Agriculture
About the stream and embedded program
The growing demand for efficient food production and the development of new methodologies and technologies, including sensors, robotics and big data analytics means that the agriculture of the 21st century requires graduates who have the expertise to fully exploit these new and exciting approaches. Agriculture is by nature multi-disciplinary and requires breadth of knowledge in four main areas; plant production, animal production, soil science & hydrology, integrated with agribusiness.
The Agriculture program will provide students with the understanding they need to address the big challenges and opportunities facing agriculture into the future. In this program students will develop knowledge and skills to explain the role and relevance of agriculture and understand the major scientific, technological and economic drivers that support changes in agricultural practice. Students will develop strong multi-disciplinary understanding of agricultural practice and innovation, strengthened by the ability to generate, manage and analyse agriculturally derived experimental, temporal and spatial data.
Requirements for completion
A stream in Agriculture requires 120 credit points, consisting of:
(i) 6 credit points of 1000-level degree core units
(ii) 6 credit points of 2000-level degree core units
(iii) A 108 credit point program in Agriculture
A program in Agriculture requires 108 credit points, consisting of:
(i) 12 credit points of 1000-level core units
(ii) 12 credit points of 2000-level selective units
(iii) 36 credit points of 4000-level core units
(iv) A 48 credit point major in Animal Production, Plant Production or Soil Science and Hydrology
First year
Stream core: ENVX1002
Program core: ENVI1003, GEOS1X01
Second year
The second year provides the breadth of knowledge in agriculture with units related to plant and animal production as well as focusing on the essential resources of soil and water. This is complimented by the development of skills in data analytics through the stream core.
Stream Core: ENVX2001
Students complete units from their chosen majors:
- AGRI2001 if completing Plant Production major;
- AVBS2006 if completing Animal Production major;
- SOIL2005 if completing Soil Science and Hydrology major.
Additionally students complete 12 credit points of program units as outlined below:
- AGRI2001 and AVBS2006 if completing Soil Science and Hydrology major;
- AGRI2001 and SOIL2005 if completing Animal production major;
- AVBS2006 and SOIL2005 if completing Plant Production major.
Third year
Students complete units from their chosen majors.
The third year provides further depth in at least one of the three majors in this stream, a choice from Plant Production, Animal Production, and Soil Science and Hydrology. In your third year you must take at least one designated project unit embedded in the major.
Fourth year
The fourth year is only offered within the combined Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Advanced Studies course.
Advanced coursework
The Bachelor of Advanced Studies advanced coursework option consists of 48 credit points, which must include a minimum of 24 credit points in a single subject area at 4000-level, including a project unit of study worth at least 24 credit points.
Honours
Requirements for Honours in the area of Agriculture: completion of 24 credit points of project work and 12 credit points of coursework.
Students can complete their second major in their fourth year of study alongside 4000-level units.
Core: AFNR4001 (6cp), AFNR4101 (12cp), AFNR4102 (12cp), AFNR4000 (6cp)
Contact and further information
W http://sydney.edu.au/science/life-environment/
E
T +61 2 9036 5417
Address:
School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Level 5, Carslaw Building (F07)
Eastern Avenue
The University of Sydney NSW 2006
Associate Professor Damien Field
Email:
Phone: +61 2 8627 1138
Example pathways
Students must take a major in either Animal Production, Plant Production, or Soil Science and Hydrology.
Learning Outcomes
Students who graduate from Agriculture will be able to:
- Explain the role and relevance of agriculture and its related sciences, and agribusiness in society.
- Understand the major biophysical, economic, social and policy drivers that underpin agricultural practice and how they contribute to practice change.
- Understand how information is adopted and the context within which producers, processors and consumers make decisions.
- Understand core sciences in the context of agriculture.
- Understand relevant agricultural production systems and their value chains, with specialist knowledge in at least one area.
- Understand how knowledge from different sub-disciplines within agriculture is integrated and applied into practice.
- Understand how economics, business and social science apply to agriculture.