Program Overview

Geology - Applied Environmental Geoscience

The MSc Applied Environmental Geoscience programme provides comprehensive training in the theory and practice of environmental geoscience. Established in 2017, in consultation with industry and government agencies, this programme was created to address a skills shortage identified in the environmental geoscience sector in Ireland.

Course Outline

The course is delivered in two parts. Part I comprises modules to the value of 60 credits involving field study, lectures, practical classes, seminars, and workshops. Part II consists of a research dissertation based on independent research to the value of 30 credits, completed between April and September.

• EV6011: Principles of Environmental Assessment and Monitoring (10 credits)
• GL6020: Hydrogeology, Contaminated Land and Assessment (10 credits)
• GL6021: Engineering Geology (10 credits)
• GL6022: Environmental Planning and Regulation (5 credits)
• GL6023: Offshore Environmental Geology (5 credits)
• GL6024: Applied Geophysics (5 credits)
• GL6025: Geoinformatics for Environmental Geology (5 credits)
• GL6028: Applied Hydrogeology Skills (5 credits)
• GL6029: Applied Geotechnical Skills (5 credits)
• GL6019: Applied Environmental Geology research project (30 credits)

Course Practicalities

The course employs continuous assessment, practical reports, essays, seminars, field reports, and in-class tests as the main assessment methods, along with the production of the final dissertation. The programme is delivered by a multidisciplinary team of academic staff at UCC with extensive expertise covering all aspects of applied environmental geoscience.

Why Choose This Course

Previous graduates have found the course to be highly beneficial in bridging the gap between education and entering the industry environment. The multidisciplinary nature of the course provides many career options, and the placement during the MSc was hugely beneficial for gaining work experience and making industry connections.

Facilities

Students have access to industry-standard field equipment in the School of BEES research facilities. As part of the offshore geology module, students participate in seabed mapping and surveying on board Irish research vessels operated by the Irish Marine Institute. Course participants also have access to computing facilities, including geoscience software packages.

Industry Collaborators

A distinctive feature of the Applied Environmental Geoscience programme is the delivery of content by industry practitioners with expertise in specialist areas of the course and with a focus on real-world challenges and solutions. Industry collaborators have included individuals and organisations such as Eileen McCarthy (QMEC), James Dunne and Stephen McCarthy (Fehily Timoney & Company), and Jim Hodgson (Geological Survey Ireland), among others.

Industry Placement and Research Project

Students spend from May to August working with an industry partner in Part II of the MSc programme, where a dissertation and seminar are completed by mid-September. This industry placement and research project allow students to develop their own interests and carry out an independent investigation on an environmental geoscience topic of their choice.

Requirements

Applicants must hold at least a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ Level 8) or equivalent in a Geology/Geoscience/Geography/Earth Sciences/Civil Engineering/Environmental Sciences area or have reached an equivalent standard through completion of a relevant postgraduate qualification.

Fees and Costs

The EU fee for this course is Full-time: 8,000 Part-time: 4,800. The Non-EU fee for this course is 27,000. A bench fee of 1,000 is also required, payable directly to the School of BEES in two instalments at the start of each semester.

Career Prospects

MSc-qualified environmental geoscience graduates are in high demand for technical roles in both the public and private sectors at home and abroad. Typically, over 90% of participants are in full-time employment or research positions related to their MSc studies within three months of completing Part II. Environmental geoscientists presenting a range of specialist and transferable skills are readily employed by civil engineering and environmental consultancies, as well as geoscience service providers, natural resource companies, local authorities, regulatory, and government bodies.