Bachelor of Ecological Agricultural Systems

What is this course about?

The Bachelor of Ecological Agricultural Systems explores the connection between social, ecological and business skills and knowledge to produce graduates well suited to a wide range of roles.

CSU's Bachelor of Ecological Agricultural Systems places an emphasis on people and their perceptions and how these impact on the natural world. The course takes natural and social ecology as its foundation stone and develops applied scientific and management approaches to working with people and nature.

The course is structured around four foundational principles:

• ecological thinking
• ecological ethics
• ecological literacy
• ecological practice

What will I learn?

You will gain ecological knowledge and skills and then learn how to apply this 'ecological thinking' to the management of farming, grazing and related agricultural systems with holistic approaches to situation improvement.

The course will assist you in developing your ecological ethics by providing you with an understanding of the principles of ecology including social ecology, the ethics of land stewardship with consideration of the environmental impact of production activities. It also aims to aims to enhance your imagination and empathy skills.

Your ecological literacy will be developed by placing emphasis on ecological philosophy and holistic thinking as an overarching process that embraces reductionist thinking. The course encourages you to explore your sense of place in evolutionary and geographical terms.

You will learn environmentally responsible practices to minimise the impact of agriculture, effective facilitation and inquiry skills to assist in managing change. You will develop high level managerial capabilities consistent with the ecological foundation of agriculture incorporating communication, interpersonal skills and integrated project management.

You will have the opportunity to study a major in Organic Production or Marketing.

Students may study from one to four subjects per session, but if combining study with full-time work, it is recommended you study two subjects per session.

Students may study from one to four subjects per session, but if combining study with full-time work, it is recommended you study two subjects per session.

Credit

Students who have studied and successfully completed relevant subjects at other universities or TAFE at certificate level of higher may apply for credit for those subjects when applying to CSU's Bachelor of Ecological Agricultural Systems. 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.

Residential school

You will be required to attend residential school seesion held on campus for some subjects. Residential schools give students the opportunity to come face to face with the teaching staff and fellow students. It gives you the opportunity to see and utilise CSU's facilities and spend some intensive time immersed in the knowledge of the discipline you are studying.

During the residential school sessions you will undertake important learning opportunities such as property tours to leading farmers who apply ecological principles in their operation and field and laboratory work which focus on developing key skills.

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.

Learning facilities

CSU's School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences is located in the heart of agriculture in some of the most productive regions of south-eastern Australia. As well as the rich resources in the region, students undertaking this course have access to some of Australia's best agricultural teaching and research facilities for practical experience, including:

Course Structure

The Bachelor of Ecological Agricultural Systems course, of 192 points duration, consists of:

Compulsory core of 176 CR (22 subjects) plus 16 CR (2 subjects) as restricted electives

Core subjects (168 CR)

AHT101 Professional Skills in Agriculture and Horticulture
AGB110 Agricultural Economics
AGR141 Introduction to Ecological Agriculture
AGB165 Agribusiness Systems
AGS107 Precision Agriculture and Data Handling
PSC104 Soil Science
AGR156 Plants in Agriculture
BIO112 Principles of Ecology
AHT231 Agricultural Finance and Business Management
AGB310 Agricultural Marketing
AGB450 Agricultural Business Risk and Investment
AGR237 Property Planning and Development
AGS202 Applied Ecology
AGR202 Food, Environment and Culture
AHT254 Organic and Biological Farming Systems
AGR304 Agricultural Ecology
ENM163 Natural Resource Management
AGR375 Agribusiness Planning (16 points)
AGR353 Human Ecology
AGR306 Complex Systems in Biological Farming
and
AHT274 Industry Practice OR SCI301 International Experience

Students should use the elective subjects in order to gain further knowledge and skills in discipline(s) aligned with their self interest, but are encouraged to develop a "stream strategy" (such as, but not limited to crop production, animal production, horticulture, Irrigation, economics or catchment management) in order to increase their employability.

Electives may be chosen from the AGB, AGR, AGS, AHT, BIO, ENM, GEO, HRT, VIT, SOC (such as SOC226 - Rural Sociology), IRR, PSC subject code prefixes. No more than 1 level 1 subject should be undertaken as part of the two electives in this course.

Additional codes may be undertaken with the approval of the Courses Director

Enrolment pattern

Year 1

Session 1
AHT101 Professional Skills in Agriculture and Horticulture
AGR141 Introduction to Ecological Agriculture

Session 2
AGR156 Plants in Agriculture
BIO112 Principles of Ecology

Year 2

Session 3
AGB110 Agricultural Economics
AGB165 Agribusiness Systems

Session 4
AGS107 Precision Agriculture and Data Handling
PSC104 Soil Science

Year 3

Session5
AGS202 Applied Ecology
AGR237 Property Planning and Development

Session 6
AGR202 Food, Environment and Culture
AHT274 Industry Practice OR SCI301 International Experience
ENM163 - Natural Resource Management

Year 4

Session 7
AHT231 Agricultural Finance and Business Management
[Restricted Elective]

Session 8
AHT254 Organic and Biological Farming Systems
AGR304 Agricultural Ecology

Year 5

Session 9
AGR353 Human Ecology
AGB310 Agricultural Marketing

Session 10
AGR306 Complex Systems in Biological Farming
[Restricted Elective]

Year 6

Session 11
AGR375 Agribusiness Planning (16 points) - Commenced
AGB450 Agricultural Business Risk and Investment

Session 12
AGR375 Agribusiness Planning (16 points) - Completed

Workplace learning

There is a large practical component which includes projects that require students to visit farms and talk with farmers.

Admission requirements

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.

Apply now

This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2