules based on the teaching teams' cutting-edge research are offered at upper level, including a flagship Public History module in the third year with a range of guest speakers
• Benefit from collaborative discussions and activities with colleagues from a range of diverse backgrounds and experiences
• Build on your analytical and research abilities each year through a series of skills modules
• Opportunities to volunteer at local museums and archives, and meet with practitioners in the field, as well as voluntary field trips in the university's region which will enhance the experience of your degree
• Delivered by tutors with years of experience of teaching by videoconference, online and at a distance, and can be studied from home, full or part-time to suit your circumstances
• Individual modules can be studied for personal or professional development, which may be of particular interest to teachers looking to diversify their portfolio
• Recent Sustainable Development graduates have careers in community economic development, local government, managing rural development initiatives, working for UN agencies, and working on international renewable energy projects
• You will benefit from access to recognised experts on the academic staff in both disciplines, whose own research interests are reflected in the modules they teach
• You can specialise in Scottish History at the upper levels to enable you to exit with a Sustainable Development and Scottish History degree
• Our Sustainable Development teaching team are mostly located in the Western Isles, where 75% of people live on community-owned land, setting the context for us to study community-based development, community empowerment and community and social enterprises, which can all significantly contribute to a more sustainable future