Environmental Science & Climate - Thurles
Environmental Science and Climate is available through the CAO at Level 8 and Level 7 at TUS.
We live in an increasingly complex world, socially, economically and environmentally.The growing pressures on the environment present us with many challenges as well as opportunities. The challenge presented by climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals needs experts to negotiate the way forward. This course prepares students to help contribute to these challenges.
| Award Name | Degree - Ordinary Bachelor (Level 7 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Technological University of the Shannon |
| NFQ Level | Level 7 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Ordinary Bachelor (Level 7 NFQ) | Major | Technological University of the Shannon | Level 7 NFQ |
Duration
3 years
Specific Subjects or course requirements
A minimum of 5 O6/H7 grades in Leaving Certificate subjects, including Mathematics and English or Irish.
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Foundation Level Irish
Foundation Level Irish at Grade F2 will meet the minimum language requirement for all courses.
Bonus Points for Honours Mathematics
25 bonus points will be awarded to any CAO applicant who has gained a grade H6 or higher in Leaving Certificate Honours Mathematics. For example, if an applicant receives a H6 grade an additional 25 points will be added to the 46 points already awarded for a H6 grade i.e. Higher Level Mathematics now carries a points score of 71 for this applicant.
Foundation Level Mathematics*
Foundation Level Mathematics at Grade F2 or higher is acceptable as meeting the Mathematics requirement for the following courses:
Courses located in Limerick, Thurles and Ennis Campuses:
US808/US703 Music Production & Technology
US807/US702 Creative Broadcast & Film Production
US920/US922 Social Care Work (Limerick / Thurles)
US923/US781 Social Care Work (Ennis)
US640 Sports Development & Coaching
US954/US785 Sports Development & Performance
US953/US787 Business Studies with Sports Management
US941/US791 Business Studies with Event Management
US940/US790 Business Studies with Travel & Tourism Management
US946/US792 Business Studies with Beauty & Spa Management
US927/US783 Early Childhood Education & Care
US931 Culinary Entrepreneurship
US795/US631 Culinary Arts
Courses located in Athlone Campus:
US926/US780 Early Childhood Education & Care (ECEC)
US782 Applied Social Studies in Social Care
US921 Social Care Practice
US700 Graphic Design
US802 Animation and Illustration
US803 Graphic and Digital Design
US778 Animation and Illustration
*Please note, this list is correct at the time of print
GARDA VETTING
To ensure the protection of the public and justify public trust and confidence, TUS uses the Garda Vetting Unit (GCVU) service to assess the suitability of applicants to courses:
Athlone based courses:
US877 General Nursing
US878 Mental Health Nursing
US921 Social Care Practice
US780/US926 Early Childhood Education & Care (ECEC)
US782 Applied Social Studies in Social Care
US950 Nutrition and Health Science
US951 Sport Science Exercise Physiology
US956 Athletic and Rehabilitation Therapy
US957 Physical Activity and Health Science
US788 Exercise and Health Science
Limerick, Thurles and Ennis based courses:
US801 Art & Design Teacher Education (Limerick)
US640 Sports Development & Coaching (Limerick)
US958/US786 Applied Sports Science with Strength & Conditioning (Thurles)
US959/US789 Applied Sports Science with Performance Technology (Thurles)
US953/US787 Business Studies with Sports Management (Limerick)
US954/US785 Sports Development & Performance (Limerick)
US927/US783 Early Childhood Education & Care (Limerick)
US940/US790 Business Studies with Travel & Tourism Management (Limerick)
US941/US791 Business Studies with Event Management (Limerick)
US920/US922 Social Care Work (Limerick/Thurles)
US923/US781 Social Care Work (Ennis)
US928 Community & Addiction Studies (Limerick)
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Points will be awarded for LCVP Link Modules as follows:
Pass: 28 points Merit: 46 points Distinction: 66 points
Leaving Certificate Applied Programme LCAP
QQI FET Applicants General Information
TUS accepts QQI-FET/FETAC awards for entry on all courses of study. The following minimum entry requirements will apply to graduates of QQI-FET/FETAC qualifications who are seeking admission to courses at TUS.
HIGHER CERTIFICATE (LEVEL 6)
Minimum entry: A full QQI FET/FETAC Level 5 award totalling 120 credits.
AB-INITIO BACHELOR DEGREE (LEVEL 7)
Minimum entry: A full QQI FET/FETAC Level 5 award totalling 120 credits.
AB-INITIO HONOURS BACHELOR DEGREE (LEVEL 8)
Minimum entry: A full QQI FET/FETAC Level 5 award totalling 120 credits and including a Distinction Grade in at least three modules.
Please note that special requirements may exist for particular courses, for example, a requirement
for a particular subject such as Mathematics.
A full QQI FET/FETAC award normally contains 8 modules.
A full award may be accumulated over more than one academic year. In such cases, it is the responsibility of the applicant to contact QQI FET/FETAC for a full award where programmes are taken over more than one year. A QQI FET/FETAC Level 5 or Level 6 Record of Achievement does not meet the minimum entry standards.
The maximum possible total score will be multiplied by 13 and divided by 12, to give a maximum overall points score of 390 for applicants from further education and training.
If a QQI FET/FETAC applicant also presents a Leaving Certificate, the CAO will use whichever is the better.
Applicants to Restricted Application courses or courses where a Portfolio is required will have their Portfolio Score added to their QQI FET/FETAC Score
Careers / Further progression
Progression to Level 8 - Add-on
What can I do after this course?
Graduates are qualified for a wide range of roles from lab-based roles (environmental lab analysts) to field roles (bird surveys) and environmental management roles such as: Environmental Consultant, Environmental Specialist, Environmental Health and Safety roles, Ecologist, GIS Analyst, etc. Students from this course are highly employable and students can also progress to further studies in Masters and Ph.D programmes.
Further information
Trade Qualifications
A trade applicant, seeking admission to the first year of a course, should do so through the CAO. Such application may be on the basis of National Craft Certificate, Senior Trades or Advanced Tourism Certification Board (NTCB)/QQI qualifications, instead of, or in addition to, Leaving Certificate results. TUS welcomes applications from such candidates. Possession of these awards at advanced level normally qualifies an applicant for entry to TUS.
Other Qualifications
Applicants with qualifications other than those listed above (including EU and overseas qualifications) should apply in the usual way, giving full details of their qualifications/application category on their application.
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
What is this course about?
We live in an increasingly complex world, socially, economically and environmentally. The growing pressures on the environment present us with many challenges as well as opportunities. The challenge of climate change and achieving the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call for action by all countries and recognise that the global goal of ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build sustainable economies while tackling global climate change, reversing habitat loss and strengthening environmental protection. Students on these courses will develop their knowledge of sustainable development and the challenge of also addressing a range of social needs including education, health and social protection.
The courses employ current theoretical and research data across the areas of climate change, environmental science and sustainability to link theory and practice in a constant cycle of improved understanding and action. They also develop graduate competencies in laboratory and field study skills as well as data analysis, mapping and modelling.
The Environmental Science and Climate courses will equip graduates with the practical skills to apply environmental science knowledge in a broad range of sectors across the environmental themes of biodiversity, water and climate action. Students will also learn about ecology and conservation of the natural environment as well as how to manage resources like waste and energy in business. Graduates will also be equipped with the ‘soft skills’ (e.g. Communication skills) which will be required to ensure that the knowledge can be employed to bring about change within formal organisational settings as well as within society more broadly.
The courses include practical lab work, field work, field trips as well as classroom teaching and mapping skills (GIS) and introduce the latest approaches to balancing the needs of society and the economy with protection of the environment.
In 3rd Year students complete a semester of work placement which facilitates the adaption of learning from theory to practice, preparation for the placement is facilitated by a Professional Development module in Semester 1 of 3rd year.
In 4th year students complete a research project in their area of interest which builds on their theoretical and practical skills development.
Why take this course?
Environmental Science and Climate will appeal to anyone interested in the sustainability of the planet and who wants to develop their theoretical and practical skills to enable them to influence the type of change required to address this climate crisis. Relevant school subjects include geography and the sciences, but they are not mandatory. Mature students from various work backgrounds have successfully completed the course.
What will I study?
Year 1: Semester 1: Introduction to Land Use, Introduction to Climate Issues, Professional Skills in Third Level, Introduction to Sustainable Development, Introduction to Environmental Chemistry, Introduction to Lab Practice and Measurement. Semester 2: Applied Environmental Science, Biology and Botany, Development and Economics, Environmental Management and Climate Challenges, Land Use and Climate Change, Environmental Maths and Computing.
Year 2: Semester 1: Ecology, E.H.S. Management, Biodiversity Conservation and Climate, Field Study Skills, (one day per week), Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Surveying, The UN Sustainable Development Goals. Semester 2: Environment & Sustainable Development, Environmental and GHG Audits, Surface Water and Hydrology, Teamwork, Fieldwork and Research Methods, (one day per week), Geographic Information Systems.
Year 3: Semester 1: Water Quality Management, Planning and Environmental Assessment, Water Resources Management, Research Techniques, Professional Development, Geographic Information Systems & Environmental Resources. Semester 2: Work Placement.
Other Information
• Work Placement in Year 3
• QQI FET/FETAC Applicants
• Mature Applicants
• Location: Thurles Campus, Co. Tipperary.
Dr. Bridget Kirwan
Course Leader
Tel: 0504 28253
Email: Bridget.Kirwan@tus.ie