Bachelor (Hons) in Agricultural Science

Key Points

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This programme enables students to understand social and economic agricultural and food developments in a global context by focusing on the operation and functioning of Irish agriculture-oriented systems. There is a strong emphasis on the placement module which provides students with the opportunity to apply academic knowledge to specific work placements.

Program description

This program provides candidates with advanced skills in the environmental, chemical, and biological science aspects of studying farmland and livestock in sustainable practice. Scientific methods and techniques will be applied in the examination of the environment of agricultural land and the health and welfare of livestock, appropriate methods and design programs for the evaluation of best agricultural practices. This course is offered by University College Cork in partnership with Teagasc, which is Ireland’s national agency providing integrated research, advisory and training services to agriculture, the food industry and rural communities. This will ensure that students gain a truly applied experience of applying scientific knowledge in a practical environment.

Program structure

The program provides advanced training to students where they will learn about the application of aspects of environmental, chemical and biological sciences to the study of agricultural lands and livestock in a sustainable practice. They will apply scientific methods and techniques in the examination of the environment of agricultural land and the health and welfare of livestock, appropriate methods and design programs for the evaluation of best agricultural practices.

YEAR 1

Fundamentals of Modern Chemistry for Agricultural Sciences
Physics for agriculture and environmental sciences
Biomolecules, Genetics and Evolution
Physiology and structure of plants and animals
Introduction to biochemistry and the biological basis of disease.
Calculus for Science Part I
Introduction to food and agricultural economics
Introduction to international food policy
Principles of food science and technology
Agriculture I (Introduction to Agriculture)

YEAR 2

Biomolecules
Principles of metabolic pathways
Introduction to Biostatistics
Plant and animal genetics
Introduction to industrial and food microbiology
Fundamentals of physiology
Animal Nutrition
Environment
Introduction to Agroindustrial Management
Ecological plant physiology
Plant identification
Agriculture II (Sustainable Food Production)

YEAR 3

Population genetics and evolution
Pasture and fodder production (including breeding)
Milk Production and Quality for Processing
Design of experiments for agricultural and animal scientists
Soil science and soil/land management
Physiology of growth and lactation
Food science and technology of food systems A
Production economics
Internships
The student will undertake a 28-week work placement starting in February, in semesters 2 and 3 of the third year.

YEAR 4

Cattle health, behaviour and welfare
Bovine breeding (including genomics)
Animal Nutrition II (including food preservation)

Grassland management
Design of agricultural infrastructure and agricultural mechanization
Production, analysis and management systems
Final year research project
Business structures, career progression and human resource management on farms
Fertility management and bovine reproduction
Communication, innovation and farm innovation support
Global Food Policy
Sustainable management of plant pests and diseases
The Fourth Scientific Research Project must be passed for a BAgrSc (Hons) degree.

*Module availability may change from year to year.

Admission requirements

The minimum requirement is Minimum grade H4 in one subject, minimum grade H5 in one subject and minimum grade O6 / H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are required for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish. Students must have a valid driver’s licence before commencing their third year placement.

In the case of international candidates, the foreign equivalent is required. In addition, a degree officially translated into English will be required.
IELTS 6.5, with no less than 6 in any component (or its internationally recognised equivalent).