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Sustainability  (STS1)

BSc (NFQ Level 8) · Academic Year 2024/2025
School
College of Science Administration Office
Attendance
Full Time
Level
Undergraduate
NFQ Level
8
Award
Bachelor of Science
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Programme Director
Professor Lisa Ryan
Overall Programme Credits:
240
Programme Credits:
Stage 1
Core/Option: 55 Electives: 5
Stage 2
Core/Option: 50 Electives: 10
Stage 3
Core/Option: 50 Electives: 10
Stage 4
Core/Option: 60 Electives: 0
Major/Minor Core & Option Credits:
Stage 1: 55

Curricular information is subject to change.

The Sustainability course reflects the integrated interdisciplinary approach required in sustainability research, policy and practice. First Year is structured so that students are able to progress into one of the following degree subjects in Second Year:

  • Sustainability with Environmental Sciences
  • Sustainability with Social Sciences, Policy & Law
  • Sustainability with Business & Economics

Sustainability is the great challenge of our time. It is enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals and achieving it will require an integrated approach to the protection of the Earth and its inhabitants. This unique programme combines the economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainability, enabling specialisation in one of those dimensions complemented by knowledge and skills from the others. Core modules provide a global perspective on sustainability and include interdisciplinary research, a professional placement, field work in Ireland and Europe and guest lectures from leading researchers, advocates and practitioners.

Graduates will enjoy careers as consultants, managers and advisers in large organisations and private businesses. An interdisciplinary education in sustainability theory, policy and practice will equip you to work in areas such as renewables, clean technology management and energy efficiency, or advise industries on social and environmental strategies.

Many opportunities also exist in international organisations such as the UN, the European Environment Agency and the European Commission, government departments and state agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Parks and Wildlife Service and in local authorities and Non-Governmental Organisations.

 

The BSc in Sustainability is an innovative undergraduate degree that aims to equip its graduates with the interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to address sustainability challenges by combining environmental, social and economic perspectives. After a common first year, each student will retain an interdisciplinary perspective throughout their degree, but will elect to focus on:



Sustainability with Environmental Science OR Sustainability with Social Sciences, Policy and Law OR Sustainability with Business and Economics



The programme is based on the following principles:




  • Interdisciplinarity – in-depth knowledge within a core or focal discipline, complemented by a range of perspectives and skills from others. Specific modules and activities to foster an interdisciplinary approach and outlook.

  • Flexibility – capacity to choose between broad areas, core disciplines and combinations of modules.

  • Applicability and employability – grounding in the real-world application and uptake of new ideas, innovations and policies and the processes by which this occurs.

  • A global perspective – the programme reflects UCD’s global outlook and the need for international partnership in addressing global environmental challenges.


1 - articulate clear awareness and understanding of critical global sustainability challenges
2 - critically discuss evolving theory, concepts, policy and the ethics and values of sustainability
3 - apply a holistic, interdisciplinary and practical approach to sustainability
4 - demonstrate competence in a range of research and analytical methodologies
5 - deploy well-developed critical and intellectual skills in innovative and creative approaches to unfamiliar or dynamic contexts and problems
6 - exhibit the knowledge and skills needed to develop a career in sustainability and environmental management, including communication, project planning, project management and interdisciplinary teamwork skills
7 - become engaged, solution-focussed global citizens with capacity for lifelong learning

Students’ performance will be reviewed at the end of the academic year. Students who fail 50% or more of their registered modules, and who fail to progress to the next stage of their programme, will be identified under the UCD Continuation – Academic progress policy. Students’ performance will continue to be reviewed in subsequent trimesters and students will be invited to meetings with the College of Science office for support and guidance.

Where the rate of progression and performance over two academic years is deemed unacceptable, a case will be submitted to the Governing Board for review. A recommendation for discontinuation may be the outcome of this review.

As Stages 3 and 4 have the most dynamic components of the programme, and the material studied previously may no longer be relevant, a student who has been away from the programme for a significant period should be required to register again to Stage 3. The upper limit for completion of Stages 3 and 4 should be six years if they choose to do 120 credits with 20 in each year.

There will be opportunities to apply for exchange programmes and an international field trip is a core component of the third year experience. Students will also have the opportunity to research and apply for international internships with relevant industries and employers. Placements are secured through a competitive process.

Please visit the UCD Global Exchanges page here to find further information about the application process.

  • Sustainability with Environmental Sciences

An interdisciplinary education in Sustainability theory, policy and practice will equip you to work in areas such as renewables, clean technology management and energy efficiency, or advise industries on social and environmental strategies.
Many opportunities also exist in international organisations such as the UN, the European Environment Agency and the European Commission, government departments and state agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Parks and Wildlife Service and in local authorities and Non-Governmental Organisations.

  • Sustainability with Social Sciences, Policy & Law

Graduates from this degree subject will have highly developed analytical skills, methodological and research competency, flexibility and the ability to deal with complex problems requiring interdisciplinary solutions. These attributes are in significant demand in the public and private sectors. For example, corporate businesses, private consultancy firms, banking and education, as well as in civil society organisations, state agencies and transnational organisations such as the UNDP, European Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, and Teagasc.
Students will be well equipped to undertake further study at Masters and Doctoral levels in a range of disciplinary areas.

  • Sustainability with Business & Economics

An interdisciplinary education in Sustainability theory, policy and practice will equip you to work in areas such as renewables, clean technology management and energy efficiency within organisations, or advise industries on social and environmental strategies. Many opportunities also exist in global professional service firms and consultancy, and international organisations such as the UN, the European Environment Agency and the European Commission, government departments and state agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Parks and Wildlife Service and in local authorities and Non-Governmental Organisations.



 


Stage 1

First Year is structured so that students are able to progress into one of three following majors in Second Year: Sustainability with Environmental Sciences; Sustainability with Social Sciences, Policy and Law; Sustainability with Business and Economics. Students are required to complete 55 credits of programme (core/option) modules. 9 modules (45 credits) of these are core modules, which are compulsory for all students. Students choose an elective module in the Spring trimester during the registration period in January, so you will not choose this in September. Students must register for GEOL10060 Intro to Earth Sciences in Autumn and STAT10050 Practical Statistics in Spring.

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
 BIOL00010 Fundamentals of Biology Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 GEOG10140 Mapping a Sustainable World Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 HRM10730 Business in Society Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 SCI10010 Principles of Scientific Enquiry Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 SUST10010 Introduction to Sustainability Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 GEOL10060 Introduction to Earth Sciences Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 STAT10050 Practical Statistics Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 ECON10040 Economics and Sustainability Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 ENVP10010 Environment Change & Policy Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 SUST10020 Sustainability Challenges Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Students with a Leaving Cert. Chemistry grade of H5/O1 or above are eligible to take CHEM10050 in Stage 1.
CHEM10050 Basis of Organic and Biological Chemistry Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 BIOL00010 Fundamentals of Biology Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 BIOL10140 Life on Earth Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 PHIL10160 Critical Thinking Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 PHYC10050 Astronomy & Space Science Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 SPOL10030 Understanding Social Problems and Policies Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 SSCI10010 Societal Challenges in the 21st Century Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 ACC10060 Introduction to Accounting Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 BMGT10140 Business Plan Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 GEOL10050 Earth and Humanity Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 PHIL10040 Introduction to Ethics Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 ACM10090 Climate Change:Causes & Consequences Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 ARCH10150 Anthropology: an introduction Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 BIOL10030 Cell and Plant Biology Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 BIOL10110 Cell Biology & Genetics Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 BSEN10020 How Sustainable is My Food? Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 DSCY10060 Energy, Climate Change & Policy Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 GEOG10080 Dynamic Earth Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 GEOG10100 People, Places, Regions Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 GEOL10030 Field Geology, Level 1 Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 GEOL10070 Understanding Earth Systems Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 LAW10440 Law in Europe Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 LSOC10010 Making the Irish Landscape Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 MATH10410 Mathematics & Science Education & Communication Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 PHYC10200 Conceptual Physics Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 POL10120 Foundations in Global Development Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Students must take 55 credits of core and option modules in Stage 1. An elective module will be chosen during the January registration period for the Spring trimester.
 SSJ10020 Global Justice: Towards an Egalitarian Global Order Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students do not need to take a mathematics module. These are option modules for students who are interested in maths. Students who achieved H3 or higher in LC Maths can take MATH10340 Linear Algebra in Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS). Students who achieved less than a H3 can take MATH10290 Linear Algebra for Science. Only 1 of these options may be selected.
 MATH10290 Linear Algebra for Science Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students do not need to take a mathematics module. These are option modules for students who are interested in maths. Students who achieved H3 or higher in LC Maths can take MATH10340 Linear Algebra in Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS). Students who achieved less than a H3 can take MATH10290 Linear Algebra for Science. Only 1 of these options may be selected.
 MATH10340 Linear Algebra in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Students do not need to take a mathematics module. These are option modules for students who are interested in maths. Students who achieved H4 or higher in LC Maths can take MATH10350 Calculus (MPS). Students who achieved less than H4 in LC Maths can take MATH10310 Calculus for Science. Only 1 of these options may be selected.
 MATH10310 Calculus for Science Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Students do not need to take a mathematics module. These are option modules for students who are interested in maths. Students who achieved H4 or higher in LC Maths can take MATH10350 Calculus (MPS). Students who achieved less than H4 in LC Maths can take MATH10310 Calculus for Science. Only 1 of these options may be selected.
 MATH10350 Calculus in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Autumn  5

See the UCD Assessment website for further details

Module Weighting Info
 
  Award GPA
Programme Module Weightings Rule Description Description >= <=
BHSCI016 Stage 4 - 50.00%
Stage 3 - 50.00%
 Standard Honours Award First Class Honours

3.68

4.20
Second Class Honours, Grade 1

3.08

3.67
Second Class Honours, Grade 2

2.48

3.07
Pass

2.00

2.47
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