UWA Handbook 2023

Extended Major Overview

Description

There is a critical need to produce food and fibre more efficiently and sustainably. There are now rapid changes in the agricultural sector, largely due to developments in agricultural technology. This extended major provides knowledge in both the traditional agricultural science areas as well as the emerging agricultural technologies, which are data intensive. The combination of Agricultural Science with Agricultural Technology will give students the ability to integrate new technologies into agricultural systems for improved decision making and farming efficiency/profitability. In this extended major you will develop skills in agricultural economics, soils, crops and livestock as well as remote sensing and data management and analysis, within an agricultural context.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) evaluate the effect of soils, plants, animals and the environment on production in mixed farming systems in Western Australia; (2) demonstrate knowledge about agricultural trade and commodity marketing; (3) demonstrate skills and knowledge to assess agricultural systems using experimental, modelling and statistical methods; (4) demonstrate understanding of fundamental spatial data techniques and digital systems and sensors for agricultural applications; (5) demonstrate capacity to solve farming problems using programming and data science methods.; (6) integrate agricultural data analysis with farming systems information to guide decision making for improved efficiency and profitability; (7) demonstrate effective networking and communication skills; and (8) demonstrate competency in laboratory practice, report writing, oral presentation and team work skills suited to gain employment in the disciplines of Agricultural Science and Technology.

Broadening guidelines

All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office. If you are completing this major in a Combined Bachelor's masters Course, you have elected to pursue a highly specialised and in-depth program of study in your chosen field. While you are encouraged to use the free elective units available in your course to study in other disciplines offered at UWA, your formal requirement to broaden your course will be met through the Honours and Postgraduate units which form an integral part of your course.

Prerequisites

Mathematics Methods ATAR or Mathematics Applications ATAR with a mathematics unit taken in the first year. Students without ATAR mathematics will take two first year mathematics units.

Chemistry ATAR or an additional chemistry unit taken in the first year.

Courses

Agricultural Science and Technology can only be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

• BP019 Bachelor of Agricultural Science
• BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)

Units