Undergraduate Degree in Environmental Science
Course Co-ordinator: Dr. Mike Gormally (mike.gormally@nuigalway.ie)
Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary study which examines the interaction between humans and the environment, with specific reference to the effects of modern technological advances.
Today, the necessity to understand our environment has never been more urgent and the need for environmental scientists to deal with increasingly complex issues is growing. The course provides a thorough grounding in the basic sciences in the first years followed by the application of this knowledge to current environmental problems in the later years. While studying a broad range of subjects, students are also given the opportunity to specialise in topics of their choice.
Programme content
Year 1
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Introduction to Earth and Ocean Sciences
- Physics
- Introduction to Environmental Legislation
Year 2
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Environmental Management
- Legislation
- Zoology
Year 3
- Analytical Chemistry
- Environmental Management and Legislation
- Environmental Microbiology
- Statistics and Computer Studies
- Plus two of the following:
- Environmental Geosciences
- Hydrology and Hydrogeology
- Introduction to GIS
- Plant Ecology and Palaeoecology
- Principles of Animal Ecology
Year 4
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Microbiology and Waste Management
- Project and two modules from the following:
- Advanced GIS
- Ecology and Conservation Issues with Long-term Climate Change and Human Impact
- Environmental Zoology
- Hydrology
- Physics of the Environment
Post-graduate degrees in Environmental Science
Postgraduate research opportunities in the field of Environmental Science leading to MSc and PhD degrees are available within the college. Research areas currently include the fields of agri-environmental research, biodiversity, biological control, and habitat management and wetland studies.
PhD degrees in Environmental Science are offered from time to time. In general, these posts will be advertised on the vacancies page of the Ryan Institute. Individual contact can be made with the staff of the institute seeking placement.
