The BSc in City Planning and Environmental Policy bridges topics of concern to built environment professionals and those interested in the broader natural environment.  The programme integrates disciplinary knowledge from several subject areas to deepen and broaden students’ understanding of spatial, environmental, social and economic issues.  Particular focus is given to planning and policy responses to such issues. The programme promotes a knowledge-based and evidence-based approach to creative problem-solving that supports the realisation of a more equitable and sustainable world.

The programme provides a learning environment that encourages a balance of teamwork and individual projects that develop the students’ capacity to critically reflect on how people interact with their environments and understand the improvements needed to enhance their quality of life.  Policy studios are an important element of the programme and are complemented by lectures, seminars and computer laboratories.  The programme employs case study learning, group work projects, planning and policy analysis/formulation, critical writing as well as student presentations to create an effective and constructive learning environment that maximises student engagement with the programme’s content.  

1 - Demonstrate comprehension of planning and environment policy as both individual bodies of knowledge, and as interrelated fields of research.
2 - Critically evaluate concepts, challenge assumptions and synthesise a broad array of perspectives.
3 - Appreciate the importance of socio-spatially orientated research in developing creative solutions.
4 - Work with established methods in gathering, analysing and evaluating various forms of data pertinent to planning and environmental policy research.
5 - Show competence in communicating research and articulating new concepts.
6 - Work successfully both on an individual basis and as a collaborating team member.
7 - Display capacity for the context sensitive analysis of the multidimensional issues pertaining to the geographic areas in which and on which they work.
8 - Apply the knowledge and skills learned to creatively develop context sensitive problem-solving strategies across a range of planning and environmental policy issues.
9 - Exhibit aptitude to assess challenges and formulate workable solutions across various contexts and scales, from site design to the international policy arena.
10 - Understand and critically reflect on the ethical implications of existing, proposed and potential activities across the fields of planning and environmental policy.
11 - Have a broader awareness of, and appreciation for related bodies of knowledge and fields of activity.

The final step towards your career as a planner, urban designer or environmental policy analyst is to complete a one-year specialist Master’s in Planning at UCD: The Master of Regional & Urban Planning, the Master of Urban Design & Planning or the Master of Environmental Policy. This will ensure you gain the necessary professional accreditations, including that of the Irish Planning Institute and the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Graduates find employment in:

• Government and local authorities


• Planning and environmental consultancies


• Local and regional development organisations


• Private companies (marketing/location/real estate/infrastructure)


• Non-governmental organisations (environmental/heritage/ international development)

Also check out the UCD Career Networks career guide for the College of Engineering & Architecture for details on the career supports available to UCD students.

The BSc City Planning & Environmental Policy programme is a 4-year BSc programme (Level 8). Students in Stage 1 take 55 Core Modules, along with an Additional Option or Elective in the Spring Trimester.

The BSc City Planning & Environmental Policy programme is a 4-year BSc programme (Level 8). Students in Stage 2 take 50 Core Modules, along with 2 x 5cr Additional Option or Elective Modules, one from each trimester to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per trimester.

Module ID	Module Title	Trimester	Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
ENVP10030	Environmental Economics	Autumn	5
ENVP10040	Land Use & Sustainability	Autumn	5
PLAN10010	Introduction to City Planning	Autumn	5
PLAN10020	History of City Planning	Autumn	5
PLAN10030	Urban Design	Autumn	5
PLAN10040	Research methods	Autumn	5
ENVP10010	Environment Change & Policy	Spring	5
PLAN10080	Planning and Development Studio	Spring	10
PLAN10100	Contemporary Issues in Planning	Spring	5
SSJ10060	Inequality and Social Justice in Irish Society	Spring	5
Stage 1 Core Modules
Stage 1 Options - A)MIN0OF: Students must register to a minimum of 55 Programme Credits (Core Modules). Students may register to 5 Elective Credits or select an Addtional Option Module from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirement of 60 credits. These modules should be selected to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per trimester.
ECON10040	Economics and Sustainability	Spring	5
GEOG10100	People, Places, Regions	Spring	5
Stage 1 Options - A)MIN0OF: Students must register to a minimum of 55 Programme Credits (Core Modules). Students may register to 5 Elective Credits or select an Addtional Option Module from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirement of 60 credits. These modules should be selected to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per trimester.
Stage 2 Core Modules
ENVP20020	Case Studies Environmental Pol	Autumn	10
PLAN20020	Introduction to GIS	Autumn	5
PLAN20070	Smart Cities	Autumn	5
PLAN20090	Socio-Spatial Dynamics	Autumn	5
PLAN20010	Community Development and Planning	Spring	5
PLAN20030	Local Planning Studio	Spring	10
PLAN20080	Rural Change, Dev.& Plan.	Spring	5
PLAN20130	Property & Planning	Spring	5
Stage 2 Core Modules
Stage 2 Options - A)MIN0OF: Students must register to a minimum of 50 Programme Credits (Core Modules). Students may register to 10 Elective Credits or select Additional Option Modules from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirement of 60 credits. These modules should be selected to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per trimester.
ARCT20040	History & Theory of the Designed Environment III - Survey Course 2	Autumn	5
DEV20130	Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals	Spring	5
GEOG20130	Cities in a Global World	Spring	5
Stage 2 Options - A)MIN0OF: Students must register to a minimum of 50 Programme Credits (Core Modules). Students may register to 10 Elective Credits or select Additional Option Modules from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirement of 60 credits. These modules should be selected to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per trimester.