Module: Introduction to Sustainability

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Introduction to Sustainability
Module Code	GEO1000 (ITS: GY111)
Faculty	History & Geography	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	7.5

Description

Access to clean water, nutritious food and reliable power and transportation systems are basic human needs. Currently however, many of these resources are managed unsustainably and humans are living beyond Earth’s regenerative capacity. Students will analyse what sustainability means and how it can be assessed in relation to renewable resources, non-renewable resources and pollution using specific aspects of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for understanding environmental sustainability.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain the science and principles of sustainability and environmental sustainability
2. Explore key concepts, terminology and tools used to analyse sustainability and transformative change
3. Identify how sustainability and transformative change is achieved across all aspects of society, including in business, schools, universities and our lives
4. Analyse the interconnected nature of sustainability concerns, governmental objectives and strategic business goals
5. Reflect on actions in your own life to contribute to environmental sustainability and how this might influence change at different spatial and temporal scales

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Scheduled lectures / seminars and practicals
Assignment Completion	6	Sustainability Simulation sprint Completion of sustainability simulation sprint event
Independent Study	160	Independent reading, expansion on in-class material, completion of practical exercises, exam study
Total Workload: 190

Section Breakdown
CRN	10657	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Darren Clarke	Module Teacher	John Gerard O'Reilly, Kathleen Stokes

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
In Class Test	Pre-sustainability simulation in-class activities/exercises. Students will complete a number of small activities to develop skills and knowledge for simulation assignment	20%	As required
Assignment	Post-sustainability simulation assignment Students will complete a 1 day sustainability simulation related to SDGs (Games4Sustainability) after which they will complete a written assignment examining the trade-offs policymakers face when trying to meet SDGs	40%	As required
Portfolio	E-portfolio Students will develop and complete an e-portfolio highlighting the skills learned/challenges encountered during a personal sustainability challenge they engage with over a 30-day period. They will be required to link learnings from this activity to academic literature on transformative change and promotion of sustainability at larger spatial scales and vice versa.	40%	As required

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Theme of sustainability
Introduction to broader theme of sustainability (society, environment and economy) and interrelationship between these.

Key concepts
Key concepts and terminology used in the field of environmental sustainability.

case studies
Analyse real-world case studies exploring sustainability.

Methods
Methods used to address environmental sustainability issues such as agriculture and food production, air pollution, water resources, transportation, urbanisation and waste management and recycling.

Future
Future of environmental sustainability.

Responsibility
Individual/Business/Government responsibility towards environmentally sustainability.

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None