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

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

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.

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.

Module ID	Module Title	Trimester	Credits
Stage 2 Core Modules
GEOG20230	Intro: GIS for Sustainability	Autumn	5
SUST20010	Sustainability: Research Tools	Autumn	5
GEOL10060	Introduction to Earth Sciences	Autumn and Spring (separate)	5
ECON10010	Principles of Microeconomics	Spring	5
EDUC10220	Education for a sustainable future	Spring	5
SUST20020	Careers, Communication and Innovation in Sustainability	Spring	5
Stage 2 Core Modules
Stage 2 Options - D)MIN0OF: Students must must take GEOG Mapping a Sustainable World if they have not taken it in Stage 1. Students should 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
ARCH20510	Archaeology of Landscapes	Autumn	5
ARCH20570	Cultural Heritage	Autumn	5
GEOG10140	Mapping a Sustainable World	Autumn	5
SOC20260	Quantitative Research Methods	Autumn	5
SPOL28160	Enviro, Soc & Human Wellbeing	Autumn	5
DEV20130	Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals	Spring	5
GEOG20130	Cities in a Global World	Spring	5
SOC20320	Qualitative Research Methods	Spring	5
SOC20360	Sociology of the Environment	Spring	5
SSJ20140	Human Rights & Social Justice	Spring	5
Stage 2 Options - D)MIN0OF: Students must must take GEOG Mapping a Sustainable World if they have not taken it in Stage 1. Students should ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
Stage 3 Core Modules
SPOL30010	Policy-making, Implementation & Evaluation	Autumn	5
SUST30020	Sustainability in Action(SUST)	Autumn	5
ECON20160	Economics of the Environment	Spring	5
ENVB20050	Principles of Environmental Biology & Ecology	Spring	5
Stage 3 Core Modules
Stage 3 Options - B)MIN0OF: Students are required to take 30 credits of option modules. Students should ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.
ARCH20570	Cultural Heritage	Autumn	5
ENVP30010	Environmental Management	Autumn	5
LAW30440	Environmental Law and Policy	Autumn	5
LAW37560	Social Inclusion Law	Autumn	5
PLAN30010	Transport, Environment & Sustainability	Autumn	5
SOC20260	Quantitative Research Methods	Autumn	5
SOC30560	Global Inequalities	Autumn	5
SOC30680	Climate Change and Other Risks	Autumn	5
GEOG30940	Global Risks and Resilience	Spring	5
LAW37460	Planning Law	Spring	5
PHIL20240	Applied Ethics	Spring	5
SOC20320	Qualitative Research Methods	Spring	5
SOC20360	Sociology of the Environment	Spring	5
SOC30470	Democracy & Civil Society	Spring	5
SPOL38270	Gender Inequality & Soc Pol	Spring	5
Stage 3 Options - B)MIN0OF: Students are required to take 30 credits of option modules. Students should ensure that they have a total of 50 credits between core and option modules. The additional 10 credits are for electives.

		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