Graduate Diploma in Agricultural Sciences

Students will be introduced to many of the issues underpinning the advances in food and fibre production within the Australian and International Agriculture sectors. The specialisation core subjects within the Graduate Diploma in Agricultural Sciences cover a range of plant and animal disciplines as well as a focus on current and emerging environmental agricultural and associated industry impacts.

Graduates have a foundation in the scientific principles and analytical skills behind improved agricultural production systems and their sustainability. Students undertake interdisciplinary studies in the nature of agricultural crop, food and fibre production and markets at an advanced level. Knowledge and skills are developed in environmental, economic, social and ethical factors related to plant- and animal-derived food and fibre production in Australia and globally.

The Graduate Diploma consists of 100 credit points of study and may be undertaken as either full-time over one year or part-time study over two years and will be delivered at the Parkville campus. The program comprises of two core subjects (25 credit points), three specialisation core subjects (37.5 points), and three elective subjects (37.5 credit points).

The Graduate Diploma in Agricultural Sciences is a pathway into the Master of Agricultural Sciences.

Completing this course will:

• Enable student to explore the interdisciplinary nature of agricultural crop, food and fibre production and markets at an advanced level
• Provide students with a sound foundation in the scientific principles and analytical skills behind improved agricultural production systems and their sustainability
• Introduce students to advanced research topics and practical applications within the disciplines of agricultural science
• Introduce students to industrial applications of agricultural science and the commercial outcomes
• Develop students' critical understanding of environmental, economic, social and ethical factors related to plant and animal-derived food and fibre production in Australia and globally

The Graduate Diploma consists of 100 credit points of study. The Graduate Diploma may be undertaken as either full-time over one year, or part-time study over two years, and will be delivered at the Parkville campus. This 100 point program comprises of two core subjects (25 credit points), three specialisation core subjects (37.5 points), and three elective subjects (37.5 credit points).

Graduate Diploma Subject Options

You will be required to complete two core subjects (25 credit points), three specialisation core subjects (37.5 points), and three elective subjects (37.5 credit points) to qualify for this degree.

Degree Core

You will need to select the following two Degree Core subjects:

Specialisation Core Subjects

You are required to choose three (37.5 points) subjects from any of the specialisation core subjects. While you are able to select any of the subjects below, it is important if you wish to progress one of the Master of Agricultural Sciences specialisations that you select appropriate discipline core subjects, especially for the Agribusiness specialisation which has pre-requisites within the Masters.

Agribusiness Specialisation Core Subjects:

• ARI90013 Financial Management for Agribusiness (This subject is a pre-requisite for AGRI90016 Managing Risk)
• AGRI90014 Managing Markets (This subject is a pre-requisite for NRMT90019 Business Strategy)
• AGRI90012 Agribusiness Management Economics (This subject is a pre-requisite for AGRI90074 Agricultural & Resource Economics)

Animal Science Specialisation Core Subjects:

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

Crop Production Specialisation Core Subjects:

• AGRI90058 Agronomy & Cropping Systems
• HORT90040 Advanced Plant Breeding & Improvement
• AGRI90066 Soil Science & Management

Food Security Specialisation Core Subjects:

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

Elective Subjects

You will need to choose three (37.5 points) elective subjects from the list below:

The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant’s ability to pursue the course successfully using the following criteria:

In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

• an undergraduate degree in any discipline with a weighted average mark of least H3 (65%), or equivalent; or

• a graduate certificate or graduate diploma in any discipline

Meeting this requirement does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider prior academic performance.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board Rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgrduate courses. For thoseapplicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Note. Successful applicants who have completed the Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Sciences may receive up to 50 points credit.

The Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences (FVAS) welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and Faculty policy to take reasonable steps to make reasonable adjustments so as to enable the student’s participation in the Faculty’s programs. FVAS contributes to the New Generation degrees and offers a broad range of programs across undergraduate and post-graduate levels many of which adopt a multi-disciplinary approach. Students of the Faculty’s courses must possess intellectual, ethical, and emotional capabilities required to participate in the full curriculum and to achieve the levels of competence required by the School.

Candidates must have abilities and skills in observation; motor in relevant areas; communication; in conceptual, integrative, and quantitative dimensions; and in behavioural and social dimensions. Adjustments can be provided to minimise the impact of a disability, however students need to be able to participate in the program in an independent manner and with regard to their safety and the safety of others.

I. Observation: In some contexts, the student must be able to observe demonstrations and experiments in the basic and applied sciences. More broadly, observation requires reading text, diagrams, maps, drawings and numerical data. The candidate should be able to observe details at a number of scales and record useful observations in discipline dependant contexts.

II. Communication: A candidate should be able to communicate with fellow students, professional and academic staff, members of relevant professions and the public. A candidate must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively. Communication includes not only speech but also reading and writing.

III. Motor: Candidates should have sufficient motor function necessary for participation in the inherent discipline-related activities. The practical work, design work, field work, diagnostic procedures, laboratory tests, require varying motor movement abilities. Off campus investigations may include visits to construction sites, urban, rural and/or remote environments.

IV. Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities: These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Problem solving, the critical skill demanded of professionals in land and environment industries, requires all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, the candidate should be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures.

V. Behavioural and Social Attributes: A candidate must possess behavioural and social attributes that enable them to participate in a complex learning environment. Students are required to take responsibility for their own participation and learning.

They also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative learning environments, demonstrating interpersonal skills and an understanding of the needs of other students.

Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students. Students who feel their disability will prevent them from meeting the above academic requirements are encouraged to contact the Disability Liaison Unit.

Students can progress to the Master of Agricultural Sciences.

Graduates from the Postgraduate Diploma program 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 into further postgraduate programs of study.

In this course, students will:

• Be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills in the interdisciplinary field of agricultural science
• Develop an understanding of problem solving and research methodologies and demonstrate personal accountability by applying solutions to diverse challenges facing agricultural systems, and
• Investigate and apply innovative approaches to the contemporary, interdisciplinary management of commercial agricultural systems

In accordance with the University’s Assessment Procedure (MPF1026), Examiners may offer reassessment (as a second attempt at passing a subject for a borderline failure in a single subject) to a student enrolled in this course. A borderline failure is defined as a mark of 45% or more.