Agricultural Science major (MJD-AGSCI)

Australia's agricultural industry is a key part of the world's food supply system. The challenges of a rapidly growing population, climate change, and the limitations of land and freshwater all impact the ability of agriculture to meet the demand for food, fibre and fuel. As part of the Agricultural Science major, students investigate how to address this demand by developing an understanding of the complex factors that shape agricultural systems. Agricultural Science provides the research, technology and information for the sustainable and ethical development of the agricultural industry. Your studies will include soil science, genetics, cropping systems, soil-plant interaction, livestock production, agricultural economics and grain marketing. There will be up to two field trips to farms and research sites.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) demonstrate knowledge of the biology of key plants, animals and other organisms and the influence of climate, soils and farm management practices on these components; (2) demonstrate an understanding of how agricultural systems and are influenced by socioeconomic issues
.; (3) critically apply their knowledge and skills to improve production, profitability and environmental performance; (4) demonstrate critical thinking to be able to respond to challenges in a scientific manner in response to issues such as climate change and an increasing world population; and (5) demonstrate competency in laboratory practice, fieldwork study, report writing, oral presentation and team work skills suited to gain employment in the field of Agricultural 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. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. 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.

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.

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

Overview of unit sequence

Agricultural Science is a degree-specific single major comprising:

  • four Level 1 units
  • four Level 2 units
  • four Level 3 units
Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2

Level 1

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (24 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 AGRI1001 Feeding the World
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1, S2 SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of ATAR Subject(s) Mathematics Applications
or
equivalent
or
Mathematics Methods
or
equivalent
or
Unit(s) MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Co-requisites:
Enrolment in Unit(s) MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
Or
SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists Successful completion of Unit(s) MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
Or
SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists
Incompatibility:
Successful completion of Unit(s) STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
S1 SCOM1101 Communicating Science
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of ATAR Subject(s) ATAR Mathematics Applications
or
ATAR Subject(s) WACE Mathematics 2C/2D
or
equivalent
Co-requisites:
Enrolment in
Or
Successful completion of Unit(s) MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Incompatibility:
Nil
Bridging units
Bridging units must be successfully completed within the first 48 points of study. Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Mathematics Methods ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete SCIE1500. Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Mathematics Applications ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete MATH1720 and SCIE1500. Note: Students who have completed MATH1721, are not required to complete SCIE1500. Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Chemistry ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete CHEM1003.
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry
or
equivalent
S1, S2 MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Prerequisites:
Mathematics Applications ATAR [with a scaled score of less than 50]
or
with permission
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Mathematics Applications ATAR [with a scaled score of 50
or
greater]
or
Equivalent
or
higher
S1, S2 SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of ATAR Subject(s) ATAR Subject Mathematics Applications
or
Unit(s) MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals (ID 5107)
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
ATAR Subject(s) ATAR Mathematics Methods and Unit(s) MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods (ID 5108)

Level 2

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (24 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 AGRI2201 Pasture and Livestock Systems
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or
Unit(s) BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or
Unit(s) AGRI1001 Feeding the World and Successful completion of one Unit(s) SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
or
Unit(s) STAT1400 Statistics for Science
or
Unit(s) STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 ENVT2236 Soil Science
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
or
ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry and Successful completion of one Unit(s) EART1105 Dynamic Planet
or
Unit(s) ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
or
Unit(s) BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or
Unit(s) BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology and Successful completion of one Unit(s) SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
or
Unit(s) STAT1400 Statistics for Science
or
Unit(s) STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Unit(s) EART2222 Geomorphology and Soils
S1 GENE2250 Principles of Inheritance
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or
Unit(s) BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or
Unit(s) ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or
Unit(s) ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or
Unit(s) SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Unit(s) GENE2204 Principles of Genetics
S2 PLNT2201 Plants in Action
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology (ID 1254)
or
Unit(s) BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology (ID 1244)
or
Unit(s) SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell (ID 1019)
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil

Level 3

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (24 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 ANIM3306 Clean, Green and Ethical Animal Production
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) AGRI2201 Pasture and Livestock Systems
or
level 2 Unit(s) Anim2xxx
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 ECON3300 Agricultural Economics and Marketing
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of 48 points in your chosen degree
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 ENVT3060 Soil–Plant Interactions
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) EART2222 Geomorphology and Soils
or
Unit(s) ENVT2250 Ecology
or
Unit(s) ENVT2236 Soil Science
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 SCIE3314 Crops and Cropping Systems
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) AGRI1001 Feeding the World
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil

Choosing your degree-specific major

General degrees

You must satisfy the requirements of a degree-specific major before you complete your course. The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you to try out a number of different subjects to see what interests you before nominating your degree-specific major. You have the choice to either nominate your degree-specific major when you first enrol in the course or delay nominating it until your second year.

To plan the first year of your study without nominating a degree-specific major, you are advised to choose units that will pave the way to two or more degree-specific majors that are of interest to you. For examples of the choice of units available in first year, search the first-year study plans .

To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.

The following example illustrates how the Agricultural Science degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Science course.

Example Study Plan

There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .

Specialised degrees – Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours), Bachelor of Automation and Robotics, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Music

You must satisfy the requirements of the degree-specific major in your degree before you complete your course.

Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

This comprehensive degree does not require you to choose a degree-specific major.

Choosing a second major

You also have the option to choose a second major from those available in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students. and Bachelor of Science courses, giving you the opportunity to pursue your interests no matter how different they are.

For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .