This programme in Horticulture, Landscape & Sportsturf Management provides students with the education and skills to enable them to attain leadership roles, and to both set and maintain professional standards of excellence within horticulture in Ireland and globally. Graduates can become professional horticulturists and horticultural scientists who utilise their scientific education to provide sustainable management of horticulture enterprises, services and organisations. They have the capacity to be educators, to influence and direct policy and governance at corporate, local, national and international level for the betterment of their enterprise or services and the wider community. Dissemination of knowledge by engagement with the various industry sectors and horticultural services is a key activity for staff and students. Student education is informed by active internationally recognised research where engagement in learning is through formal lectures, practical classes, scenario based learning, group and individual research project work. Teaching and learning activities are conducted in an atmosphere of fairness, quality, and excellence, which is supported by an assessment process, which includes the submission and critique of reports, continuous assessment, individual and group project presentations and end of module examinations, designed to provide students with a record of their academic progress. Their educational experience is enriched by intensive interaction with staff as part of our community of scholars and by their participation in study abroad opportunities, professional work placement and within-module industry/site visits. This programme enables students to develop critical thinking capabilities, to be confident and competent individuals who have the ability to acquire the knowledge necessary for professional decision-making and to advocate for horticulture in a global context. The programme facilitates the progression of students from other horticulture courses and welcomes mature applicants.

1 - Describe and communicate multiple examples of the importance of plants for human health and well-being..
2 - Evaluate and demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of horticultural systems including an understanding of the art, science, business, technology and sustainability of intensive plant cultivation for human use.
3 - Evaluate and demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the growth, development and protection of plants for food, leisure, sports, environmental use and health benefits.
4 - Demonstrate knowledge of Irish, European and global horticulture, landscape and sportsturf industries.
5 - Apply the principles underpinning sound horticultural practice acquired in the following key areas: Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Plant Biology, Plant Physiology, Microbiology, Soil Science, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Statistics and Agribusiness,
6 - Apply the principles underpinning sound horticultural practice acquired in the following key areas: Plant Identification and Appropriate Use of Plant Material, Horticulture Food Production, Landscape Design.
7 - Apply the principles underpinning sound horticultural practice acquired in the following key areas: Sports Turf Construction and Management, Nursery Stock Production and Sales, Information and Communication Technology.
8 - Apply practical horticultural skills and techniques such as plant selection, propagation, cultivation and plant protection required in food, environmental and social & therapeutic horticulture.
9 - Devise scientific investigations and identify relevant accurate information and synthesise knowledge to generate effective solutions to problems within the horticulture industry.
10 - Research, combine and apply the interpretation and application of new scientific, technological & business knowledge to their horticultural practice.
11 - Create, plan and realise sustainable management of biological, human, financial, and social resources, to ensure the success of commercial and non-commercial horticulture enterprises.
12 - Apply relevant scientific evidence and other knowledge, to effect horticultural policy, evaluation and analysis.
13 - Use a range of communication and advocacy techniques to interact effectively with all relevant stakeholders.

This degree programme includes Horticulture, Sportsturf Management, Landscape Management and Social & Therapeutic Horticulture.

Horticulture is the art and science of plant cultivation for human use. It is a topic that covers a vast and interesting range of modules, including all of the sciences, plant protection (pests and diseases), environmental studies, business, management and communications and of course growing plants.

Sportsturf Management focuses on the science behind developing and maintaining Ireland's golf courses, tennis courts, and football, rugby and other sports pitches.

Nursery, Garden Centre and Ornamental Plant Production concentrates on the booming business of growing plants for housing developments, road construction and other projects.

Social & Therapeutic Horticulture looks at the interaction between humans and plants and the use of horticulture to develop social capital and its use in therapy. This area would be of interest for those individuals who like working with people and plants.

Fresh Produce Production studies food production, food supply and globalisation and its impact on food supply, safety and quality.

The objectives of this degree are to give you: 

- An appreciation of the importance of plants for human existence

- Knowledge of the growth, development and protection of plants and use of plants for food, leisure, sports, social and environmental benefits

- An understanding of horticultural plant production systems and how their components are integrated and managed in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner

- Knowledge of the horticulture, landscape and sportsturf industries in Ireland

STAGE 1
Stage 1 will ensure that you have a good knowledge of the core sciences, e.g. biology, chemistry and physics. You will also undertake Introduction to Horticulture, Landscape & Sportsturf Management, which provides a good insight of the degree programme in the subsequent stages.

STAGE 2
In Stage 2 you will go on to cover the applied sciences such as Chemistry, Soil Science and Plant Physiology as well as modules and electives in Business Management and Fundamentals of Horticulture.

STAGES 3 & 4
Later stages cover the core modules including:
- Nursery / Garden Centre Management and Retail Horticulture
- Protected Food Crops and Mushroom Production
- Fruit Growing
- Potato and Vegetable Crops
- Landscape Trees and Shrubs
- Sportsturf Management
- Landscape Management
- Garden Design

PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
Professional Work Experience is an important element of your degree and gives you the opportunity to further develop your skills in a real-life environment. Five months work experience is taken in your area of interest between Stages 3 and 4 of your degree.

All or part of your Professional Work Experience can be taken abroad. EU-funded exchange programmes may be available to facilitate study abroad, or you can consider Australia and the USA. Studying abroad for an entire semester is also possible.

This degree maintains strong links with the horticulture industry.

Career opportunities include management, technical advisory, consultancy, research, quality assurance and sales or marketing positions, working for companies or within your own business.

Opportunities also exist in state, semi-state, EU and international organisations. Your transferable skills will also make you highly employable in other industries. Master’s and PhD degrees are also available.

UCD Agriculture and Food Science Programme Office,
Agriculture and Food Science Centre,
Belfield,
Dublin 4
Tel: +353 1 716 7194
Email:agandfoodprogrammes@ucd.ie
Web:www.ucd.ie/agfood

In addition to the 50 credits of core modules, students must choose 2 option modules amounting to ten credits from the option list.
It is recommended that option modules are taken in the Autumn trimester for a balanced workload.

In addition to the 50 credits of core modules, students must take elective credits amounting to ten (10) credits. Please note these credits can be taken in either Autumn or Spring Trimesters.

In addition to the 50 credits of core modules, students must take an additional 10 credits by either:

1). Taking elective credits (totalling 10 credits)

2). Taking a combination of the option module listed and an elective credit to make up 10 credits in total


A period of Professional Work Experience is mandatory and must be undertaken in Stage 3.

In addition to the 55 credits of core modules, students must take an elective credit (five (5) credits). Please note this elective can only be taken in the Autumn Trimester.

Module ID	Module Title	Trimester	Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
CHEM00020	Introductory Chemistry	Autumn	5
MATH10230	Mathematics for Agriculture I	Autumn	5
PHYC10180	Physics for Ag. Science	Autumn	5
RDEV10030	Introduction to Agricultural Economics and Business	Autumn	5
BIOL10010	Animal Biology and Evolution	Spring	5
BIOL10030	Cell and Plant Biology	Spring	5
CHEM10010	Introduction to the Chemistry of Biomolecules	Spring	5
HORT10020	Plants and People	Spring	5
MATH10240	Mathematics for Agriculture II	Spring	5
PHYC10190	Aspects of Physics for Ag. Sci	Spring	5
Stage 1 Core Modules
Stage 1 Options - A)2OF: It is recommended that students select options in the Autumn trimester for a balanced workload.
AESC10010	Land Use and the Environment	Autumn	5
FOR10020	Trees and Forests in Ireland	Autumn	5
RDEV10020	Information Skills	Autumn	5
FDSC10010	Food Diet and Health	Autumn and Spring (separate)	5
ANSC10010	Introduction to Animal Science	Spring	5
Stage 1 Options - A)2OF: It is recommended that students select options in the Autumn trimester for a balanced workload.
Stage 2 Core Modules
AERD20030	Business Management	Autumn	5
AESC20060	Soil Science Basics	Autumn	5
FDSC20010	Food Macronutrients	Autumn	5
HORT20070	Agricultural Botany	Autumn	5
MICR20010	Agricultural Microbiology	Autumn	5
BSEN20010	Engineering and Surveying	Spring	5
CPSC20040	Physiological Plant Ecology	Spring	5
FDSC20100	Agricultural Biochemistry	Spring	5
HORT20020	Fundamentals of Horticulture	Spring	5
RDEV20140	Health, Welfare & Safety in Agriculture	Spring	5
Stage 2 Core Modules
Stage 3 Core Modules
AESC30210	Plant Protection - Pests	Autumn	5
AESC30220	Soil Science Applications	Autumn	5
BIOL30010	Plant Diseases: Biology and Control	Autumn	5
HORT30050	Landscape Trees and Shrubs	Autumn	5
AESC30010	Scientific Writing and Review	Spring	5
HORT20060	Sportsturf Construction	Spring	5
HORT30020	Elements of Landscape Design	Spring	5
HORT30040	Landscape Management	Spring	5
HORT30070	Professional Work Experience	Spring	10
Stage 3 Core Modules
Stage 3 Options - A)MIN0OF: Options
HORT30270	Horticulture Seminar	Autumn	5
Stage 3 Options - A)MIN0OF: Options
Stage 4 Core Modules
AERD30020	Enterprise Development	Autumn	5
FOR20100	Applied Biostatistics	Autumn	5
HORT30190	Food Production: Fruit and Post Harvest Physiology	Autumn	5
HORT40110	Food Production: Vegetable Crops	Autumn	5
HORT40120	Food Production: Protected Crops	Autumn	5
HORT30260	Sportsturf Management	Spring	5
HORT40080	Research Project	Spring	15
HORT40090	Nursery Production & Management	Spring	5
RDEV30060	Professional Communications	Spring	5
Stage 4 Core Modules

		Award		GPA
Programme	Module Weightings	Rule Description	Description
BHAGR001	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