Master of Sustainable Agriculture

What is this course about?

The Sustainable Agriculture program is flexible, and designed to meet the needs of agriculture by equipping students with the necessary skills to balance the natural resource, human and economic factors that affect agricultural sustainability.

The Sustainable Agriculture program brings together studies in the three key domains of sustainability: agricultural and natural systems; agribusiness; and the humanities. Through the development of creative and critical perspectives on sustainability, the courses focus on innovative ways of enhancing agriculture for the medium to long term. Graduates are equipped to provide leadership in policy, research and strategic management that is relevant to a wide range of industry contexts.

The program allows students to complete the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master degree and then receive credit into CSU's Doctor of Sustainable Agriculture when entry requirements are met. The course can be studied full-time at Orange Campus or by distance education.

The aim of Graduate Certificate of Sustainable Agriculture is to provide a graduate qualification in sustainable agriculture which will meet the vocational and professional requirements of students. It aims to develop further understanding of topic areas undertaken in a prior qualification, or develop new understanding in areas to broaden the knowledge of students.

The Graduate Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture is designed to meet two needs:

• for specific vocational purposes, to broaden or develop professional knowledge and skills either already gained in an undergraduate program, or in a new area
• to promote the acquisition of advanced analytical and problem solving skills and conceptual insight that will enhance the capacity of the candidate to undertake positions of significant responsibility in the chosen field.
  

The Master of Sustainable Agriculture aims to promote advanced, critical reflection by:

• promoting the acquisition of advanced analytical and problem solving skills and conceptual insight that will enhance the capacity of the candidate to undertake positions of significant responsibility in their chosen field
• encouraging excellence in scholarship and / or focused research within the candidate's discipline area.

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.