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University College Cork

Geology - Applied Environmental Geology

The programme is built on strong links with industry and government agencies. 30 of the 90 credits involve an independent research project with the majority of the taught course components delivered through field and laboratory based activities. The course offers a unique opportunity for international students to gain EU based work experience while studying for their Masters. There is currently a global high demand for graduates with environmental geology skills and that this is projected to grow in the coming years.

This M.Sc. in Applied Environmental Geology covers the areas of hydrogeology, contaminated land, engineering geology, applied geophysics, geoinformatics, environmental monitoring and assessment, environmental law, offshore environmental geology, field geology techniques and an industry based environmental geology research project. The courses have been designed with the current needs of industry taken on board. Emphasis on real world, industry based examples is prevalent throughout.

Why Choose This Course
This MSc course is focused on the acquisition of key practical and transferable skillsets for environmental geologists. The programme is built on strong links with industry and government agencies. 30 of the 90 credits involve an independent research project with the majority of the taught course components delivered through field and laboratory based activities. The course offers a unique opportunity for international students to gain EU based work experience while studying for their Masters. There is currently a global high demand for graduates with environmental geology skills and that this is projected to grow in the coming years.

Entry requirements

Candidates must hold at least a Second Class Honours, Grade II, NFQ Level 8 degree or equivalent in a Geological/Earth Sciences/Civil Engineering/Environmental Sciences area or a related relevant degree or have reached an equivalent standard through completion of a relevant postgraduate qualification.

If you are applying with Qualifications obtained outside Ireland and you wish to verify if you meet the minimum academic and English language requirements for this programme please click here to view the grades comparison table by country and for details of recognised English language tests.

Non-EU Candidates

Non-EU candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to Irish university primary degree level. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language. To verify if you meet the minimum academic requirements for this programme please visit our qualification comparison pages.

For more detailed entry requirement information please refer to the International website .

Duration

1 year Full-time; 2 Years Part-time

Careers or further progression

Skills and Careers Information

Environmental geology studies the broad aspects of human-induced changes on the Earth, the effects of pollutants and their distribution in the environment as well as the problems associated with real or potential geological hazards. Environmental geologists are involved in soil, rock and water testing, sampling and analysis; assessment of contaminated land; remedial clean-up of historically polluted sites; as well as preventing impacts and risks associated with planned development. With increasing concerns about the effects of pollution and geohazards on humans and the environment, environmental geologists are in demand by geo-engineering and geo-environmental consultancies, regulatory authorities and government agencies.

The programme team has excellent links with world class research centres such as ICRAG, MAREI, IMERC and INSIGHT, should students wish to further their studies to PhD level.

Further enquiries

Dr Pat Meere
email: p.meere@ucc.ie
Tel: +353 21 4904576
Web: https://www.ucc.ie/en/bees/

Subjects taught

Students in Part I take taught modules to the value of 60 credits involving field study, lectures, practical classes, seminars, workshops, and self-directed learning.

Students in Part II will also undertake a substantial Research Project to the value of 30 credits in an area of Environmental Geology. Part II consists of a research dissertation based on independent research to the value of 30 credits (GL6019), completed over the summer months. Students will complete a research project during a five month placement in industry or a research group within the School of BEES. In some cases the number of available industry placements may be limited and students who are unsuccessful in obtaining an industry placement will complete their research project in the School of BEES.

Part 1
EV6011 Principles of Environmental Assessment and Monitoring (10 credits)
Outline the principal steps of a monitoring programme and describe the associated quality assurance procedures. Evaluate the reliability and comparability of monitoring programmes for air, soil and sediments, and water quality using field and laboratory techniques.

GL6020 Hydrogeology, Contaminated Land and Assessment (10 credits)
Identify and apply hydrogeological principles and evaluation methods to groundwater based assessments. Contaminated land issues and attenuation. Risk assessment methodologies and their application.

GL6021 Engineering Geology (10 credits) Describe and classify soils as engineering materials. Execute and analyse standard laboratory soil tests (soil classification tests, compaction test, permeability tests, oedometer test). Apply principles of rock mechanics to design of shallow foundations and develop awareness of ground improvement techniques.

GL6022 Environmental Planning and Regulation (5 credits) Appraise the role of and responsibilities of an environmental geoscientist in complying with environmental legislation.

GL6023 Offshore Environmental Geology (5 credits) Demonstrate competence in designing and implementing an offshore geology survey.

GL6024 Applied Geophysics (5 credits) Relate geophysical techniques to appropriate environmental geology applications.

GL6025 Geoinformatics for Environmental Geology (5 credits Identify appropriate data structure(s) for representing a range of geographical objects and phenomena drawn from the real world.

GL6026 Field Geology Techniques (5 credits Identify and classify Quaternary sediments based on field analysis and carry out detailed structural geological analyses.

GL6027 Industry Case Studies (5 credits) Design a suitable project assessment methodology for a case study project.

Part II
GL6019 Applied Environmental Geology research project (30 credits) Liaise with and work with industry collaborators or as part of a research team located in the School of BEES on an Environmental Geology Project.

Source information from industry, public and published sources, critically evaluate and incorporate this information in to the study where relevant.

Collect original field data and/or critically review existing data .

Make in depth analysis of original field and laboratory data.
Present findings from their research in the form of technical report (dissertation).

Comment

Course Practicalities
The course is made up of 137 hours of lectures, 84 hours of practicals, 55 hours of seminars and 15.5 days in the field. In addition the students spend 5 months investigating their industry based research topic. The course depends heavily on continuous assessment, practical reports, essays, field reports, seminars and in class tests are the main assessment methods employed, along with the production of the final dissertation.

Assessment method

The course depends heavily on continuous assessment, practical reports, essays, field reports, seminars and in class tests are the main assessment methods employed, along with the production of the final dissertation.

Application date

Closing dates

Closing Dates for Application

Applications for 2018 start dates will open on November 1st 2017.

EU Applicants: UCC operates a rounds closing date system for the majority of postgraduate taught programmes (detailed below).

Some programmes have a specific closing date. Applicants are advised to consult with the postgraduate prospectus for programmes with a specific closing date.

The UCC rounds EU application system closing dates for Postgraduate Taught courses are detailed below. However, we would advise applicants to apply as soon as possible.

Deadline for receipt of Applications: Offers will be made:
For all completed applications received by January 15th 2018 Offers will be made by January 29th 2018

For all completed applications received by March 1st 2018 Offers will be made by March 15th 2018

For all completed applications received by May 1st 2018
Offers will be made by May 15th 2018

For all completed applications received by July 2nd 2018
Offers will be made by July 16th 2018

Late applications may be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for any courses that have remaining capacity for places.

While there is no official closing date for Research courses applicants are advised to submit their application at least two months ahead of their proposed start date. There are four official Research start dates September/October, January, April and July.

Non-EU Applicants:

Please visit the following page for further information for Non EU applicants http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studyatucc/postgraduateprogrammes/tau...