Energy in Society
Postgraduate
MUR-PEN592 2024Course information for 2024 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Learn about current and future energy supplies. After covering the basics of energy technology, you’ll look at environmental, economic, and political factors. Take a global perspective. Think about sustainable energy generation, storage, and consumption.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR needed, No prior study
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Energy in Society
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- Critically discuss global issues related to the supply of energy to meet world demand
- Develop informed and creative decisions in regard to energy supply
- Communicate principles and findings which are researched, structured and written in a professional manner
- Identify, analyse and explain the key issues in energy policy and technology in the local, national and global context
- Differentiate between the various key information sources and systems to undertake effective research and enquiry
- Establish personal, professional and social responsibility by adhering to the level of ethical conduct and behaviour required in professional practice
- Differentiate between general writing styles and outline their use in the context of multidisciplinary energy subjects
- The unit content is divided into a number of topics. The first topics look at the definition of energy, the conversion to different forms of energy, and the social, economic and political issues related to the use of energy resources. The middle set of topics investigate electricity generation, using both renewable and non-renewable resources, as well as electricity transmission and transmission. The final topics in the unit looks at technologies that can conserve and store energy as well as the environmental issues related to energy consumption.
This is a unit about energy sources and how they are utilised to produce power for human society. It is based on a multidisciplinary approach and covers patterns of consumption; energy conversion technology; environmental and social impacts; conventional and alternative sources; energy conservation and options for future energy supplies. Energy in Society is a key unit in all Energy Studies courses at Murdoch University covering a range of energy topics including economic and political issues.
Please Note: All students studying at Murdoch University will need to complete the compulsory unit, Murdoch Academic Passport (MAP100), which only takes 2-3 hours to complete online. Find out more: http://goto.murdoch.edu.au/MurdochAcademicPassport.
All students will have a mid-semester assignment, a major project, some weekly learning activities and some quizzes assessed in this unit. These assessment tasks will address different aspects of the material taught in the unit and provide scope for significant student engagement with the topics presented.
- Major Project and Presentation (55%)
- Quizzes (20%)
- Mid-Semester Assignment (15%)
- Weekly Learning Activities (10%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
This research-based university in Perth has a strong interdisciplinary focus and a reputation for outstanding teaching and ground-breaking research. With more than 25,000 students and 2,400 staff from over 90 countries, and campuses in Dubai and Singapore, Murdoch embraces free thinking, shared ideas and knowledge to make a difference, and Open Universities Australia is certainly part of that.
Learn more about Murdoch University.
Explore Murdoch courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 27
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 26
Entry requirements
No entry requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Why study a single subject?
Bite sized study
Try studying a particular area to see if online study suits you, or upskill in just a few months with a single subject that you’re interested in.
Pursue a dream
With thousands of single subjects to choose from, you can find topics that get you on the path to your higher education goals fast.
Gain Uni credit
Most single subjects are part of a full degree. That means if you’re keen to keep learning, you can gain credit for the subjects you’ve successfully completed.
Single subject FAQs
What’s a single subject?
Single subjects are the individual components that make up a degree. With Open Universities Australia, you’re able to study many of them as stand-alone subjects, including postgraduate single subjects, without having to commit to a degree.
Each of your subjects will be held over the course of a study term, and they’ll usually require 10 to 12 hours of study each week. Subjects are identified by a title and a code, for example, Developmental Psychology, PSY20007.
How can I use single subjects to get into a full degree?
First, find the degree that you would like to study on our website.
If that degree allows entry via undergraduate subjects, there will be information about this under the Entry Requirements section. You will find a list of 2-4 open enrolment subjects you need to successfully complete to qualify for admission into that qualification.
Once you pass those subjects, you will satisfy the academic requirements for the degree, and you can apply for entry.
Our student advisors are here to help you take that next step, so don’t hesitate to reach out when you’re ready! We’ve also made it easier to figure out the right way to get started on our pathways page.
Can anyone help me choose a subject?
Our student advisors are more than happy to help you plan your online study. Get in touch with an advisor by:
How do I pay for my subjects?
You can pay up front with your credit card, or you may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government depending on your citizenship status and where you’ll live during your studies.
For more information about how to pay for your studies visit our fees page or contact a student advisor.
How do I enrol?
When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Enrol now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.
When is the cut-off date for enrolling?
Close of enrolment times vary between universities and subjects. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting key dates.