Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management

What is this course about?

CSU's Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management produces graduates who are skilled in agricultural practice and ready to take up management positions.

With a critical shortage of skilled managers in the agricultural sector, agribusiness companies and major banks are looking for employees skilled in business, management and finance, and
who have technical agricultural training. There is also increasing demand for better trained managers of agricultural production enterprises.

CSU's Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management provides students with a strong foundation in agribusiness and the skills and knowledge required to pursue a career in a variety of agricultural industries.The subjects provide balanced learning about agricultural production systems and managing agribusiness.

With a flexible approach to learning, the course allows students to choose to study full-time for three years on Orange or Wagga Wagga campus, six years part-time by distance education, or a mixture of both.

What will I learn?

Students learn skills in business, management and finance as well the technical aspects of managing agricultural production systems. In addition, students are expected to develop a strong capacity for critical thinking, communication, leadership and personal autonomy.

In the area of agricultural production, students study subjects in crop and pasture production and management, soil science, livestock production systems, property planning and development, and livestock management. There are also two electives available, enabling students to further extend themselves in either the fields of agricultural production or agribusiness management.

In the area of agribusiness management, students study Introduction to Rural Management, Business Economics, Agribusiness Supply Chain, Financial Planning for Agriculture, Marketing Principles, Business Law, Commodity Pricing and Risk Management and Human Resource Management.

How will I study?

On campus students learn through a combination of lectures, tutorials, practical classes and business tours.

Distance education students receive study guides in the post or can access them online, and are guided through the subject with online assessments in addition to written assignments and exams. Distance education students may be able to attend on campus classes.

Through CSU Global, participation in international tours and projects provide opportunities for students to gain experience overseas. Students may be eligible to receive financial assistance from CSU to support their travels.

Credit

Students who have studied and successfully completed relevant subjects at other universities or TAFE may apply for credit for those subjects when applying to CSU's Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management. Credit will be granted for subjects which are equivalent in content and standard at the discretion of the Course Coordinator.

More information about credit and pathways.

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.

Facilities

The CSU 498ha farm is principally a grazing property typical of its high altitude, central tablelands environment. The major livestock enterprises are specialist lamb production, Angus stud and commercial production. The farm also has 15ha of irrigated Chardonnay and Shiraz vineyards, producing some of the region's best cool climate wines. These are sold in our brand new cellar door located on the campus. As well as providing a convenient training facility for students, the farm is used by several enterprises for commercial, educational and research purposes.

Our on campus teaching facilities include modern laboratories and state-of-the-art lecture rooms with smart boards and video conferencing facilities, green houses, field teaching and research facilities. The Orange campus staff work closely with the nearby Orange Agriculture Institute, in research and teaching activities. The campus is well equipped with modern facilities including computer facilities in both the Learning Commons and dedicated computer centres which are available to students.

The campus is well positioned to access a wide range of agro-industry businesses, as well as dairy, beef, sheep, cropping and horticultural properties which serve as focal points for students case studies and tours.

Course structure

The course consists of 8 core subjects, 13 compulsory subjects (one of which is a 16 point two session subject) and 2 restricted electives.

Common Core Subjects

AGB110 Agricultural Economics
AGB310 Agricultural Marketing
AGR202 Food, Environment and Culture
AGS107 Precision Agriculture and Data Handling
AHT101 Professional Skills in Agriculture and Horticulture
AHT231 Agricultural Finance and Business Management
PSC104 Soil Science
AHT274 Industry Practice OR SCI301 International Experience

Addtional Compulsory Subjects

AGB165 Agribusiness Systems
AGB350 Commodity Trade and Pricing
AGB450 Agricultural Business Risk and Investment
AGR156 Plants in Agriculture
AGR220 Extension
AGR237 Property Planning and Development
AGR375 Agribusiness Planning (16 points)
AGS100 Livestock Production Systems
PSC236 Pasture Production and Utilisation
PSC270 Crop Agronomy and Management
AGS300 Livestock Management **
LAW110 Business Law
HRM210 Human Resource Management

** GOTAFE and NCDEA students may substitute this subject for a restricted elective

Restricted Electives

Restricted electives can be chosen from any level 2 or above subjects with codes AGB, AGR, AGS, ASC, PSC, IRR, FIN, MGT or HRT. Other codes may be allowed if appropriate rationale is provided and accepted by the Courses Director.

Enrolment pattern

Full-time

Year 1
Session 1
AHT101 Professional Skills in Agriculture and Horticulture
AGB110 Agricultural Economics
AGB165 Agribusiness Systems
LAW110 Business Law

Session 2
AGS107 Precision Agriculture and Data Handling
AGS100 Livestock Production Systems
PSC104 Soil Science
AGR156 Plants in Agriculture

Year 2
Session 3
AHT231 Agricultural Finance and Business Management
AGB310 Agricultural Marketing
AGR237 Property Planning and Development
HRM210 Human Resource Management

Session 4
AGR202 Food, Environment and Culture
AHT274 Industry Practice OR SCI301 International Experience
PSC270 Crop Agronomy and Management
PSC236 Pasture Production and Utilisation
[ ] Restricted Elective

Year 3
Session 5
AGR220 Extension
AGB450 Agricultural Business Risk and Investment
AGR375 Agribusiness Planning (Commenced) (16 points)
[ ] Restricted Elective

Session 6
AGB350 Commodity Trade and Pricing
AGS300 Livestock Management
AGB375 Agribusiness Planning (Completed) (16 points)

Distance Education

Year 1
Session 1
AHT101 Professional Skills in Agriculture and Horticulture
AGB165 Agribusiness Systems

Session 2
AGS100 Livestock Production Systems
AGR156 Plants in Agriculture

Year 2
Session 3
AGB110 Agricultural Economics
LAW110 Business Law

Session 4
PSC104 Soil Science
AGS107 Precision Agriculture and Data Handling

Year 3
Session 5
AHT231 Agricultural Finance and Business Management
HRM210 Human Resource Management

Session 6
PSC270 Crop Agronomy and Management
PSC236 Pasture Production and Utilisation

Year 4
Session 7
AGB310 Agricultural Marketing
AGR237 Property Planning and Development

Session 8
AGR202 Food, Environment and Culture
AHT274 Industry Practice OR SCI301 International Experience
[ ] Restricted Elective

Year 5
Session 9
AGR220 Extension
AGB450 Agricultural Business Risk and Investment

Session 10
AGB350 Commodity Trade and Pricing
AGS300 Livestock Management

Year 6
Session 11
AGR375 Agribusiness Planning (Commenced) (16 points)
[ ] Restricted Elective

Session 12
AGB375 Agribusiness Planning (Completed) (16 points)

GOTAFE & NCDEA Articulated Program - Part time
For eligible candidates who are GOTAFE or NCDEA alumni holding the Diploma of Agriculture the completion of the articulation program requires successful completion of the subjects listed below:

Year 1
Session 1 (30)
AHT101 Professional Skills in Agriculture and Horticulture
AGB110 Agricultural Economics

Session 2 (60)
AGS107 Precision Agriculture and Data Handling
PSC104 Soil Science

Year 2
Session 3 (30)
AHT231 Agricultural Finance and Business Management
AGB310 Agricultural Marketing

Session 4 (60)
PSC236 Pasture Production and Utilisation
AGS300 Livestock Management OR [restricted elective]

Year 3
Session 5 (30)
AGB450 Agricultural Business Risk and Investment
[restricted elective]

Session 6 (60)
LAW110 Business Law
AGB350 Commodity Trade and Pricing

Year 4
Session 7 (30)
AGR220 Extension
AGR375 Agribusiness Planning (Commenced) (16 points)

Session 8 (60)
AGR375 Agribusiness Planning (Completed) (16 points)
AGR202 Food, Environment and Culture

For eligible candidates who are GOTAFE or NCDEA alumni holding the Advanced Diploma of Agriculture the completion of the articulation program requires successful completion of the subjects listed below:

Year 1
Session 1 (30)
AHT101 Professional Skills in Agriculture and Horticulture

Session 2 (60)
PSC104 Soil Science

Year 2
Session 3 (30)
AHT231 Agricultural Finance and Business Management
AGB310 Agricultural Marketing

Session 4 (60)
PSC236 Pasture Production and Utilisation
[restricted elective]

Year 3
Session 5 (30)
AGB450 Agricultural Business Risk and Investment
[restricted elective]

Session 6 (60)
LAW110 Business Law
AGB350 Commodity Trade and Pricing

Year 4
Session 7 (30)
AGR375 Agribusiness Planning (Commenced) (16 points)

Session 8 (60)
AGR375 Agribusiness Planning (Completed) (16 points)
AGR202 Food, Environment and Culture

Admission requirements

Q Fever immunisation

Students entering this course must be immunised against Q Fever. You will be required to provide evidence of immunisation by 31 March in the first year of study.

To be admitted into the course, prospective students need to indicate their likelihood of success through:

1. previous studies, and
2. other attainments and experience.

Previous studies

Previous studies include:

• the NSW Higher School Certificate or interstate /overseas equivalent;
• the International Baccalaureate Diploma;
• a completed or part completed course of a university, college of advanced education or other accredited tertiary institution;
• a completed or part completed course of a TAFE college or other accredited post-secondary institution (including TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate);
• an approved Foundation Studies program certificate;
• completion of undergraduate subjects as an Associate Student with the University or through another University, or Open Universities Australia.

NSW and interstate school leavers are normally selected on the basis of their Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or interstate equivalent. You may also be admitted on the basis of a strong performance in subjects relevant to your course preferences.

Currently no secondary school subjects are prerequisites for admission to particular CSU courses however some courses assume a certain level of knowledge. This will be specified in the course information if applicable.

English language proficiency

The University has minimum requirements for English language proficiency prior to entry to our courses. Some courses also have a requirement for a higher entry or exit level of English proficiency. More information on English language requirements.

Attainment and experience

You may also be admitted to a course based on other attainments and experience. These may include:

• voluntary or paid work experience;
• performance in tests and examinations conducted by professional recognised bodies;
• participation in continuing education programs and/or staff development programs conducted by adult education agencies, consultancies, professional bodies or employers;
• completion of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT).

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.

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This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2

Additional costs

You will be responsible for travel and accommodation expenses relating to the work experience and industry placement component of your course. Costs will vary depending on location and duration of your placement. These practical components may involve paid or unpaid work. Scholarship opportunities and subsidised accommodation are available to support students with placement costs.