Climate & Environmental Sustainability
The BA in Climate and Environmental Sustainability is an applied geography programme that is not just about understanding climate change and its consequences, but also about understanding how the environment itself offers solutions. If you have a keen interest in issues relating to the environment such as improving water quality and managing biodiversity, this degree is ideal for you.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Dublin City University |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | Dublin City University | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
3/ 4 years, full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
General Entry Requirements
Applicants must present a minimum of 6 Leaving Certificate subjects at Grade O6/H7, which must include Mathematics and English or Irish. In addition, applicants must present at least 2 subjects at Grade H5.
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Applicants wishing to undertake a Level 8 degree at DCU must be at least 16 years of age on 15 January of the year of entry.
Leaving Certificate Subject Combinations
Certain subjects will not be scored separately if they occur in combination with subjects that are similar in content. In each case, the highest individual grade will be scored. The following 6 groups of subjects are affected by this:
1 Music and Musicianship, Music A, Music B.
2 Economics, Agricultural Economics.
3 Physics with Chemistry - if combined with Physics and Chemistry; only 2 best scored - if combined with Physics or Chemistry; only best scored.
4 History, Economics and Economic History - if all 3 subjects are taken; only the best 2 will be scored.
5 Latin, Classical Studies.
6 Greek, Classical Studies.
Candidates who meet the points requirements but not the specific course requirements, for example H4 in English for the BA in Journalism, are permitted to repeat that subject only to meet the course requirements.
Bonus Points for Honours Mathematics
25 bonus points will continue to be awarded for higher level Mathematics, at grades H6 and above in the Irish Leaving Certificate or equivalent.
Leaving Certificate Mathematics Requirements
DCU does not award points for the subject of Mathematics at Leaving Certificate Ordinary Alternative or Foundation Level. However, these courses will be accepted for admission purposes for the following courses:
DC001 - Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
DC009 - Bachelor of Arts: Joint Honours
DC014 - BA in Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance
DC131 - BA in Communication Studies
DC132 - BA in Journalism
DC133 - BSc in Multimedia
DC155 - BA in Applied Language and Translation Studies
DC231 - BA in International Relations
DC232 - Bachelor of Civil Law and Society
DC235 - BSc in Education and Training
DC238 - BA in Social Sciences and Cultural Innovation
DC291 – Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (Media)
DC292 – Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (Law)
DC293 - Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (International Languages)
DC294 - BA in Climate and Environmental Sustainability
DC295 - Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (Politics)
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Distinction 66
Merit 46
Pass 28
Please note that LCVP link modules cannot be used as a subject for general or specific course entry requirements, but can be used for the calculation of points.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
DCU welcomes applicants with appropriate QQI-FET (Level 5/6) qualifications. Applicants who have a full National Framework of Qualifications Level 5 award in appropriate qualifications and modules can be admitted on a competitive basis to certain DCU courses.
QQI-FET (Level 5) entry route is a competitive entry route with a limited number of places. A quota of places are offered based on the CAO ranked order of applicants based on performance. For courses with a QQI-FET (Level 5) entry route, approximately 10% of places are retained for QQI-FET (Level 5) applicants. Application is made through the CAO.
Careers / Further progression
Future Careers
Climate Scientist
Sustainability Manager
Environmental Consultant
Environmental Data Analyst
Environmental Resource Manager
Environmental Researcher
Corporate Social Responsibility Manager
Strategic Change Manager
Conservation Manager
In These Areas
Environmental Consultancy
Community Development
Academia
Diplomatic Services
Environmental Conservation
Non-Governmental
Organisations (NGO’s)
Industry
Public Sector
Further information
Mature applicants are those aged 23 years, or above, on 1 January in the year of entry. All candidates (presenting with EU/Non EU qualifications) applying on the grounds of mature years should apply ONLY through the CAO by 1 February.
For many DCU courses, mature application assessment is based on the CAO application and in some instances, an assessment and/or interview. ‘Other’ experience, apart from performance in examinations, may be taken into consideration - this may be work experience, further studies, or other such experience deemed to be relevant to the application. Interviews will take place in April either in person or remotely.
For more information, please contact the Mature Student Officer, orla.stafford@dcu.ie or dcu.ie/mature-students
For general and admission enquiries, please visit dcu.ie/registry/ug-admissions
23
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Why DCU?
- Engage with environmental and climate issues at a local scale and learn from visiting and engaging with case studies where real-life environmental challenges happen
- Engage with Challenges based on real issues encountered by industry, the public sector and non-profit sector
- Enhance employability skills by developing knowledge across multiple areas related to two of the most important societal issues this century - climate change and environmental sustainability
- Spend a full academic year at a partner university abroad or on a work placement (INTRA)
About You
Are you interested in studying climate science, geography, environmental policy, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), sustainability, environmental economics and environmental ethics? Are you interested in gaining analytical, research, teamwork and problem-solving skills that will be attractive to various employers?
Understanding: Climate and Environmental Sustainability
The scale and pace of change caused by humans to all aspects of the environment globally in the last 100 years is so significant that we now threaten our very own existence. Issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss are having extensive environmental, economic and social impacts worldwide. These are issues that already affect current generations and are set to have major implications for future generations.
This is an applied geography course and through the lens of geographical sciences, you will develop your skills and knowledge to prepare you for work in climate and environment-related fields. Organisations increasingly rely on location intelligence to make decisions and students on this course will gain invaluable skills to learn how to gather and analyse spatial and climate data. You will also engage with such topics as climates and climate change, environmental history, the evolution of Ireland’s physical landscape and sustainable environments and policy.
Course Structure
The BA in Climate and Environmental Sustainability is unique in that modules each year will comprise a largely balanced approach to both natural and social science modules related to geography, climate and environmental sustainability. The course is designed to enhance learning related to climate change and environmental sustainability across multiple disciplines (e.g. Geography, Earth Science, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Biology and Physics). Students will study innovative modules such as Biogeography, Historical Climates, Sustainable Food Security, Environmental Change and Human Health, Natural Ecosystem Solutions and complementary modules that are drawn from the Geography offering on other courses.
You will study innovative modules such as sustainable food security, ecosystems conservation solutions and complementary geography modules that are drawn from other courses. You will engage in a residential field module as an integral part of this course, which provides an opportunity to collect environmental data and engage with environmental and climate issues at a local scale. You will be encouraged to learn from seeing real-life challenges, including visiting case study sites where environmental change is occurring and examining the main challenges facing Ireland. Some of these issues you can expect to engage with relate to improving water quality, managing biodiversity, and dealing with climate change from both physical and human geography perspectives.
Students can study for a year abroad after Year 2, and can also opt to apply for a year-long paid work placement (INTRA) in Year 3. This opportunity provides students with excellent experience and a valuable professional network while still in university.
Year Abroad
Studying abroad provides a wonderful opportunity to experience the culture of another country and greatly enhances your language skills. If you meet certain criteria and wish to go abroad you will spend Year 3 studying at one of our partner universities. After you complete the year abroad, you will do the final year of your course at DCU. For more information, please visit dcu.ie/placement/study-overseas
INTRA
INTRA will provide you with a chance to work in a real world environment giving you a unique opportunity to enhance your CV, increase your employability and experience the relevance of your study. For more information, please visit dcu.ie/intra
Indicative Content
While content of the course may change over time, these modules are indicative of what you will be studying in each year.
Internship: Yes.
What Will I Study?
Year 1
Geographical Interpretation and Communication | Introduction to Environmental Spatial Analysis | Introduction to Sustainability | Introduction to Human Geography | Hazardous Earth Data Literacy and Analytics for the 21st century | Ireland in Europe and the Wilder World | Global Climates | Sustainable Cities | Introduction to Biogeography and Ecology | Sustainability Journey 1 - Awareness and Skills
Year 2
Evolution of Ireland’s Physical Landscape | Environmental Data Analysis | Introduction to Oceans and Marine Environment | Environmental Economics | Climate Change: Course and Consequences | Sustainable Food Security | Climate Change and Environmental Field Trip | Sustainability Journey 2: Insights Through Collaboration
Year 3 (Optional)
Optional year abroad or optional work placement (INTRA)
Final Year
Water Resources of Ireland | Environmental GIS | Environmental Citizen Science | Climate and Environmental Sustainability Research Project | Sustainability Journey 3 - Active Engagement | Environmental Ethics | Ecosystems and Conservation | Communication, Culture and the Environment | Challenge-based Learning for Sustainability Transformations | Environmental Impact Assessments
Additional Information
This course will be jointly delivered by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Engineering and Computing.
Contact Details
Tel: +353 (0) 1 700 9124
E: historyandgeography@dcu.ie
E: studenthelp@dcu.ie
Visit Us Online dcu.ie/DC294