Sustainable Development, Culture and Heritage

The world is facing the prospect of a climate emergency, with decision-makers grappling with how to understand and respond to the pressures on our environment and society. Sustainable Development, from the local to the global, is essential if society is to tackle the challenges faced. The necessary changes will impact on every facet of society, culture and the economy; this is a critical moment to study sustainability, culture and heritage.

Our BA (Hons) Sustainable Development, Culture and Heritage considers these issues from a humanities and social science perspective, focusing on understanding the three pillars of sustainability (social, environmental, economic), in order to examine human relationships with the environment as well as the subjects of key cultural, literary, language, historical, musical and philosophical issues at a national and regional level.

This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to understand many aspects of our rapidly changing world, equipping you to tackle real-world problems in a range of organisations and sectors, with the wide curriculum developing both specialist and transferable skills. You will also be able to immerse yourself in the wealth of fascinating culture and heritage that the Highlands and Islands of Scotland has to offer, and gain an understanding of its place in a global context.

Delivered online by blended learning and available to study from home, you will benefit from collaborative discussions and activities with colleagues from a range of diverse backgrounds and experiences, facilitated by tutors with many years of experience in delivering online education.

Please see our FAQ sheet on our website for further information on this course.

Please note this course is delivered entirely online and available to study from anywhere in the world. Applicants outwith Scotland including International, should apply to the UHI North, West and Hebrides study location.

Module outline

Year 1 - CertHE

You will study the following core modules:

• Exploring economics in a changing world

• Understanding sustainable development

You will choose two culture and heritage option modules, which may include:

• Scotland: the brand

• Scotland's music

• What is culture?

You will also choose two further option modules from other humanities and social science subjects.

Year 2 - DipHE

You will study the following core modules:

• Approaches to economic development

• Empowering communities

You will also choose two culture and heritage option modules, which may include:

• Scotland: the brand

• Scotland's music

• What is culture?

You will also choose two further option modules from across the Humanities subject area, which includes our optional international field trip module, 'Sustainable development approaches in an international context'.

Year 3 - BA

You will choose at least two sustainable development option modules which may include:

• Climate science

• Community-based economic development

• Globalisation and sustainable development

• Sustainable tourism and the environment

You will also choose at least two culture and heritage option modules, which may include:

• Celtic and Celtic revival art in Scotland 600-2000

• Perceptions of heritage

• Scotland in film

• The Scottish Enlightenment and Highland society

PLUS

• Advanced social research methods OR

• Interdisciplinary project

You will choose one further module from one of your two subject areas to ensure that you have a total of three modules from each half of your degree.

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will complete a dissertation in sustainable development OR culture and heritage. You will also study one option module from your chosen dissertation subject, plus three option modules from the other subject.

Sustainable development option modules may include:

• Agroecology: regenerative food systems

• Consumerism and the circular economy

• Geo-political development issues

• Social enterprise and the social economy

Culture and heritage option modules may include:

• Faeries and fables: the story of Gaelic literature

• For freedom alone: Scotland and philosophy

• Highland journeys

• Vikings and Valkyries

This outline reflects the modules as currently delivered and is subject to change.

For more information on what you’ll study on your degree, as well as our range of other degree options, please explore our Humanities subject area page on our website.