This full-time, intensive degree course is of honors standard and is intended for established administrative and scientific workers and new graduates with an appropriate biological/earth science background. It is divided into two parts; a program of 16 taught modules followed by a five-month research project. There is also the possibility to opt for a diploma course in Environmental Sciences, consisting of the taught modules only.

The course provides students with a wide range of knowledge and skills to apply to the expanding subject of
Environmental Science. The course aims to provide a firm scientific understanding in order to provide the capability to
respond to Environmental Regulations and work effectively within the complex discipline of Environmental Management. The course provides a foundation of understanding of current environmental policies and legislation, and builds upon this with practical and theoretical courses that include air pollution, land use, ocean and coastal management, water resources and pollution, conservation management, waste management and environmental sustainability. Theory and practice are closely related to develop field, analytical, and presentation skills. The course provides the opportunity to develop interests in particular areas of environmental sciences through tutorialtype
teaching and an extended desk study.

Following successful completion of the taught part of the course students continue on to a closely supervised
research project intended to expand on the skills and knowledge base acquired earlier. Previous research projects
include: an assessment of the toxicity of acid mine drainage; a review of causes of deforestation of African tropical rain forests; atmospheric heavy metal deposition in Ireland: estimation based on moss analysis; environmental education in the Irish second level school system; the application of settleability tests for the control of activated sludge plants;
vulnerability mapping of two Karsitic spring catchments in County Clare with the aid of geographical information systems (GIS); the sustainability of a car-dependant settlement pattern: an evaluation of rural housing in the Dublin
region.