The environment poses some of the most complex and pressing challenges facing individuals, societies and policy-makers across the globe. These challenges range from global to local scale as policy-makers grapple with building more sustainable and resilient societies, while balancing environmental goals with economic and social objectives. The aim of the MSc Environmental Policy is to produce graduates with the professional knowledge, skills and tools necessary to address these pressing issues and to pursue careers in the environmental field where they will contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future.  We want to create critical thinkers and evidence-based policy practitioners that are instilled with a strong theoretical understanding and research capability.  The interdisciplinary nature of the MSc Environmental Policy programme fosters these values.  While having a core focus on environmental policy, it also includes a solid foundation in technical skills and an understanding of sustainable development.  The program balances all of these branches of education including core skills (e.g. GIS and Environmental Assessment), core knowledge (e.g. Environmental Economics and European Environmental Policy) and sustainable development tools.  The programme fosters a learning environment that draws on the research and expertise of our academic staff, combined with insights from innovative practitioners in the environmental field. The primary teaching space for this programme is the existing facilities in the Planning and Environmental Policy Buildings in UCD Richview, including lecturing and studio facilities, and GIS laboratories.  The program provides a blended-learning experience, including traditional lectures but also interactive studio based learning. Assessment includes continuous assessment, unseen exams and evaluation of non-traditional student work (e.g. presentations).

1 - On successful completion of the programme students should be able to: Appreciate environmental policy research, develop skills as autonomous researchers, and recognize the value of research as an input into improved policy making and policy implementation.
2 - Understand how environmental policy is operationalised within the wider political, institutional and legal frameworks, and understand the social, economic and political context that informs approaches to achieve sustainable development.
3 - Apply their professional knowledge using tools and transferable skills to generate integrated and evidence-based responses to environmental challenges, including climate change, to achieve a more resilient and sustainable future.
4 - Demonstrate effective research, policy analysis tools and evaluation skills and the ability to develop evidence-based policy proposals.
5 - Communicate effectively verbally, graphically and through written documents and to communicate concepts, knowledge and conclusions to peers, specialist and non-specialist audiences within an interdisciplinary environment.
6 - Work effectively both on their own and as part of a team in an interdisciplinary context.
7 - Understand the challenges and responsibilities of assessing tradeoffs in their response to environmental challenges and be open to critically assessing, debating and reflecting on these, and acting in the interests of the common good.
8 - Acknowledge the spatial consequences of policy approaches, and recognize the importance of fairness in environmental policy processes and outcomes.

Module ID	Module Title	Trimester	Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
ENVP40100	Environmental Economics & Climate Policy	Autumn	10
ENVP40180	European Environmental Policy	Autumn	10
ENVP40220	Environment and Behaviour	Autumn	10
ENVP40040	Tools for Sust Development	Spring	10
ENVP40170	Research for Environmental Pol	Spring	10
ENVP40190	Applications of Enviro Policy	Spring	10
Stage 1 Core Modules
Stage 1 Options - A)1 OF: ALL students MUST initially select the module ENVP40030 Environmental Policy Thesis. During the Autumn Trimester, those students interested in pursuing an Internship will be expected to prepare their CV and seek Professional Work Experience opportunities from prospective employers under the guidance of the Internship Module Coordinator and the Programme Director. In the event that a student is successful in securing a suitable Professional Work Experience placement, subject to gaining approval of the Internship Module Coordinator, the student will be re-registered to ENVP40160 Internship - Research Project by the Programme Office.
ENVP40030	Environmental Policy Thesis	Summer	30
ENVP40160	Internship - Research Project	Summer	30