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Horticulture, Landscape & Sportsturf Management (HLS1)

Undergraduate (Level 8 NFQ, Credits 240)
Academic Year 2024/2025
Study Abroad
Duration:
4 Year(s)
Next Intake:
2024/2025 September
Country Specific Entry Requirements:
Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.

Curricular information is subject to change.

Our World faces immense challenges; climate change, mass migration from the countryside to mega cities, food shortages, excess consumption, food waste and pollution. Through the sustainable cultivation of plants and an increase in plant-based diets, many of these challenges can be overcome. Plants provide the oxygen we breathe, the food we eat, our shelter and medicines.

This course covers the sciences, environmental studies, business, management and communication skills related to growing food and non-food plants. You will also study the science behind  developing and maintaining Ireland’s designed landscapes, golf courses, tennis courts and sport pitches.

The objectives of this degree are to give you:

  • 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.
  • The skills to become a competent, competitive and confident leader who will excel in the national or global horticulture community as a professional horticulturist or horticultural scientist.

About this Course

You will study core science subjects in first year, and then develop your horticulture knowledge with specialist modules.

Students spend an average of 40 hours a week attending, lectures, tutorials and laboratory practicals, as well as participating in industry site visits, field and greenhouse workshops, and undertaking independent study and research.

Assessment includes continuous assessment (e.g. class tests, essays) and end-of-trimester written  examinations. In your final year, assessments are largely based on the project reports.

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
     
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
     
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
     
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 2 Options
     
BIOL20050 Climate Change and Agriculture Autumn

5

FOR20120 Apiculture - bees, pollination and people Autumn

5

FDSC20110 Food Diet and Health II - Making Healthy Food Choices Autumn and Spring (separate)

5

CPSC20030 Principles of Crop Science Spring

5

Stage 2 Options
     
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 Plants Autumn

5

AESC30010 Scientific Writing and Review Spring

5

HORT30020 Elements of Landscape Design Spring

5

HORT30040 Landscape Management Spring

5

HORT30070 Professional Work Experience Spring

10

HORT30390 Plant Biotechnology & Micropro Spring

5

Stage 3 Core Modules
     
Stage 3 Options
     
FOR30430 Geographic Information Systems Autumn

5

HORT30270 Horticulture Seminar Autumn

5

RDEV30380 Knowledge Tfr for Farm Innovat Autumn

5

Stage 3 Options
     
Stage 4 Core Modules
     
AERD40180 Enterprise Development Autumn

5

FOR20100 Applied Biostatistics Autumn

5

HORT40110 Food Production: Vegetable Crops Autumn

5

HORT40120 Food Production: Protected Crops Autumn

5

HORT40130 Fruit & Postharvest Physiology Autumn

5

HORT30400 Sportsturf Spring

5

HORT40080 Research Project Spring

15

HORT40090 Nursery Production & Management Spring

5

RDEV30060 Professional Communications Spring

5

Stage 4 Core Modules
     
Stage 4 Options
     
AESC40150 Wildlife Conservation Autumn

5

AESC40660 Plants, Roots and Productivity Autumn

5

All or part of your five-month PWE  in third year can be taken abroad, with possibilities including Japan, New Zealand, Australia, USA, Britain and Europe.

Studying abroad for one trimester is also a popular option for many students.

  • Cornell University, USA
  • University of Queensland, Australia
  • Lincoln University, New Zealand

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.

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

The following entry route(s) are available:
 

Applications are not open for this Course

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Horticulture, Landscape & Sportsturf Management (HLS1)

Undergraduate (Level 8 NFQ, Credits 240)