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.
- School
- School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Level
- Undergraduate
- NFQ Level
- 8
- Award
- Bachelor of Science
- Mode of Delivery
- On Campus
- Programme Director
- Assoc Professor Dieter Kogler
- 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: 50 Electives: 10 - Major/Minor Core & Option Credits:
- Stage 1: 55
Stage 2: 50
Stage 3: 50
Stage 4: 50
Curricular information is subject to change.
Our degree in City Planning & Environmental Policy is about solving complex issues that we experience in our everyday lives. How can we provide housing for everyone? How can we reduce our climate impact and conserve our natural environment? Where should we build our schools and shops? This unique degree brings together a focus on the city, the environment and design and links them with clear routes to professions and careers.
UCD Planning is the also the oldest, largest and most respected planning and environmental policy school in Ireland. Most planners currently employed in Ireland were educated in the School and the course is accredited by both the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and the Irish Planning Institute (IPI).
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.
Students have the opportunity in the second trimester of third year to pursue a workbased project (either through an internship or practice-based project) or to study abroad. Students have previously studied in countries such as France, Netherlands, USA.
UCD is Ireland’s Global University and its largest university with a track record in empowering students to enter a diverse range of careers that reflects the most diverse curriculum on the Island of Ireland. Consistently, over 90% of graduates are employed or in further study or training 9 months following course completion. The QS World Ranking on Graduate Employability has placed UCD at number 1 in Ireland for Graduate Employability since 2018. On the global stage UCD leads the Irish higher education sector and is the only Irish university to be ranked inside the world’s top 80 for Graduate Employability.
At University College Dublin we are aware that for many students, programme outcomes in terms of graduate jobs and career options is important. The purpose of this statement is to help you understand and appreciate the range of skills you may develop during your time at UCD and how you may develop your employability. Visit the UCD Careers Networks website and MyCareer, the UCD Career management Platform, to access career information, internships and graduate roles as well as information about the range of initiatives, supports and events available to you.
This programme provides opportunities for students to develop in areas such as:
- Information & Communication Technology
- Numeracy
- Writing
- Researching
- Oral Communication
- Presentations
- Teamwork
- Negotiation
- Project management
- Creativity
- Social responsibility
- Critical thinking
This programme supports students’ career development and employability through:
- Career development initiatives with UCD Careers Network
- Career and professional development e.g. internships and work placements
- Professional accreditations
- Cultural awareness, resilience and self-confidence e.g. Study Abroad/ERASMUS
- Development of critical thinking, problem solving skills and decision-making e.g. through individual and group projects and assignments
- Development of self-reflection skills
On completion of this degree students will gain the necessary professional accreditation to pursue a career as a professional planner. If students wish to develop further skills and knowledge they may choose to pursue graduate study, through either an MSc or PhD.
With a growing need for planners in Ireland and further afield our graduates find employment in:
- Government and local authorities
- Planning and environmental consultancies
- Local and regional development organisations
- Private companies (marketing/location/real estate/ infrastructure/renewable energy)
- Non-governmental organisations (environmental/ heritage/international development).
Stage 1
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.
Stage 2
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.
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.
| Trimester | Credits | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stage 1 Core Modules |
ENVP10030 | Environmental Economics | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
ENVP10040 | Land Use & Sustainability | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
PLAN10010 | Introduction to City Planning | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
PLAN10020 | History of City Planning | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
PLAN10030 | Urban Design | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
PLAN10040 | Research methods | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
ENVP10010 | Environment Change & Policy | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
PLAN10080 | Planning and Development Studio | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
PLAN10100 | Contemporary Issues in Planning | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
SSJ10060 | Inequality and Social Justice in Irish Society | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of: ADDITIONAL OPTIONS: 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 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of: ADDITIONAL OPTIONS: 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. |
GEOG10100 | People, Places, Regions | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
ENVP20020 | Case Studies Environmental Pol | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
PLAN20020 | Introduction to GIS | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
PLAN20070 | Smart Cities | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
PLAN20090 | Socio-Spatial Dynamics | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
PLAN20010 | Community Development and Planning | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
PLAN20030 | Local Planning Studio | Spring | 10 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
PLAN20080 | Rural Change, Dev.& Plan. | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
PLAN20130 | Property & Planning | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of: ADDITIONAL OPTIONS: 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 |
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of: ADDITIONAL OPTIONS: 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. |
DEV20130 | Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of: ADDITIONAL OPTIONS: 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. |
GEOG20130 | Cities in a Global World | Spring | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
ENVP30010 | Environmental Management | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
ENVP30030 | Climate Policy and Politics | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
PLAN30010 | Transport, Environment & Sustainability | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
PLAN30060 | Regional Innovation | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of: SPRING OPTIONS: For the Spring Trimester, students select either Work-based Study (PLAN30200 Practice Based Project or PLAN 30190 Internship) or will take a Trimester of Study Abroad on Exchange. Where a student has been approved to Study Abroad on Exchange for the Spring Trimester the credits from this Trimester of Study Abroad on Exchange will be added to their academic record following successful completion of the Exchange. e. |
PLAN30190 | Internship | Spring | 30 |
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of: SPRING OPTIONS: For the Spring Trimester, students select either Work-based Study (PLAN30200 Practice Based Project or PLAN 30190 Internship) or will take a Trimester of Study Abroad on Exchange. Where a student has been approved to Study Abroad on Exchange for the Spring Trimester the credits from this Trimester of Study Abroad on Exchange will be added to their academic record following successful completion of the Exchange. e. |
PLAN30200 | Practice Based Project | Spring | 30 |
Stage 3 Options - B) Min 0 of: ADDITIONAL OPTIONS: Students must register to a minimum of 50 Programme Credits (Core Modules). In the Autumn Trimester, 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. |
GEOG30860 | Environmental Assessment | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Options - B) Min 0 of: ADDITIONAL OPTIONS: Students must register to a minimum of 50 Programme Credits (Core Modules). In the Autumn Trimester, 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. |
PLAN30220 | Housing, Planning and Sustainability | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
PLAN40160 | Planning Studio: Plan Making | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
PLAN40630 | Planning Methods, Skills & Techniques | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
PLAN40640 | Planning Institutions & Govern | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
PLAN40610 | Environment & Sustainability | Spring | 10 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
PLAN40620 | Planning, Design & Development | Spring | 10 |
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of: ADDITIONAL OPTIONS: Students must register to a minimum of 50 Programme Credits (Core Modules). In the Spring Trimester, 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. Normally, these modules should be selected to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per trimester. |
PLAN40350 | Advanced GIS | Spring | 10 |
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of: ADDITIONAL OPTIONS: Students must register to a minimum of 50 Programme Credits (Core Modules). In the Spring Trimester, 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. Normally, these modules should be selected to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per trimester. |
PLAN40390 | Sustainable Cities | Spring | 10 |
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of: ADDITIONAL OPTIONS: Students must register to a minimum of 50 Programme Credits (Core Modules). In the Spring Trimester, 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. Normally, these modules should be selected to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per trimester. |
PLAN40570 | Conservation and Placemaking | Spring | 10 |
Module Weighting Info
| Award | GPA | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Programme | Module Weightings | Rule Description | Description | ||
| BHARCH012 | Stage 4 - 70.00% Stage 3 - 30.00% |
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 |
|||