DN130 City Planning & Environmental Policy (RCS1)

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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.  


1 - Demonstrate comprehension of planning and environment policy as both individual bodies of knowledge, and as interrelated fields of research.
2 - Critically evaluate concepts, challenge assumptions and synthesise a broad array of perspectives.
3 - Appreciate the importance of socio-spatially orientated research in developing creative solutions.
4 - Work with established methods in gathering, analysing and evaluating various forms of data pertinent to planning and environmental policy research.
5 - Show competence in communicating research and articulating new concepts.
6 - Work successfully both on an individual basis and as a collaborating team member.
7 - Display capacity for the context sensitive analysis of the multidimensional issues pertaining to the geographic areas in which and on which they work.
8 - Apply the knowledge and skills learned to creatively develop context sensitive problem-solving strategies across a range of planning and environmental policy issues.
9 - Exhibit aptitude to assess challenges and formulate workable solutions across various contexts and scales, from site design to the international policy arena.
10 - Understand and critically reflect on the ethical implications of existing, proposed and potential activities across the fields of planning and environmental policy.
11 - Have a broader awareness of, and appreciation for related bodies of knowledge and fields of activity.

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.


Stage 1

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.

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.

Stage 3

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.

Stage 4

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
Stage 1 Core Modules
     
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 Core Modules
     
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.
     
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.
     
Stage 2 Core Modules
     
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 Core Modules
     
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.
     
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.
     
Stage 3 Core Modules
     
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 Core Modules
     
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.
     
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.
     
Stage 4 Core Modules
     
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 Core Modules
     
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.
     
See the UCD Assessment website for further details

Module Weighting Info  
  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

Second Class Honours, Grade 2

2.48

3.07

Pass

2.00

2.47

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


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