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Courses
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About University of Galway
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Business & Industry
Guiding Breakthrough Research at University of Galway
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Community Engagement
Community Engagement
At University of Galway, we believe that the best learning takes place when you apply what you learn in a real world context. That's why many of our courses include work placements or community projects.
Accessibility & LanguageEarth & Ocean Science
Diploma in Scientific Studies (Earth & Ocean Sciences)
Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development- Title of Award
- Diploma
- Course Code
- SC2
- Delivery
- Blended Learning
- NFQ
- 7
- Award Type
- Minor
- Next Intake
- September 2027
- Duration
- 2 years, part-time
- ECTS Weighting
- 30
Why Choose This Course?
Course Information
The Diploma in Scientific Studies (Earth & Ocean Sciences) aims to provide students with a broad introduction to the study of the Earth’s solid geology and its coastal ocean, with hands-on, practical experience of the techniques employed within the fields of geology, oceanography, and Earth observation.
The course will appeal to those with an interest in our natural environment and the outdoors. It may be professionally beneficial for geography teachers, environmental scientists, engineers, and archaeologists.
The course will be delivered in a blended learning format, with three days of fieldtrips and/or workshops each semester accompanying the online/remote lecture material and exercises. The modules will study the Earth’s origins, materials and processes at all scales from the atomic to the planetary level; internal and external; and locally, nationally, and internationally.
One module will deal with our coastal ocean, examining the interaction of geology, ground- and surface water, and the marine environment. Another will focus on Earth observation and remote sensing, and how these are used to help understand the physical, chemical, and biological processes acting on the Earth’s surface.
A common theme throughout will be the interaction of people with the planet we inhabit. Fieldtrips (within Ireland) are an integral part of the course.
Curriculum Information
Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Glossary of Terms
- Credits
- You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
- Module
- An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
- Optional
- A module you may choose to study.
- Required
- A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
- Semester
- Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year.
Year 1 (15 Credits)
RequiredEOS1050: Planet Earth
EOS1050: Planet Earth
Semester 1 | Credits: 5
This 8 week module introduces students to Earth as a dynamic planet. It looks at the Earth's structure, from the core to the atmosphere, emphasising the interconnectivity of Earth's systems. Topics covered include geophysics, internal and external geological processes, geological time, rock types, the water cycle, the oceans, and weather & climate. There will be a 2 day field trip as part of this module.
(Language of instruction: English)
Learning Outcomes
- Discuss the vast variety of scales (in space & time) at which Earth's processes operate
- Describe the overall structure of the Earth, and have an appreciation of the methodologies used to determine and study these structures
- Illustrate the interconnectivity of the Earth's systems, and have a feeling for our place as humans in those systems.
- Recognise basic rock types and understand how they form.
- Describe in simple terms the development of a landscape and what influences the appearance of the Earth's surface.
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers & Administrators
Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.
Reading List
- "Earth: Portrait of a Planet" by Steve Marshak
ISBN: 0393938174.
Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
RequiredEOS1100: Earth Materials
EOS1100: Earth Materials
Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 5
This module looks at minerals and rocks: their physical and chemical properties, their occurrence and origins, and their identification.
(Language of instruction: English)
Learning Outcomes
- Describe how the arrangement of atoms and ions in a mineral influences the mineral's appearance & behaviour
- Describe and identify the common rock forming minerals in hand specimen & thin section
- Describe & identify common rocks in hand specimen & thin section
- Describe the processes & products of different geological settings
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers & Administrators
Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.
Reading List
- "Earth: Portrait of a Planet" by Steve Marshak
ISBN: 0393938174.
Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
RequiredEOS1101: Our Coastal Ocean
EOS1101: Our Coastal Ocean
Semester 2 | Credits: 5
This module will introduce students to the coastal ocean, the interface between land and sea. Students will discover how both land and marine-based processes affect the coastal ocean, and how processes in the coastal ocean affect both land and sea. Students will examine how human activity in the coastal ocean both affects and is modified by processes on land and in the open sea. One key theme of this module will be to show how the water cycle ties land and sea together, including the effect of coastal geology on fresh water chemistry. Another theme will be monitoring the coastal ocean
(Language of instruction: English)
Learning Outcomes
- Define what is meant by the coastal ocean and describe its physical, chemical and legal borders
- Define what an estuary is and understand the processes that create estuaries
- Discuss land ocean interaction under a range of headings
- Describe how humans use coastal ocean resources
- Evaluate a range of threats to the coastal ocean posed by climate change
- Demonstrate an understanding of the complexities involved in monitoring processes in the coastal ocean
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers & Administrators
Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.
Reading List
- "Earth: Portrait of a Planet" by Steve Marshak
ISBN: 0393938174.
Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
OptionalRPL005: Recognised Prior Learning
RPL005: Recognised Prior Learning
Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 5
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Year 2 (15 Credits)
RequiredEOS1080: Geology of Ireland
EOS1080: Geology of Ireland
Semester 1 | Credits: 5
This 8-week module investigates the geology and the geological history of Ireland, relating past plate tectonic settings with their modern analogues. The module will revise and build on the topics covered in Year 1 of the Diploma. There will be a 2 day field trip as part of this module.
(Language of instruction: English)
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the geological evolution of the island of Ireland
- Relate the different rock and minerals found on the island of Ireland to past plate tectonic settings
- Interpret the geological history of (parts of) Ireland using maps and rock descriptions.
- Describe how the geological history of an area can be pieced together using the study of rocks in the field
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers & Administrators
Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.
Reading List
- "Understanding Earth Processes, Rocks and the Geological History of Ireland" by Andrew Sleeman,Brian MacConnell,Sarah Gatley
ISBN: 1899702504.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
RequiredEOS1201: The Peopled Planet
EOS1201: The Peopled Planet
Semester 2 | Credits: 5
This 8 week module investigates the interaction of humans with the planet. Topics covered will include human evolution, the exploitation of natural resources (including ores, non-metallic mineral resources, soils, construction materials, and energy sources), the influence of the natural environment on societies and health, and the challenges to societies and their infrastructures posed by geological conditions & events.
(Language of instruction: English)
Learning Outcomes
- Appreciate the role Earth's processes have had on the evolution of humans, their societies, and their culture
- Appreciate the demands made on Earth's resources over the span of human evolution
- Discuss the nature of natural hazards (e.g. earthquakes, volcanoes) and what society can do to mitigate the threats posed by these hazards
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers & Administrators
Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.
Reading List
- "Earth: Portrait of a Planet" by Steve Marshak
ISBN: 0393938174.
Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
RequiredEOS1200: Observing Earth
EOS1200: Observing Earth
Semester 2 | Credits: 5
This 8 week module will introduce students to an array of remote sensing techniques used in Earth observation. It will include satellite, airborne, and marine based technologies, and cover image processing and interpretation. Case studies will show how this information can be applied to the fields of environmental science, agriculture, archaeology, resource mapping, habitat mapping, natural hazards and land use. An introduction to Geographical Information systems will allow students to integrate remotely sensed images with topographic/bathymetric and political maps.
(Language of instruction: English)
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the principles of remote sensing (sources of radiation, interaction of radiation with the atmosphere & terrestrial targets, spectral properties of terrestrial targets)
- Appreciate the variety of sensors and their properties
- Grasp the principle of image acquisition from different platforms (satellite, airborne, drone)
- Process and integrate remotely sensed images into a GIS
- Relate remote sensing technologies to applications of Earth observation and monitoring
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers & Administrators
Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.
The above information outlines module EOS1200: "Observing Earth" and is valid from 2024 onwards.Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
OptionalRPL005: Recognised Prior Learning
RPL005: Recognised Prior Learning
Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 5
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
The course is the only one of its kind on offer in Ireland. It introduces us to many important topics in our lives – e.g. climate change, resource management (metals, water), environmental degradation, natural hazards, and the built environment, and how we study, monitor, and report on these. It also provides insight into just how much our lives are entwined with the processes and products of our planet.
Several graduates from an earlier version of this Diploma (in Geology) have since gone on to study full-time for a Degree in Earth & Ocean Sciences. For more information, visit the Science & Engineering Earth & Ocean Sciences (EOS) webpage.
Others have used it to enhance their professional life (e.g. outdoor instructors, adventure tour guides, archaeologists, engineers) or their enjoyment of the outdoors.
Many graduates are actively involved in the Galway Geological Association, which was established to facilitate their continued study of earth sciences through lectures and field trips.
Dr. Sadhbh Baxter
Department of Earth & Ocean Sciences
All modules in the Diploma are individually assessed by continuous assessment (practical exercises) and assignments.
As this course is delivered via Blended learning most of the material is delivered online, please visit to our Online Learning webpage for further details on what is required to participate in a blended learning course.
Dr. Sadhbh Baxter
Department of Earth & Ocean Sciences
Tel: 091 495962
Email: sadhbh.baxter@universityofgalway.ie
If you do not meet the standard entry criteria for this course, you may gain entry through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy. Applicants may also be able to earn module exemptions based on their prior learning. Find out more here.
This diploma covers a range of transferable skills, such as:
- communication (written and verbal)
- critical and analytical thinking
- field and lab techniques
- problem-solving
- spatial mapping
Accreditations & Awards
I do not even know where to begin, I learned a lot about myself and my trust in my self-growth. I live with my family on Inishturk and have 6 children, so studying was never an option for me. When I heard about the course, I was sceptical. Can I do it? Can I manage it? But with enthusiastic support of my children, I signed up, embarking on a new adventure. The teaching style suited me perfectly, with weekly Zoom calls and excursions over the weekends. Our two Professors, Rachel Cave & Dr. Sadhbh Baxter ensured that it was always interesting and varied. Read more
Martina Pesch
Graduate
This is a wonderful course. The assignments are really well chosen. They are not taxing and I always felt I had learnt something significant as I completed them. It is a real plus to the course to have the ocean module. Essential for us on our island. I was curious about earth and ocean science before starting this course but my basic knowledge of geology was minimal. My lack of knowledge wasn't a problem. Earth and ocean science really is a basic science. Completing this diploma has greatly enhanced my enjoyment & understanding of my environment locally and as I travel in my retirement.
Dr Brídín Ní Chanainn
Graduate
Meet our Employers
Entry Requirements and Fees
There are no specific entry requirements for the Diploma in Earth & Ocean Science. Entry requirements for part-time students (e.g. age, English language requirements, etc.) can be found here.
NB: The next intake for this course will be September 2027.
Applications are made online via the University of Galway Applications System. This course is listed under Adult Learning Undergraduate\Postgraduate, CPD, Micro-credentials & Summer School Applications.
Please visit our How to Apply page for Application tips and Supporting Documents information.
Fees for Academic Year 2026/27
| Course Type | Year | EU Tuition | Student Contribution | Non-EU Tuition | Levy | Total Fee | Total EU Fee | Total Non-EU Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UG Diploma | 1 | €1,300 | €1,800 | €35 | €1,335 | €1,835 |
A fee scholarship of up to 30% may be available for students who wish to upskill for the purposes of re-employment. For more information download the 2025_26 Fees Scholarship Form
Why University of Galway?
World renowned research led university nestled in the vibrant heart of Galway city on Ireland's scenic West Coast.
Centre for Adult Learning & Professional Development
Education Building, Nuns' Island, Galway
Downloads
Meet Our Alumni
Introduction
Learn more about the planet we inhabit, the techniques earth scientists use to identify events, and processes & products deep in time & space.
