Explore UCD

UCD Home >

SUST40050

Academic Year 2026/2027

Interdisciplinary Project (SUST40050)

Subject:
Sustainability
College:
Science
School:
Science Admin Office
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Sam Kelley
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Building from your first three years in the sustainability program, this module allows groups of students to focus on a single sustainability challenge and explore it from an interdisciplinary perspective in more detail. The challenges that you will pick from have been submitted by partner organisations from their own activities. Thus, these are real-world challenges that are currently being addressed. Partner organizations will be available for meetings with research groups, simulating consultant-client meetings. Students are asked to use their varied backgrounds in sustainability to explore and address their challenges. They will draw on skills and information to develop strategies and solutions as interdisciplinary teams, drawing on input and guidance from a range of relevant experts.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module you should be able to;
o Undertake an in-depth assessment of a real-world challenge in sustainability.
o Work in an interdisciplinary manner, evaluating different perspectives and knowledge bases in pursuit of a solution to sustainability challenges.
o Integrate information and ideas from varied sources to form a coherent message.
o Learn to clearly and concisely disseminate ideas and messaging to a variety of audiences.

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

6
Autonomous Student Learning

164
Lectures

6
Small Group

24
Total

200

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module will be largely student-led. Learning will be primarily based on interdisciplinary teamwork to explore and address sustainability challenges. Most contact hours will be in an open classroom enabling group-based engagement guided by input from academic staff. These sessions will be supplemented by lectures and workshops, concluding with an end-of-term symposium.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Group Work Assignment: Multimedia output from the group project Week 11 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
25
 No
Group Work Assignment: Poster presentation Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
25
 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Preparation of materials and ideas for in-class workshops, and participation in the workshops Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 Pass/Fail Grade Scale No
5
 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Participation in group work, assessed via peer review and module coordinators Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
10
 No
Report(s): Final report on group project Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
35
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be performed via in class activities and as an end of term assessment.

Name Role
Dr Mark Coughlan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Treasa De Loughry Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Adam Kane Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Fri 12:00 - 13:50
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.