AHT101 Professional skills in Agriculture and Horticulture (8)
CSU Discipline Area: Agricultural and Horticultural Studies (AGHOR)
Duration: One session
Abstract:
This subject aims to prepare students for studying agriculture, horticulture, viticulture, wine science and agribusiness management at the University level. It is designed to provide a big picture understanding of agriculture and horticulture (within a national and international context) focussing on production, environmental, economic and social elements. Throughout this subject students will be supported to improve skills in information and computer literacy, critical thinking, professional writing, referencing,note-taking and study skills.This subject introduces the diversity of agricultural systems. Topics included are broadacre plant production, animal production, horticulture and viticulture as well as giving students an appreciation for agriculutural management and agriproduct transformation. Another focus of this subject is to provide introductory training in meteorology and climatology to ensure students develop an appreciation for how climate influences agricultural and horticultural production in Australia.
+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations
| Session 1 | |
|---|---|
| Internal | Orange |
| Internal | Wagga Wagga |
| Distance * | Wagga Wagga |
| Distance * | Wangaratt |
*This subject offering contains a residential school. Please view following information for further details.
Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: AHT101
Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.
Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
- Be able to demonstrate an understanding of the challenges of undertaking agricultural and horticultural activities within a range of production, environmental, economic and community constraints
- Be able to demonstrate an understanding of the application of scientific, agribusiness, social and management principles to agricultural and horticultural activities
- Be able to demonstrate competency with the requirements, responsibilities and conventions for academic learning and professional writing.
- Be able to examine core sustainable values and how they might be achieved
- Be able to demonstrate an understanding of the significance of professional behaviour in agricultural practice
- Be able to demonstrate an awareness of practical skills relevant to the student's discipline area
Syllabus:
The subject will cover the following topics:
- Module 1 (Development of generic skills)
- Information literacy tutorial, introduction to the library website and databases, essay topic analysis and database search strategies, critical analysis of information resources through annotated bibliography.
- Professional writing literacy, how to construct and essay, conventions in professional writing and referencing, evaluation of other student essays
- Note-taking, practice on field trips, reflection and coaching with students
- Module 2 (Big picture agriculture and horticulture)
- Agricultural systems
- Introduction to basic meteorology and climatology and its influence on Australian agriculture and horticulture
- Social concepts in agriculture and horticulture
- Environmental resources in agriculture and horticulture
- Industry study: Broadacre plant production in Australia
- Industry study: Australian animal industries
- Industry study: Horticulture and viticulture
- Agriproduct transformation: a focus on the Australian wine industry
Residential School
This subject contains a compulsory 2 day residential school.
Activities: Lectures, exercises, discussions, library training, farm and urban visits to demonstrate agricultural and horticultural concepts and issues.
Specialised Resources
The subject provides a face to face learning opportunity to distance education students through a two day residential school. It also utilises specialised materials through learning skills, online support and some video teaching.
The information contained in the 2013 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 24 April 2013. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.