Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management [Wangaratta]

Take your agricultural career to the next level

CSU's Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management will enhance career opportunities at any point in the supply chain, from within the farm gate to export and marketing of agriproducts, as well as industries that service this sector. Students with a relevant completed Diploma receive credit towards their degree.

What is this course about?

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.

Delivery of this degree is via supported distance education, allowing you to continue working while you undertake subjects from home, with study materials provided to you online, as well as some portions of the course delivered on campus at CSU's Wangaratta study centre.

More about where this course will take you

Course structure and TAFE articulation

GOTAFECSU and Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE (GOTAFE) have developed an articulated program that allows students who have successfully completed the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia (NCDEA) or GOTAFE Diploma of Agriculture, or NCDEA Advanced Diploma of Agriculture to enrol in CSU's Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management and receive credit for their TAFE study.

Features of this program include:

For Diploma graduates:

  • guaranteed entry into CSU's Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management
  • one year of credit towards the degree
  • the ability to complete the degree part-time in just four years.

For Advanced Diploma graduates:

  • guaranteed entry into CSU's Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management
  • almost 1.5 years of credit towards the degree
  • the ability to complete the degree part-time in just four years.

TAFE-specific scholarships are available for students in this course.

More information about the Course structure

Reasons for studying Agricultural Business Management at CSU

  1. Students can receive up to almost 1.5 years of credit for your TAFE study, reducing the number of subjects required to complete your degree
  2. There are three to five jobs for every graduate, and 50% of these are in metropolitan areas, with many students receiving employment offers prior to graduation 
  3. Case studies of farmers with outstanding business practices are a key component of this course, and overseas experience is encouraged.

Study by distance education

This four-year, part-time program is delivered by supported distance education. Online learning may include some or all of CSU forums, recorded lectures, a document or resource repository, email forms, online meetings, interactive video teaching, face-to-face tutorials at Wangaratta, and/or supplementary field exercises at Wangaratta. Some subjects may also require students to attend short residential schools at a CSU campus in Orange or Wagga Wagga.

As a leading distance education provider, CSU has a well-developed network of online resources and communication tools to support students throughout their studies. Distance education also offers you the flexibility of studying at your own pace, and in your own time. Each subject you study will have its own subject site in CSU's integrated online system, CSU Interact, and you will be able to communicate with other students and teaching staff using resources such as forums and the Online Meeting tool.

More about distance education

Graduation requirements

Students who have successfully completed a GOTAFE or NCDEA Diploma of Agriculture will receive credit for eight 8 point subjects. Students must then complete a further fourteen 8 point subjects and one 16 point subject to graduate with the Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management.

Students who have completed the NCDEA Advanced Diploma of Agriculture receive credit for eleven 8 point subjects and must complete a further eleven 8 point subjects and one 16 point subject to graduate with the Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management.

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 outlines and in course materials.

Career opportunities

Careers in agribusiness are not necessarily just involved in production agriculture. CSU's Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management is designed to provide career opportunities at any point in the supply chain, from the farm gate through to export and marketing of agriproducts, as well as within the industries that service agriculture. Employment opportunities range from the rural service industries of regional Australia to international trade and finance activities undertaken by multinational corporations.

Students will have many career options as they acquire expertise in marketing, accounting, finance, people management, international business, agricultural production systems and enterprise management, and sustainable resource management.

Careers available include:

  • professional farm management
  • commodity trading
  • international marketing
  • exporting
  • financial management
  • agronomic and livestock sales
  • management
  • business consulting
  • agribusiness management
  • agribusiness banking

Admission requirements

Applicants to this course should hold a completed Diploma of Agriculture from Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE (GOTAFE) or the Diploma or Advanced Diploma of Agriculture from the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia (NCDEA).

Students should apply direct to CSU.

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

Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they:

  • have completed all their formal studies in one or more of the following countries; or
  • were born in one of the following countries and have completed at least one qualification in one of those countries; or
  • have completed senior secondary study or at least one year of full-time University study in one of the following countries: American Samoa, Australia, Canada, Fiji, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, United Kingdom, USA, Zambia
    or
  • have successfully completed one year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) post-secondary study at an affiliate institution of the University, with English as the medium of instruction and assessment.

All other applicants must explicitly demonstrate proficiency.

Acceptable tests for English proficiency

Any of the following results, attained within the last two years, can be used to demonstrate English proficiency:

  • an Academic IELTS (International English Language Testing System) overall score of at least 6.0, and with no score below 5.5;
  • a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) paper-based score of 550 and TWE of 5.0;
  • a TOEFL computer-based score of 213 and Essay Rating of 5;
  • a TOEFL internet-based score of 80 for undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs, and 90 for postgraduate research candidates with a minimum score of 25 in the writing section.
  • a Combined Universities Admission Test (CULT) overall score of at least 65;
  • a C pass in English at the GCE 'A' level examinations in either Singapore or the United Kingdom;
  • completion of the International Baccalaureate diploma with English A2 at higher or sub. Level;
  • a C pass in 'Use of English' in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE);
  • completion of the UNSW Foundation Studies Certificate with a C pass in 'Use of English';
  • completion of an AQF Certificate IV (including English for Academic Purposes);
  • successful completion of at least one year of study in a course at Associate Diploma or Diploma level on the Register of Australian Tertiary Education;
  • a score of 155 in the verbal component of the STAT test;
  • a Pass grade in the Uniworld English College English for Tertiary Entrance course; or
  • IRI Diploma of English.

An applicant who does not otherwise meet the University's requirements may be admitted on the recommendation of the Dean of the appropriate faculty.

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.

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.

For eligible candidates who are GOTAFE or NCDEA alumni holiding the Diploma of Agriculture the completion of the artculation program requires successful completion of hte 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
MGT362 Commodity Pricing Management

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 holiding the Advanced Diploma of Agriculture the completion of the artculation program requires successful completion of hte 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
MGT362 Commodity Pricing Management

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

Articulation agreements

NCDEA & GOTAFE Diploma of Agriculture

  • Students will receive 8 x 8point subject credits for successful completetion.
  • Completion of the Articulation Program requires successful completion of the 14 x 8 point CSU Degree Course subjects and 1 x 16 point CSU Degree course subject as outlined in the course structure.
  • The application of any NCDEA/GOTAFE student who seeks credit for partial completion of a NCDEA/GOTAFE course shall be considered by CSU on a case by case basis.
  • Credits granted for NCDEA/GOTAFE subjects ino the CSU course, based of alignment of disciplinary knowledge and volume of work, shall be:
    AGR156 AGS100 AGB165 AHT274 AGR237 AGS300 HRM210 & PSC270.

NCDEA & GOTAFE Advanced Diploma of Agriculture

  • Students will receive 11 x 8point subject credits for successful completetion.
  • Completion of the Articulation Program requires successful completion of the 11 x 8 point CSU Degree Course subjects and 1 x 16 point CSU Degree course subject as outlined in the course structure.
  • The application of any NCDEA/GOTAFE student who seeks credit for partial completion of a NCDEA/GOTAFE course shall be considered by CSU on a case by case basis.
  • Credits granted for NCDEA/GOTAFE subjects ino the CSU course, based of alignment of disciplinary knowledgeand volume of work, shall be:
    AGB110 AGB165 AGR156 AGR220 AGR237 AGS100 AGS107 AGS300 AHT274 HRM210 & PSC270.

csp

 




Apply now

This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2

Australian and New Zealand students

Apply online

ETAB

Mail your application

International students

This course is not available to international students.

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