Psychology and Global Sustainable Development
Psychology and global sustainable development is a degree built on a genuinely ambitious question: how might a more complete understanding of human behaviour help to achieve a more sustainable future for all? The combination brings together the scientific study of how and why people think, behave, and understand themselves, with the interdisciplinary study of sustainability, development, and the social and ecological challenges that define the twenty-first century. It recognises that the problems sustainability poses are not merely technical but deeply human, rooted in how people think about the future, how they relate to one another and to the natural world, and how collective action becomes possible or stalls.
At the University of Warwick, this three-year, full-time BASc programme challenges you to ask these questions across both sides of your degree, integrating psychological understanding with the social science, economics, and policy frameworks of global sustainable development. You will develop the ability to think rigorously about human behaviour and motivation alongside the conceptual tools to analyse development challenges, climate change, inequality, and governance. A sandwich year, year abroad option, and work placement opportunities are all available, giving you professional experience in sustainable development organisations, psychological research, or policy contexts.
Warwick's research culture and its commitment to interdisciplinary education are reflected in the BASc format, which is designed for students who want to work at the intersection of disciplines. Graduates are well-placed for careers in international development, environmental organisations, public health, policy, research, HR and organisational development, and the charity sector. The combination of psychological understanding and global development awareness is valued across many organisations that seek to change human behaviour at scale.
Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in psychology, development studies, or sustainability.