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Crop Science (CPS3)

Undergraduate (Level 8 NFQ, Credits 240)
Academic Year 2024/2025
Study Abroad
Scholarships Available
Sustainable Development Goals
Duration:
4 Year(s)
Next Intake:
2024/2025 September
General Entry Requirements (A-Level)

ABC / BBCD / BBC +
D AS Level

Subject Requirements (Mathematics)

GCSE C / AS Level D
/ A Level E
IB SL 4 / HL 3

Subject Requirements (Laboratory Science)

GCSE C / AS Level D
/ A Level E
IB SL 4 / HL 3

General Entry Requirements (IB)

26

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.

Curricular information is subject to change.

Agronomy is the science of crop production and soil management, leading to improvements in crop yield and quality.

Environmental challenges, production of biofuels, and the growing demand for major food crops like wheat and rice, make agriculture and crop science a vital subject for our future well-being. You will learn about the science, production and  management of crops, from genes and cells through to fields, farms and the development of future crops from subject experts who are active researchers in the most rapidly developing area of agriculture and agri- business.

About this Course

First year concentrates on developing the basic sciences, before the focus moves to more applied sciences.

Students spend an average of 40 hours a week attending lectures and tutorials, participating in laboratory-based practicals and undertaking independent study.

A combination  of  continuous assessment and end-of-trimester written examinations is used. Certain modules also require project work.

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.

Module ID Module Title Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
     
AESC10010 Land Use and the Environment Autumn

5

CHEM00020 Introductory Chemistry Autumn

5

MATH10230 Mathematics for Agriculture I Autumn

5

PHYC10180 Physics for Ag. Science Autumn

5

RDEV10020 Information Skills Autumn

5

RDEV10030 Introduction to Agricultural Economics and Business Autumn

5

ANSC10010 Introduction to Animal Science Spring

5

BIOL10010 Animal Biology and Evolution Spring

5

BIOL10030 Cell and Plant Biology Spring

5

CHEM10010 Introduction to the Chemistry of Biomolecules Spring

5

CPSC10010 Introduction to Crop Science Spring

5

Stage 1 Core Modules
     
Stage 1 Options
     
PHYC10190 Aspects of Physics for Ag. Sci Spring

5

RDEV10040 Introduction to Food and Agribusiness Management Spring

5

Stage 1 Options
     
Stage 2 Core Modules
     
AESC20060 Soil Science Basics Autumn

5

BSEN30170 Agricultural Mechanisation: Engines and Crop Machinery Autumn

5

FOR20100 Applied Biostatistics Autumn

5

HORT20070 Agricultural Botany Autumn

5

MICR20010 Agricultural Microbiology Autumn

5

BSEN30020 Buildings and Environment Spring

5

CPSC20020 Fundamentals of Arable Crop Production Spring

5

CPSC20040 Physiological Plant Ecology Spring

5

FDSC20100 Agricultural Biochemistry Spring

5

RDEV20140 Health, Welfare & Safety in Agriculture Spring

5

Stage 2 Core Modules
     
Stage 2 Options
     
AERD20030 Business Management Autumn

5

BIOL20050 Climate Change and Agriculture Autumn

5

ANSC20010 Genetics and Biotechnology Spring

5

Stage 2 Options
     
Stage 3 Core Modules
     
CPSC30010 Professional Work Experience 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)

30

AESC30100 Pests, Parasites and Beneficials Autumn

5

BIOL30010 Plant Diseases: Biology and Control Autumn

5

CPSC30050 Organic Agriculture Autumn

5

CPSC30100 Emerging Crop Pathogens Autumn

5

Stage 3 Core Modules
     
Stage 3 Options
     
AERD40140 Analysis of Prices and Markets in Global Agri-Business Autumn

5

AESC30220 Soil Science Applications Autumn

5

RDEV30380 Knowledge Tfr for Farm Innovat Autumn

5

Stage 3 Options
     
Stage 4 Core Modules
     
AERD30190 Farm Business Management Autumn

5

AESC40660 Plants, Roots and Productivity Autumn

5

CPSC30040 Grass and Forage Production Autumn

5

CPSC40010 Cereal Production Autumn

5

AESC30160 Agrichemicals and the Environment Spring

5

AESC30230 Climate, Carbon and Soil Spring

5

CPSC40050 Devs in Crop Production & Util Spring

5

HORT10030 Plant-based Diets Spring

5

CPSC30080 Use of Integrated Pest Management Practices in Crop Management Programmes Summer

5

BOTN40190 Plants and Stress

5

A PWE placement takes place in third year and may be taken internationally. 

In addition, an opportunity exists to take a trimester abroad in the Autumn Trimester of third year in an international university such as:

  • Kansas State University, USA
  • Texas A&M University, USA
  • Purdue University, USA
  • Michigan State University, USA
  • Cornell University, USA

The potential opportunities for graduates are in a wide variety of areas such as

  • Agribusiness
  • Brewing and malting sectors,
  • Crop advisory work for state organisations
  • Private consultancy
  • Financial services

This is also a very suitable degree if you intend to pursue full-time farming or combine part-time farming with a professional career. Research opportunities to master’s and PhD level are available.

Non-EU Undergraduate Fee information can be found here.

UCD offers a number of competitive undergraduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD undergraduate degree programme. For information on Undergraduate Scholarships, please see the UCD International Scholarships webpage.

The following advice is for Non-EU applicants. For Irish/EU/UK students, please apply via MyUCD.

The following entry route(s) are available:
 
BAgrSc Crop Science (CPS3) - Face to Face
Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Entry in Sep 2024
Full Time - Apply from Oct 2023 Apply

SDG1 SDG2 SDG3 SDG 12 SDG 13 SDG 15

Understanding of crop science is a key aspect of sustainable agricultural practices. Crops are pivotal in developing climate-smart agriculture through food security, nutrition and resources sustainability. Crops underpin both human and livestock production and hence the production of crops in a way that optimises the use of soil and water resources while supporting biodiversity and climate-smart agricultural practices is a fundamental aspect of crop science. This aligns with the vision of the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science as the crop teaching and research programmes work with the entire sector from pre and post-farm gate through the processing sector and into national and international companies. The crop science programme supports the development of strategies relating to UN Sustainable Development Goals:

  • No Poverty (SDG 1)
  • No Hunger (SDG 2)
  • Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3)
  • Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)
  • Climate Action (SDG 13)
  • Life on Land (SDG 15)
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Crop Science (CPS3)

Undergraduate (Level 8 NFQ, Credits 240)