Sustainable Societies

Note: This structured elective has been discontinued. Only students who have taken the specified modules between 2019/20 and 2023/24 are eligible to be awarded this structured elective.

What is the Structured Elective about?

This structured elective draws on the themes related to society in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 2030. The title of Sustainable Societies is intended as a framework to include modules on topics that examine societal themes in the Sustainable Development Goals within the College of Social Sciences and Law. Selected modules from stages 1 to 3 have been chosen to be offered to students who are interested broadly in the issue of sustainability and development primarily at a global level in the Schools of Sociology, Social Policy, Social Justice and Social Work, Politics and International Relations, and Geography. Students can choose to focus on a number of the societal themes discussed in the various modules. These themes are: poverty; hunger; health and well-being; education; gender equality; decent work and economic growth; industry, consumption and production; reducing inequality; cities and communities; climate action; peace, justice and strong institutions; and partnerships for the goals.

Why should I take this Structured Elective?
The main goal of the Sustainable Societies’ Structured Elective is to educate students to become critical learners about the state of the world, both in terms of positive developments and negative aspects. The ideal would be that students who complete the Structured Elective are able to gain an understanding of how the world is and how it could be, and create possibilities for their own active engagement with it. The programme is designed to help students become more aware of, and knowledgeable about, some of the most critical problems confronting people around the world in the current generation to sustain our world for future generations. It is also designed to help students think critically about potential solutions to these problems, and to explore opportunities as active citizens to become part of the solution and not the problem. More pragmatically, students who take this Structured Elective using their general elective modules will gain an interesting addition to their transcript to supplement their choice of degree programme, which may prove useful in getting a job or pursuing further education.

How would this Structured Elective benefit me?
It is intended that students who complete 3 modules on the Structured Elective programme will achieve the following learning outcomes:
1) Show knowledge and understanding of the topic of sustainable societies in the contemporary world;
2) Apply conceptual knowledge and empirical evidence to better understand issues concerned with sustainable societies;
3) Make judgements about contested perspectives, concepts and facts related to issues concerned with sustainable societies;
4) Communicate effectively with others the knowledge and understanding gained about sustainable societies using verbal, written and social media skills as appropriate;
5) Demonstrate relevant learning skills through successful completion of the assessments required on the selected modules.

How do I take the modules in the Structured Elective?

• Structured Electives are available to undergraduate students only.
• In order to earn this Structured Elective you must have taken the specified modules between 2019/20 and 2023/24.
• Students must pick any 3 modules (15 credits) from the list of modules below to be eligible for the structured elective in Sustainable Societies.
• Students who successfully complete 15 credits in Sustainable Societies will have this automatically noted on their final UCD degree transcript. The transcript will state that you have completed 'Structured Elective in Sustainable Societies’, in addition to your main degree subjects.
• Choose a minimum of 3 modules: Students must choose 3 modules from the list over the course elective in Sustainable Societies of their programme to be eligible for the structured elective in Sustainable Societies