Doctor of Sustainable Agriculture

What is this course about?

This professional doctorate involves one-third coursework comprising the Master of Sustainable Agriculture and two-thirds research dissertations. Students' research will be supervised by leading researchers from the University and be applied in nature.

The Doctorate of Sustainable Agriculture aims to increase the capacity of the students to develop their own philosophical and ethical views on sustainable agriculture.

Students will learn to collaborate with others in learning, undertake cooperative project work with farmers and others in the rural sector, and integrate their studies in ecologically-sustainable agricultural production systems, business management, self-management and social behaviour. Students graduate with enhanced analytical and creative thinking skills through the application of their learning to real world issues and become autonomous or self-directed learners who are competent in research areas relating to their choice of study.

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.

Course structure

The Doctorate will consist of 192 points, this being 64 points credit from the Masters in Sustainable Agriculture degree as below;

AGR402 Readings in Agriculture (8pts)
AGR475 Sustainable Agriculture Issues and Viewpoints (8pts)
AGR595 Managing Agro-Ecosystems (8pts)
AGR580 Research Methods (8pts)
AGR610 Sustainable Agriculture Dissertation (16pts)

and two eight point electives

Plus;

The remaining 128 points will be AGR715 Sustainable Agriculture Thesis (full-time) or AGR716 Sustainable Agriculture Thesis (part-time)

Enrolment pattern

Doctor of Sustainable Agriculture

Session 1

AGR475 Sustainable Agriculture Issues and Viewpoints
AGR402 Readings in Agriculture
AGR580 Research Methods
AGR610 Sustainable Agriculture Dissertation (Commenced)

Session 2

AGR595 Managing Agro-Ecosystems
AGR610 Sustainable Agriculture Dissertation (Completed)
Plus 2 electives

Once the Master component is completed the student will then enrol into AGR715 Sustainable Agriculture Thesis (full-time) (128 points) or AGR716 Sustainable Agriculture (part-time) (128 points)

Content cannot be accessed

Admission requirements

Applicants wishing to enrol directly into the Doctor of Sustainable Agriculture must have completed an Honours degree, Class 1 or Class 2 (Division 1), a Master degree with Credit average, or Master of Philosophy, and have at least three years relevant professional experience.

Students who complete the Master of Sustainable Agriculture with a Credit average are eligible to apply to progress to the Doctor of Sustainable Agriculture.

Intending applicants should contact the Sub-Dean, Graduate Studies to discuss the proposal before submitting the prescribed application form. In addition, applicants must complete a form describing their area of interest, which should accompany their application. Please phone info.csu on 1800 334 733 or email inquiry@csu.edu.au for the contact details of the appropriate person.

Admission to candidature is subject to approval by the Board of Graduate Studies.

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

English proficiency

Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they

1. have undertaken an academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with an average score of 7.0, and with no score lower than 6.5, within the last 12 months;  or
2. undertaken a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 577 (or computerised TOEFL score of 233), with a Test for Written English Score (where reported) of at least 5.0 or an Internet-based score of 90 with a written score of 24 within the last 12 months; or
3. undertaken other equivalent examinations, as determined by the Board of Graduate Studies;  or
4. completed a university degree where the language of assessment is in English;

The Presiding Officer of the Board of Graduate Studies may, in special circumstances, on behalf of the Board waive the above proficiency requirements after consulting the relevant Dean, Sub-Dean and nominated Supervisor.

NOTE: A Faculty may require a higher standard of proficiency than that specified above for programs deemed to be linguistically demanding.

Apply now

This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2