Master of Agribusiness

Course 704-AA (2008)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2008.Search for this in the current handbook

Year and Campus: 2008
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Level: Graduate/Postgraduate

Contact

Felicity Wilmot Postgraduate Studies Office Land and Food Resources The University of Melbourne Victoria 3010 Australia Tel: + 61 3 8344 7834 Fax: + 61 3 9348 2156 Email: fwilmot@unimelb.edu.auCoordinator, Flexible Learning, Master of Agribusiness (Coursework) Postal Address: Land and Food Resources The University of Melbourne , VIC 3010 AUSTRALIA Telephone: +61 3 8344 6883 Facsimile: +61 3 8344 4095 Email: MastersAgBus@landfood.unimelb.edu.auWebsite: http://www.agribusiness.unimelb.edu.au
Course Overview:

The Master of Agribusiness is designed for professionals working in areas such as food and fibre production; risk analysis and management; banking and insurance; chemical, fertilisers and other input industries; domestic and international marketing, and forest industries.

This course is distinctive because it integrates business management and marketing with science and technology.
Objectives:

The objectives of the course are to allow candidates to:

  • undertake research in the production, processing, marketing and distribution of food and fibre products;
  • make a distinct contribution to the knowledge base; and
  • advance and communicate research findings.
Course Structure & Available Subjects:

The Master of Agribusiness is research based, however, candidates are able to undertake up to 33% of their workload as coursework (ie two subjects).

Entry Requirements:

A person will normally be admitted into the course if they:

  • Hold a degree from this or another university or tertiary institution recognised by the Faculty of Land and Food Resources; or
  • Can provide the Faculty with satisfactory evidence that they have had adequate training and have the ability to pursue the course of advanced study and research proposed for the degree of Master of Agribusiness; and
  • Have undertaken preliminary courses of study required by the Faculty and have satisfied the examiners in relation to any assessments prescribed by the Faculty.
Core Participation Requirements: It is University policy to take all steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. This course requires all students to enrol in subjects where they must actively and safely contribute to laboratory activities and field trips. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting this requirement are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Subject Coordinator and Disability Liaison Unit.
Graduate Attributes: The Master of Agribusiness (Coursework) was developed specifically for the agribusiness professional. The course will broaden students' understanding of the industry in which they operate and enhance analytical skills required in the day-to-day work environment. To maximise rewards from undertaking the course, students should have two to five years experience in the agribusiness field. Students do not need an academic background in business or economics, however some understanding of the complex systems involved in agribusiness is assumed.
Generic Skills:

The University expects its research Masters graduates to have the following qualities and skills:

an ability to initiate research projects and to formulate viable research questions;
a demonstrated capacity to design, conduct and report independent and original research on a closely-defined project;
an ability to manage time to maximise the quality of research;
an understanding of the major contours of international research in the research area;
a capacity for critical evaluation of relevant scholarly literature;
well-developed and flexible problem-solving abilities appropriate to the discipline;
the ability to analyse research data within a changing disciplinary environment;
the capacity to communicate effectively the results of research and scholarship by oral and written communication;
an understanding of and facility with scholarly conventions in the discipline area;
a profound respect for truth and intellectual integrity, and for the ethics of research and scholarship;
a capacity to cooperate with other researchers;
an ability to manage information effectively, including the application of computer systems and software where appropriate to the student's field of study.

Links to further information: www.agribusiness.unimelb.edu.au
Notes:

Assessment

Candidates are normally assessed by examination of a research thesis submitted at the conclusion of their studies. Assessment is in accordance with the procedures documented in the Masters (by Research) Generic Guidelines published by the School of Graduate Studies. www.gradstudies.unimelb.edu.au/pgstudy/MastersGenericGuidelines.pdf

In FLFR, the Masters degree is awarded simply as a 'Pass' once all requirements of the examination process have been met. In addition, examiners are asked to select a numeric grade for the thesis for the purposes of assisting subsequent scholarship applications that FLFR Masters graduates may submit to support their study toward the degree of PhD. The numeric grade does not appear on the University testamur or on the student's official record. It is held in the Faculty Graduate Studies Office and students may request that this information is removed from their Faculty file if they so wish.

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