200 Point Master of Agricultural Sciences

The Master of Agricultural Sciences provides a research-led national and international focused program directed at students who wish to build a professional career in a specialised area of Agriculture.

Graduates from the Master of Agricultural Sciences will possess attributes that will ensure they can either find employment in the public or private sectors related to a wide range of agricultural production, environmental, economics, bioresearch and service industries, and community organisations concerned with public good, or continue onto further postgraduate programs of study.

Students will choose between one of four major specialisations: Agribusiness, Animal Science, Crop Production, or Food Security. While these specialisations are designed to equip students with advanced skills in a particular area of the agricultural sciences, the program is designed to also deliver students with knowledge of the sector as a whole.

On completion of the Master of Agricultural Sciences students will have gained a broad understanding of many of the issues underpinning the advances in food and fibre production within the Australian and International Agriculture sectors. You will also have completed at least a 25 point research project or internship subject and broadened your base knowledge through elective subjects. These subjects include those focused on animal and plant production, management of disease and pest incursions, on advanced breeding, the economic aspects of agriculture and spatial information capabilities

On completion of this course students will:

• Be able to demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in their chosen specialisation – Agribusiness, Animal Science, Crop Science or Food Security
• Interpret, critically analyse and evaluate data generated through research activities in order to effectively understand and implement improved agricultural systems
• Be exposed to advanced research topics and practical applications within the disciplines of agricultural science, and develop the skills necessary to plan and execute an independent piece of research and communicate the impact of this work
• Develop an understanding of problem solving and research methodologies and demonstrate personal accountability by applying solutions to diverse challenges facing agricultural systems
• Investigate and apply innovative approaches to the contemporary, interdisciplinary management of commercial agricultural systems
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of environmental, economic, social and ethical factors related to plant and animal-derived food and fibre production in Australia and globally, with the cognitive, technical and creative skills necessary to communicate the information to a specialist and non-specialist audience

200 Point Program:

Duration: 2 years full-time / up to 4 years part-time

• Three compulsory 'specialisation core' subjects (37.5 points)
• Four compulsory 'course core' subjects including one statistics subject (50 points)
• Minimum 25 points Capstone (25 points)
• Elective subjects (up to 87.5 points)

Specialisations

The Master of Agricultural Sciences offers specialisations within Crop Production, Animal Science, Food Security or Agribusiness. Students are required to choose a specialisation and complete 3 subjects (37.5 points) of specialisation core subjects.

Agribusiness Specialisation

The Agribusiness specialisation offered within the Master of Agricultural Sciences provides students with knowledge of the trends and underlying influences impacting the agribusiness value chain and the global environment. The specialisation focuses on the methods or tools relevant to business decision making under the influence of risk and uncertainty across the areas of economics, finance and management decision making in the agrifood and fibre context. Developing the capacity to lead, innovate, manage change and project manage are also strong themes.

The Agribusiness specialisation core subjects are all run as February intensive subjects. Please be aware that you will be required to study prior to the standard Semester One commencement.

• NRMT90017 Leadership (Year One)
• NRMT90019 Business Strategy (Year Two) - this subject has a pre-requisite AGRI90014 Managing Markets which is studied in Year One
• AGRI90016 Managing Risk (Year Two) - this subject has a pre-requisite of AGRI90013 Financial Management for Agribusiness which is studied in Year One

Please click the Agribusiness specialisation link below to view your three specialisation core subjects' complete handbook entries.

Animal Science Specialisation

The Animal Science specialisation is offered within the Master of Agricultural Sciences providing multi-disciplinary education and research-led specialisation aimed at developing graduates who wish to engage in issues surrounding animal science. Graduates will be taught the issues surrounding animal health and nutrition covering the biological aspects and impacts animals have on the world.

You will be required to study the following three (37.5 points) of specialisation core subjects:

• DASC90008 Monogastric Science
• DASC90010 Dairy Science
• DASC90006 Nutrition & Feed Science

Please click the Animal Science specialisation link below to view your three specialisation core subjects' complete handbook entries.

Crop Production Specialisation

The Crop Production specialisation is offered within the Master of Agricultural Sciences providing multi-disciplinary education and research-led specialisation aimed at developing graduates who wish to engage in issues surrounding crop science in particular and in plant sciences in general. Graduates will be taught the issues surrounding plant health and nutrition covering the biological aspects and impacts plants have on the world.

You will be required to study the following three (37.5 points) of specialisation core subjects:

• AGRI90058 Agronomy & Crop Production
• HORT90040 Advanced Plant Breeding & Improvement
• AGRI90066 Soil Science & Management

Please click the Crop Production specialisation link below to view your three specialisation core subjects' complete handbook entries.

Food Security Specialisation

The Food Security specialist specialisation offered within the Master of Agricultural Sciences is a multi-disciplinary training and research-led course, aimed at developing graduates who are fully informed and ready to aid in the global debates about how and where food is produced and consumed. Graduates will understand the complexity of food security and sustainability issues surrounding local and global food systems, including environmental and population demands, and the policy, economic, political and nutritional dynamics of food production, distribution and consumption. The course will draw on global case studies to demonstrate the relationship with the land and the influences of that the environment, climate, natural and synthetic resources, cultural influences, governmental policies and other social factors have on the ability to produce and access sufficient and quality food.

You will be required to study the following three (37.5 points) of specialisation core subjects:

• FOOD90026 The Politics of Food
• FOOD90033 Sustainable Food: Policy & Practice
• FOOD90034 Sustainable Food Production

Please click the Food Security specialisation link below to view your three specialisation core subjects.

Degree Core Subjects

• Students are required to complete four (50 points) of degree core subjects, including one statistics subject. Students must complete both of the following Degree Core subjects (25 points)

And students must select one of:

Statistics Core Subject

Students are required to choose ONE subject (12.5 points) from the list of statistics subjects below:

Capstone Subject

You should select a minimum of 25 points of capstone subjects (maximum of 50 points) in year two. Students doing research or internship subjects that continue across two semesters should ensure that they are enrolled into the subject in both semesters, please see your student centre for assistance. Please note that students should select either a Minor Research Project, a Major Research Project or an Internship. Students cannot undertake a Research Project together with an Internship.

Electives

Students should make up the balance of their 200 points with electives from the list below.