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The BSc in City Planning and Environmental Policy bridges topics of concern to built environment professionals and those interested in the broader natural environment. The programme integrates disciplinary knowledge from several subject areas to deepen and broaden students’ understanding of spatial, environmental, social and economic issues. Particular focus is given to planning and policy responses to such issues. The programme promotes a knowledge-based and evidence-based approach to creative problem-solving that supports the realisation of a more equitable and sustainable world.
The programme provides a learning environment that encourages a balance of teamwork and individual projects that develop the students’ capacity to critically reflect on how people interact with their environments and understand the improvements needed to enhance their quality of life. Policy studios are an important element of the programme and are complemented by lectures, seminars and computer laboratories. The programme employs case study learning, group work projects, planning and policy analysis/formulation, critical writing as well as student presentations to create an effective and constructive learning environment that maximises student engagement with the programme’s content.
A degree in City Planning & Environmental Policy provides you with both strong analytical skills and the ability to think critically about the built and natural environment. This four year degree programme will provide students with the necessary requirements to pursue a career as a professional planner.
Graduates of UCD City Planning & Environmental Policy can find employment both in Ireland and internationally. While the traditional employers of graduates are city and county councils, many graduates have found rewarding employment in private sector consultancies, multinational businesses, a variety of governmental bodies and NGOs. There are increasing opportunities for planners in the provision of infrastructure, for example working within the renewable energy sector, or with the large companies and agencies delivering transport and water infrastructure projects. Salaries equal and commonly exceed those of other built environment professions.
Planners are currently in high demand, meaning that those who graduate as a fully qualified planner can expect to quickly find well paid employment. If students wish to develop further skills and knowledge they may choose to pursue graduate study, through either an MSc or PhD.
Check out the UCD Career Neworks career guide for the College of Engineering & Architecture for details on the career supports available to UCD students.
The BSc City Planning & Environmental Policy programme is a 3-year BSc programme (Level 8). Stage 1 comprises 55 credits of Core modules all students must take, along with 5 credits of Additional Options where students have a choice. ***Note: Students may apply to Study Abroad on exchange in respect of their third year of study and if approved they will study overseas for one year, and return to complete the content of Stage 3 at UCD in their fourth year of study. And in this mode, their programme will become the 4-year BSc City Planning & Environmental Policy (International) programme. Students intending to study abroad on exchange for their third year of study must have this approved by the Programme Director and the Governing Board during Stage 2.
The BSc City Planning & Environmental Policy programme is a 3-year BSc programme (Level 8). Stage 2 comprises 50 credits of Core modules all students must take, along with 10 credits of Additional Options where students have a choice. ***Note: Students may apply to Study Abroad on exchange in respect of their third year of study and if approved they will study overseas for one year, and return to complete the content of Stage 3 at UCD in their fourth year of study. And in this mode, their programme will become the 4-year BSc City Planning & Environmental Policy (International) programme. Students intending to study abroad on exchange for their third year of study must have this approved by the Programme Director and the Governing Board during Stage 2.
The BSc City Planning & Environmental Policy programme is a 3-year BSc programme (Level 8). Stage 3 comprises 50 credits of Core modules all students must take, along with 10 credits of Additional Options where students have a choice. ***Note: Students may apply to Study Abroad on exchange in respect of their third year of study and if approved they will study overseas for one year, and return to complete the content of Stage 3 at UCD in their fourth year of study. And in this mode, their programme will become the 4-year BSc City Planning & Environmental Policy (International) programme. Students intending to study abroad on exchange for their third year of study must have this approved by the Programme Director and the Governing Board during Stage 2.
The BSc City Planning & Environmental Policy (International) programme is a 4-year BSc programme (Level 8). Where a student is approved to Study Abroad on exchange for a full year in respect of Stage 3 (Third Year) of the BSc City Planning & Environmental Policy programme, their programme becomes the BSc City Planning & Environmental Policy (International) programme and upon completion of their study abroad year, students complete Stage 4 in UCD. Stage 4 is identical to Stage 3 of the BSc City Planning & Environmental Policy and comprises 50 credits of Core modules all students must take, along with 10 credits of Additional Options where students have a choice.
Module ID | Module Title | Trimester | Credits |
---|---|---|---|
AESC10010 | Land Use and the Environment | Autumn | 5 |
ENVP10030 | Environmental Economics | Autumn | 5 |
LARC10110 | Understanding Landscape I | Autumn | 5 |
PLAN10010 | Introduction to City Planning | Autumn | 5 |
PLAN10020 | History of City Planning | Autumn | 5 |
PLAN10040 | Research methods | Autumn | 5 |
ENVP10010 | Environment Change & Policy | Spring | 5 |
PLAN10030 | Urban Design | Spring | 5 |
PLAN10080 | Planning and Development Studio | Spring | 10 |
SSJ10060 | Inequality and Social Justice in Irish Society | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)MIN0OF: Students must register to a minimum of 55 Programme Credits (Core Modules). Students may register to 5 Elective Credits or select an Addtional Option Module from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirement of 60 credits. These modules should be selected to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per trimester. |
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ECON10040 | Economics and Sustainability | Spring | 5 |
GEOG10100 | People, Places, Regions | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)MIN0OF: Students must register to a minimum of 55 Programme Credits (Core Modules). Students may register to 5 Elective Credits or select an Addtional Option Module from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirement of 60 credits. These modules should be selected to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per trimester. |
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ENVP20020 | Case Studies Environmental Pol | Autumn | 10 |
PLAN20020 | Introduction to GIS | Autumn | 5 |
PLAN20070 | Smart Cities | Autumn | 5 |
PLAN20090 | Socio-Spatial Dynamics | Autumn | 5 |
PLAN20010 | Community Development and Planning | Spring | 5 |
PLAN20030 | Local Planning Studio | Spring | 10 |
PLAN20040 | Urban & Regional Economics | Spring | 5 |
PLAN20080 | Rural Change, Dev.& Plan. | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Options - A)MIN0OF: Students must register to a minimum of 50 Programme Credits (Core Modules). Students may register to 10 Elective Credits or select Additional Option Modules from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirement of 60 credits. These modules should be selected to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per trimester. |
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ARCT20040 | History & Theory of the Designed Environment III - Survey Course 2 | Autumn | 5 |
DEV20130 | Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals | Spring | 5 |
GEOG20130 | Cities in a Global World | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Options - A)MIN0OF: Students must register to a minimum of 50 Programme Credits (Core Modules). Students may register to 10 Elective Credits or select Additional Option Modules from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirement of 60 credits. These modules should be selected to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per trimester. |
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ENVP30010 | Environmental Management | Autumn | 5 |
ENVP30030 | Climate Policy and Politics | Autumn | 5 |
PLAN30010 | Transport, Environment & Sustainability | Autumn | 5 |
PLAN30020 | Placemaking: Urban and Rural Design | Autumn | 5 |
PLAN30040 | Planning, Society and Diversity | Autumn | 5 |
PLAN30030 | Rural & Landscape Planning | Spring | 5 |
PLAN30060 | Regional Innovation | Spring | 5 |
PLAN30150 | Planning Law | Spring | 5 |
PLAN30160 | Healthy and Sust. Communities | Spring | 10 |
Stage 3 Options - A)MIN0OF: Students must register to a minimum of 50 Programme Credits (Core Modules). Students may register to 10 Elective Credits or select Additional Option Modules from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirement of 60 credits. Normally, these modules should be selected to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per trimester. |
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GEOG30860 | Environmental Assessment | Autumn | 5 |
SPOL30220 | Social Policy, Social Justice and the Environment | Spring | 5 |
Stage 3 Options - A)MIN0OF: Students must register to a minimum of 50 Programme Credits (Core Modules). Students may register to 10 Elective Credits or select Additional Option Modules from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirement of 60 credits. Normally, these modules should be selected to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per trimester. |
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ENVP30010 | Environmental Management | Autumn | 5 |
ENVP30030 | Climate Policy and Politics | Autumn | 5 |
PLAN30010 | Transport, Environment & Sustainability | Autumn | 5 |
PLAN30020 | Placemaking: Urban and Rural Design | Autumn | 5 |
PLAN30040 | Planning, Society and Diversity | Autumn | 5 |
PLAN30030 | Rural & Landscape Planning | Spring | 5 |
PLAN30060 | Regional Innovation | Spring | 5 |
PLAN30150 | Planning Law | Spring | 5 |
PLAN30160 | Healthy and Sust. Communities | Spring | 10 |
Stage 4 Options - A)MIN0OF: Students must register to a minimum of 50 Programme Credits (Core Modules). Students may register to 10 Elective Credits or select Additional Option Modules from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirement of 60 credits. Normally, these modules should be selected to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per trimester. |
|||
GEOG30860 | Environmental Assessment | Autumn | 5 |
SPOL30220 | Social Policy, Social Justice and the Environment | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Options - A)MIN0OF: Students must register to a minimum of 50 Programme Credits (Core Modules). Students may register to 10 Elective Credits or select Additional Option Modules from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirement of 60 credits. Normally, these modules should be selected to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits per trimester. |
Award | GPA | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Programme | Module Weightings | Rule Description | Description | ||
BHARCH006 | Stage 3 - 50.00% Stage 2 - 50.00% |
Standard Honours Award | First Class Honours | 3.68 |
4.20 |
Second Class Honours, Grade 1 | 3.08 |
3.67 |
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Second Class Honours, Grade 2 | 2.48 |
3.07 |
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Pass | 2.00 |
2.47 |
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BHARCH008 | Stage 4 - 50.00% Stage 3 - 30.00% Stage 2 - 20.00% |
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 |