BSc Sustainability with Environmental Sciences (STS2)

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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
You may apply to study abroad for the Spring trimester of Stage 3.
The BSc Sustainability has a range of universities within and outside Europe that it currently partners with to offer students exchange opportunities.
Please visit the UCD Global Exchanges page here to find further information about the application process.
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 at least 50 credits of programme (core/option) modules. The additional 10 credits must be used for electives or option modules. All students must take MATH10230 Mathematics for Agriculture 1 unless they have taken MATH10350 Calculus for Mathematical and Physical Sciences or MATH10310 Calculus for Science in Stage 1. If you have taken a calculus module in Stage 1, please get in touch with sustainability@ucd.ie to confirm.

Stage 3

Students are required to complete at least 50 credits of programme (core/option) modules. The additional 10 credits must be used for electives or option modules. Students must ensure by the end of their degree that they have at least 100 credits from Level 2 and above, of which at least 40 credits must be Level 3 and above. It is important to bear this in mind while choosing options and/or electives in Stages 3 and 4.

Stage 4

Students are required to complete 60 credits of programme (core/option) modules. Students must ensure by the end of their degree that they have completed at least 100 credits from Level 2 and above, of which at least 40 credits must be Level 3 and above. It is important to bear this in mind while choosing option modules in Stage 4.

Students must take 1 module from the Social Sciences, Policy and Law specialisation options. Students must also take 1 module from the Business and Economics specialisation options. 1 additional option module may be selected from any of the option lists from any of the 3 specialisations (Social Sciences, Policy and Law, Environmental Sciences or Business and Economics). The other option modules must be selected from Environmental Sciences option modules.

Module ID Module Title Trimester Credits
Stage 2 Core Modules
     
GEOG20230 Intro: GIS for Sustainability Autumn 5
MATH10230 Mathematics for Agriculture I Autumn 5
SUST20010 Sustainability: Research Tools Autumn 5
ECON10010 Principles of Microeconomics Spring 5
ENVB20050 Principles of Environmental Biology & Ecology Spring 5
SUST20020 Careers, Communication and Innovation in Sustainability Spring 5
Stage 2 Core Modules
     
Stage 2 Options - C)MIN0OF:
Students must take CHEM00010 in Autumn if they did not take Leaving Cert. Chemistry or if their LC Chemistry grade was less than H5/O1 before taking CHEM10050 in Spring. Students with Leaving Cert. Chemistry grade H5/O1 or above are eligible to take CHEM10050 and 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 by the end of Stage 3.
     
CHEM00010 Introductory Chemistry Autumn 5
CHEM20090 Chemistry for Biology Autumn 5
CHEM10050 Basis of Organic and Biological Chemistry Spring 5
Stage 2 Options - C)MIN0OF:
Students must take CHEM00010 in Autumn if they did not take Leaving Cert. Chemistry or if their LC Chemistry grade was less than H5/O1 before taking CHEM10050 in Spring. Students with Leaving Cert. Chemistry grade H5/O1 or above are eligible to take CHEM10050 and 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 by the end of Stage 3.
     
Stage 2 Options - F)MIN0CR:
Students must ensure that they have at least 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits must be used for electives or option modules.
     
AESC10010 Land Use and the Environment Autumn 5
BIOL10140 Life on Earth Autumn 5
BSEN20180 Intro to Env Footprinting Autumn 5
COMP10290 Computation for Scientists Autumn 5
GEOG20040 Rivers, Estuaries and Coasts Autumn 5
GEOG20150 Quaternary Environmental Change Autumn 5
GEOL20180 Geoscience perspectives on the UN Sustainable Development Goals Autumn 5
GEOL20200 Dynamic Earth Autumn 5
GEOL20250 Crystals to Sedimentary Rocks Autumn 5
MATH10350 Calculus in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Autumn 5
ZOOL20020 Animal Behaviour Autumn 5
GEOL20110 Global Environmental Change Autumn and Spring (separate) 5
BSEN20190 Intro to Carbon and Energy Footprinting Spring 5
DSCY10060 Energy, Climate Change & Policy Spring 5
FOR20110 Forests, Climate and Carbon Spring 5
GEOG10080 Dynamic Earth Spring 5
GEOG20060 Weather, Climate and Climate Change Spring 5
GEOL10040 Earth, Environment and Society Spring 5
GEOL20210 Field Geology and Mapwork Spring 5
GEOL20230 History of life on Earth Spring 5
MATH10290 Linear Algebra for Science Spring 5
STAT10060 Statistical Modelling Spring 5
Stage 2 Options - F)MIN0CR:
Students must ensure that they have at least 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits must be used for electives or option modules.
     
Stage 3 Core Modules
     
SUST30020 Sustainability in Action(SUST) Autumn 5
BIOL30030 Working with Biological Data Spring 5
MKT10720 Marketing: An Introduction Spring 5
SPOL30220 Social Policy, Social Justice and the Environment Spring 5
Stage 3 Core Modules
     
Stage 3 Options - B)MIN0OF:
All students must take CHEM20090 Chemistry for Biology in Stage 3 if not already taken in Stage 2.
      
CHEM20090 Chemistry for Biology Autumn 5
Stage 3 Options - B)MIN0OF:
All students must take CHEM20090 Chemistry for Biology in Stage 3 if not already taken in Stage 2.
      
Stage 3 Options - C)MIN25CR:
Students must ensure that they have at least 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits must be used for electives or option modules.
     
BSEN30240 Waste Management Autumn 5
BSEN30310 The Bioeconomy; A strategy for sustainable fuel, material and chemical production Autumn 5
BSEN30360 Life Cycle Assessment Autumn 5
CHEM20080 The Basis of Physical Chemistry Autumn 5
ENVB30010 Systems Ecology Autumn 5
ENVB30020 Wildlife Conservation and Fisheries Management Autumn 5
GEOG20040 Rivers, Estuaries and Coasts Autumn 5
GEOL20180 Geoscience perspectives on the UN Sustainable Development Goals Autumn 5
GEOL20200 Dynamic Earth Autumn 5
GEOL20250 Crystals to Sedimentary Rocks Autumn 5
GEOL30040 Sedimentary Environments Autumn 5
STAT20110 Introduction to Probability Autumn 5
ZOOL20020 Animal Behaviour Autumn 5
ZOOL30050 Diversity of Invertebrates Autumn 5
BSEN30560 Measures to Mitigate Climate C Spring 5
CHEM20110 Env & Sustainable Chemistry Spring 5
ENVB30100 Ecological and Environmental Microbiology Spring 5
FOR20110 Forests, Climate and Carbon Spring 5
GEOL30340 Low Temperature Geochemistry Spring 5
GEOL30380 Geomaterials and Geoenergy Spring 5
ZOOL30020 Arthropoda Spring 5
ZOOL30060 Biogeography and Field Biology Spring 5
Stage 3 Options - C)MIN25CR:
Students must ensure that they have at least 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits must be used for electives or option modules.
     
Stage 4 Core Modules
     
SUST40020 Env. Sciences Research Project 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 20
SUST40050 Interdisciplinary Project Autumn 10
Stage 4 Core Modules
     
Stage 4 Options - B)MIN5CR:
Students must take at least one module worth 5 credits from this option list. Students can choose to take up to two modules worth 5 credits each or one module worth 10 credits.
      
GEOG30860 Environmental Assessment Autumn 5
LAW30470 International Human Rights Law Autumn 5
SOC30560 Global Inequalities Autumn 5
GEOG30840 The Urban Environment Spring 5
GEOG30940 Global Risks and Resilience Spring 5
SPOL41120 Sustainable Futures and Public Policy Spring 10
Stage 4 Options - B)MIN5CR:
Students must take at least one module worth 5 credits from this option list. Students can choose to take up to two modules worth 5 credits each or one module worth 10 credits.
      
Stage 4 Options - C)MIN5CR:
Students must take at least one module worth 5 credits from this option list. Students can choose to take up to two modules worth 5 credits each. Economics of the Environment, Economics of Climate Change and Economics of Natural Resources are all very relevant.
      
ECON20060 Irish Economy: Policy Making in a Global Context Autumn 5
ECON20080 Economic Policy Analysis Autumn 5
ECON30610 Economics of Natural Resources Autumn 5
BMGT20050 Business Across Borders Autumn and Spring (separate) 5
ECON20040 Statistics for Economists Autumn and Spring (separate) 5
BMGT20080 Consulting with NGOs Spring 5
BMGT20100 Developing Future Leaders Spring 5
BMGT20130 Managing Business Ethics Spring 5
BMGT20150 Sustainable Operations & Supply Chain Management Spring 5
BMGT20160 Business and Social Enterprise Spring 5
BMGT20210 Business and the European Union Spring 5
ECON10020 Principles of Macroeconomics Spring 5
ECON20120 The Economics of the European Union: Institutions, Policies and Crises Spring 5
ECON20130 Economic History: From the Middle Ages to the Second World War Spring 5
ECON20160 Economics of the Environment Spring 5
ECON20180 Intermediate Microeconomics II Spring 5
ECON30500 Field Experiments Social Sci Spring 5
ECON30600 Economics of Climate Change Spring 5
Stage 4 Options - C)MIN5CR:
Students must take at least one module worth 5 credits from this option list. Students can choose to take up to two modules worth 5 credits each. Economics of the Environment, Economics of Climate Change and Economics of Natural Resources are all very relevant.
      
Stage 4 Options - D)MIN15CR:
Students must take 5 credits from the Social Sciences, Policy & Law specialisation options. Students must take 5 credits from the Business & Economics specialisation options. Students can choose to take an additional 5 credits from either of these option lists; this means that students can choose to take two 5 credit modules or one 10 credit module from Social Sciences, Policy and Law or Business & Economics option lists. The remainder of the 60 credits for Stage 4 must be must be made up of Environmental Sciences option modules.
      
AESC30080 Agri-Environmental Issues and Policy Autumn 5
BOTN40270 Biology and Ecology of Coastal Wetlands Autumn 5
CVEN30110 Introduction to Transportation and Traffic Engineering Autumn 5
ENVB40040 Environmental Impact Assessment Autumn 5
ENVB40310 Peatlands and Environmental Change Autumn 5
GEOG30370 River Catchment Management Autumn 5
GEOG30860 Environmental Assessment Autumn 5
GEOL30040 Sedimentary Environments Autumn 5
GEOL40450 Environmental Geoscience Autumn 5
ZOOL40500 Ornithology Autumn 5
BSEN40110 Advanced Air Pollution Spring 10
BSEN40350 Renewable Energy Systems Analysis Spring 5
BSEN40400 LCA Applications Spring 5
BSEN40560 Biorefinery Process & Tech Spring 5
ENVB30100 Ecological and Environmental Microbiology Spring 5
ENVB40020 Marine Community Ecology Spring 5
ENVB40290 Ecological Modelling Spring 5
GEOL30340 Low Temperature Geochemistry Spring 5
GEOL30380 Geomaterials and Geoenergy Spring 5
ZOOL40280 Biological Invasions Spring 5
Stage 4 Options - D)MIN15CR:
Students must take 5 credits from the Social Sciences, Policy & Law specialisation options. Students must take 5 credits from the Business & Economics specialisation options. Students can choose to take an additional 5 credits from either of these option lists; this means that students can choose to take two 5 credit modules or one 10 credit module from Social Sciences, Policy and Law or Business & Economics option lists. The remainder of the 60 credits for Stage 4 must be must be made up of Environmental Sciences option modules.
      
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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