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Sustainability with Environmental Sciences  (STS2)

BSc (NFQ Level 8) · Academic Year 2022/2023
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 Tasman Crowe
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 2: 50
Stage 3: 50

Curricular information is subject to change.

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 challenge
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
8 - become engaged, solution-focussed global citizens with capacity for lifelong learning
9 - articulate clear awareness and understanding of critical global sustainability challenges

Graduates will enjoy careers as consultants, managers and advisers in large organisations and private businesses. An interdisciplinary education in sustainability theory, policy and practise 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.

Kirsten Southard
Programme Manager, BSc Sustainability
UCD Science Office
Room E1.09, O'Brien Centre for Science
Belfield, Dublin 4
Email: sustainability@ucd.ie

Stage 2

Students are required to complete 50 credits of programme (core/option) modules. Students can choose 10 credits of elective modules.

Stage 3

Students are required to complete 50 credits of programme (core/option) modules. Students can choose 10 credits of elective modules. Degree compliance: Students must ensure they have 100 credits from Level 2 and above, of which at least 40 credits must be Level 3 and above - its important to bear this in mind while choosing options and electives, as this will ensure you are eligible for graduation.

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 2 Core Modules
GEOG20230 Intro: GIS for Sustainability Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
SUST20010 Sustainability: Research Tools Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
GEOL10060 Introduction to Earth Sciences Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
ECON10010 Principles of Microeconomics Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
ENVB20050 Principles of Environmental Biology & Ecology Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
SUST20020 Careers, Communication and Innovation in Sustainability Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Students who completed MATH10310 Calculus for Science or MATH10350 Calculus (MPS) in Stage 1 should not take MATH10230 in Stage 2.  They should instead select an additional module from the list of Options. For students who are interested in mathematics and have taken MATH10350 Calculus (MPS) and/or MATH10340 Linear Algebra 1 (MPS), there may be additional mathematics option modules available for you to take.  Please contact your Programme Manager if you wish to discuss this possibility (sustainability@ucd.ie).
MATH10230 Mathematics for Agriculture I Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students must take CHEM00010 if they did not take Leaving Certificate Chemistry or if their LC Chemistry grade was less than H5/O1. Students with LC Chemistry grade H5/O1 or above are not eligible to take CHEM00010. All Environmental Sciences specialisation students must take CHEM10050 by the end of Stage 2. CHEM20090 Chemistry for Biology must be taken in either Stage 2 or Stage 3.
CHEM00010 Introductory Chemistry Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students must take CHEM00010 if they did not take Leaving Certificate Chemistry or if their LC Chemistry grade was less than H5/O1. Students with LC Chemistry grade H5/O1 or above are not eligible to take CHEM00010. All Environmental Sciences specialisation students must take CHEM10050 by the end of Stage 2. CHEM20090 Chemistry for Biology must be taken in either Stage 2 or Stage 3.
CHEM20090 Chemistry for Biology Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students must take CHEM00010 if they did not take Leaving Certificate Chemistry or if their LC Chemistry grade was less than H5/O1. Students with LC Chemistry grade H5/O1 or above are not eligible to take CHEM00010. All Environmental Sciences specialisation students must take CHEM10050 by the end of Stage 2. CHEM20090 Chemistry for Biology must be taken in either Stage 2 or Stage 3.
CHEM10050 Basis of Organic and Biological Chemistry Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Students must take GEOG10140 Mapping a Sustainable world, if not taken in stage 1. Students must also ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
AESC10010 Land Use and the Environment Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Students must take GEOG10140 Mapping a Sustainable world, if not taken in stage 1. Students must also ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
BIOL10140 Life on Earth Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Students must take GEOG10140 Mapping a Sustainable world, if not taken in stage 1. Students must also ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
COMP10290 Computation for Scientists Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Students must take GEOG10140 Mapping a Sustainable world, if not taken in stage 1. Students must also ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
GEOG10140 Mapping a Sustainable World Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Students must take GEOG10140 Mapping a Sustainable world, if not taken in stage 1. Students must also ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
GEOG20150 Quaternary Environmental Change Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Students must take GEOG10140 Mapping a Sustainable world, if not taken in stage 1. Students must also ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
GEOL20180 Geoscience perspectives on the UN Sustainable Development Goals Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Students must take GEOG10140 Mapping a Sustainable world, if not taken in stage 1. Students must also ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
ZOOL20020 Animal Behaviour Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Students must take GEOG10140 Mapping a Sustainable world, if not taken in stage 1. Students must also ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
ZOOL30050 Diversity of Invertebrates Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Students must take GEOG10140 Mapping a Sustainable world, if not taken in stage 1. Students must also ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
GEOL20110 Global Environmental Change Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 2 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Students must take GEOG10140 Mapping a Sustainable world, if not taken in stage 1. Students must also ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
DSCY10060 Energy, Climate Change & Policy Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Students must take GEOG10140 Mapping a Sustainable world, if not taken in stage 1. Students must also ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
GEOG20060 Weather, Climate and Climate Change Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Students must take GEOG10140 Mapping a Sustainable world, if not taken in stage 1. Students must also ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
GEOL10040 Earth, Environment and Society Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Students must take GEOG10140 Mapping a Sustainable world, if not taken in stage 1. Students must also ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
GEOL20230 History of life on Earth Spring  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
SOC30560 Global Inequalities Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
SUST30020 Sustainability in Action(SUST) Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
BIOL30030 Working with Biological Data Spring  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
ECON20160 Economics of the Environment Spring  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
ENVB20050 Principles of Environmental Biology & Ecology Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - B) Min 0 of:
All students must take CHEM20090 Chemistry for Biology in Stage 3 if they have not already taken it in Stage 2.
CHEM20090 Chemistry for Biology Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students must ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
BSEN30240 Waste Management Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students must ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
BSEN30360 Life Cycle Assessment Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students must ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
ENVB30010 Systems Ecology Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students must ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
GEOG20040 Rivers, Estuaries and Coasts Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students must ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
GEOL20180 Geoscience perspectives on the UN Sustainable Development Goals Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students must ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
GEOL20200 Dynamic Earth Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students must ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
GEOL30040 Sedimentary Environments Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students must ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
STAT20110 Introduction to Probability Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students must ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
ZOOL20020 Animal Behaviour Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students must ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
ZOOL30050 Diversity of Invertebrates Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students must ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
BSEN30030 Air Pollution Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students must ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
FOR20110 Forests, Climate and Carbon Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students must ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
GEOL30340 Low Temperature Geochemistry Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students must ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
GEOL30380 Geomaterials and Geoenergy Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students must ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
ZOOL30020 Arthropoda Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students must ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
ZOOL30060 Biogeography and Field Biology Spring  5

See the UCD Assessment website for further details, including worked examples of how degree award GPAs are calculated

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