UCD’s Food and Agribusiness Management programme aims to provide graduates with the necessary combination of skills in business and science required for managerial and professional careers in the food production and marketing chain, and the businesses and organisations that support it. Our students initially study core agricultural science subjects, and then develop a keen understanding of the Irish and international food systems with specialist agribusiness and finance modules. We value and therefore help our students to become active, autonomous learners and critical thinkers, with an ultimate aim of fostering professional development, leadership and entrepreneurial spirit. A variety of supportive but challenging learning environments are provided, where we aspire to integrate best practice teaching with insights from the latest research in the agri-food sector. To achieve the programme’s aims, an inquiry based learning approach is employed incorporating a diverse range of teaching and assessment strategies such as traditional lectures and tutorials, project work, business case studies, group work and policy analysis. A 30 week professional work experience placement in Ireland or abroad gives our students first hand experience of employment in the food and agribusiness sector. Our students should flourish both as individuals and team players, developing the mix of knowledge and skills required for a successful career in the agri-food industry, from principles of farm management and economic analysis to effective communication and time management.
- School
- School of Agriculture and Food Science
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Level
- Undergraduate
- NFQ Level
- 8
- Award
- Bachelor of Agricultural Science
- Mode of Delivery
- On Campus
- Programme Director
- Dr David Stead
- Overall Programme Credits:
- 180
- Programme Credits:
- Stage 2
Core/Option: 50 Electives: 10
Stage 3
Core/Option: 55 Electives: 5
Stage 4
Core/Option: 55 Electives: 5 - Major/Minor Core & Option Credits:
- Stage 2: 50
Stage 3: 55
Stage 4: 50
Curricular information is subject to change.
2 - Apply economic, business and financial analysis to support decision making in the agri-food industry, and effectively communicate the results
3 - Develop agribusiness strategies and prepare business and marketing plans
4 - Explain key agricultural, food and environmental policies, and analyse their effects on the food system, the wider rural economy and the natural environment
5 - Understand core animal and crop production sciences, and evaluate their role in efficient farm management and achieving environmental objectives
6 - Describe basic food sciences including food quality and safety assurance, and assess their role in production and processing systems
7 - Analyse and evaluate food supply chains and agricultural markets
8 - Interface between the technical, scientific and commercial aspects of production, processing and marketing within the agri-food sector
9 - Develop and utilise a wide range of generic skills useful in further career development through specific class exercises, professional work experience and project work
10 - Demonstrate research, critical thinking and problem solving skills as they apply to the food and agribusiness sector
11 - Develop and apply skills in quantitative analysis
Stage 2
Autumn trimester: Students take 25 credits of core modules and choose one 5 credit option module.
Spring trimester: Students take 15 credits of core modules, choose one 5 credit option module and 10 credits of elective modules.
Stage 3
Autumn trimester: In addition to the 20 credits of core modules, students must take elective modules and/or Min 0 Option modules amounting to 10 credits.
Spring trimester: A 30 credit mandatory Professional Work Experience module must be undertaken in Stage 3.
Stage 4
In addition to the 50 credits of core modules, students must take elective modules amounting to 10 credits. It is recommended that students take their elective modules in Autumn to ensure a balanced workload of 30 credits in each trimester.
Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.
Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.
Trimester | Credits | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Stage 2 Core Modules |
AERD20030 | Business Management | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
CHEM00020 | Introductory Chemistry | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
FOR20100 | Applied Biostatistics | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
MICR20010 | Agricultural Microbiology | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
RDEV10030 | Introduction to Agricultural Economics and Business | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
CPSC20030 | Principles of Crop Science | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
RDEV20030 | Applied Economic Analysis | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
RDEV20140 | Health, Welfare & Safety in Agriculture | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Options - A)1 of: Choose one option module for Autumn trimester. |
AESC20060 | Soil Science Basics | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Options - A)1 of: Choose one option module for Autumn trimester. |
AESC30110 | Diversity in the Rural Landscape | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Options - B)1 of: Choose one option module for Spring trimester. |
FDSC20110 | Food Diet and Health II - Making Healthy Food Choices | Autumn and Spring (separate) | 5 |
Stage 2 Options - B)1 of: Choose one option module for Spring trimester. |
ANSC20020 | Animal Nutrition I | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Options - C) Min 0 of: The following modules are closely related to your programme and may be taken in place of electives. |
CPSC30050 | Organic Agriculture | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Options - C) Min 0 of: The following modules are closely related to your programme and may be taken in place of electives. |
ANSC20010 | Genetics and Biotechnology | Spring | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
AERD30180 | Professional Work Experience | 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) | 30 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
AERD30050 | Financial Planning and Control | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
AERD30200 | Statistics and Econometrics | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
BSEN40410 | Food Chain Integrity | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
FDSC30150 | Principles of Meat Science | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of: The following modules are closely related to your programme and may be taken instead of an elective worth 5 credits |
AESC30080 | Agri-Environmental Issues and Policy | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of: The following modules are closely related to your programme and may be taken instead of an elective worth 5 credits |
RDEV30160 | Food Poverty and Policy | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of: The following modules are closely related to your programme and may be taken instead of an elective worth 5 credits |
RDEV30380 | Knowledge Tfr for Farm Innovat | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
RDEV40670 | Food & Agribusiness Research Project | 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) | 10 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
AERD30190 | Farm Business Management | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
AERD40020 | International Food Marketing | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
AERD40180 | Enterprise Development | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
AERD30210 | Food and Agricultural Policy | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
AERD30220 | Agri-Taxation | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
AERD40040 | Food and Agribusiness Strategy | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
AERD40190 | Agri-Environmental Economics and Policy | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
RDEV30060 | Professional Communications | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of: The following modules are closely related to your programme and may be taken in place of electives. |
AERD40140 | Analysis of Prices and Markets in Global Agri-Business | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of: The following modules are closely related to your programme and may be taken in place of electives. |
ANSC30020 | Animal Breeding I | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of: The following modules are closely related to your programme and may be taken in place of electives. |
CPSC30050 | Organic Agriculture | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of: The following modules are closely related to your programme and may be taken in place of electives. |
RDEV30160 | Food Poverty and Policy | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of: The following modules are closely related to your programme and may be taken in place of electives. |
RDEV30380 | Knowledge Tfr for Farm Innovat | Autumn | 5 |
Module Weighting Info
Award | GPA | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Programme | Module Weightings | Rule Description | Description | ||
BHAGR007 | Stage 4 - 50.00% Stage 3 - 50.00% |
Standard Honours Award | First Class Honours | 3.68 |
4.20 |
Second Class Honours, Grade 1 | 3.08 |
3.67 |
|||
Second Class Honours, Grade 2 | 2.48 |
3.07 |
|||
Pass | 2.00 |
2.47 |