Explore UCD

UCD Home >

HORT10020

Academic Year 2025/2026

Plants and People (HORT10020)

Subject:
Horticulture
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Agriculture & Food Science
Level:
1 (Introductory)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Syed Bilal Hussain
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module introduces students to the central role of plants in supporting human life, wellbeing, and society. Plants underpin food systems, provide materials for medicine, shelter, and design, and play a critical role in climate regulation and ecosystem services.
The module explores plant use across agricultural, horticultural, environmental, and social contexts, including food and beverage production, ornamental and landscape horticulture, urban green spaces, and social horticulture. Historical and contemporary examples are used to illustrate how plant–people relationships have shaped cultures and continue to respond to global challenges such as climate change, sustainability, and food security.
Delivered by internal and visiting lecturers, the module develops students’ awareness of sustainability, global citizenship, and the societal relevance of plant science, while fostering interdisciplinary understanding and critical thinking in line with UCD graduate attributes.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to understand and describe:
- the fundamental relationship between humans and plants
- important role of plants in their own lives and in the lives of all organisms on Earth
- critical role that plants play in feeding the world (all food chains on the planet begin with plants on land and in the sea
- appreciate key features in the use of plants for design
- understand the role of plants in regulating climate

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

23
Autonomous Student Learning

77
Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Face-to-face lectures

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Exclusions:

Those who have previosuly taken Plants and People as an elective are advised not to register to this module.

While no students are excluded from this module, the content of the module may be too basic for students in Stages 3 and 4.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): Mid-term exam Week 7 Graded No
30
 No
Individual Project: Multimedia projects, presentations, or posters Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
20
 No
Exam (In-person): End of trimester examination. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No
50
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback post-assessment will be available on request by a student.

Name Role
Dr Noeleen Smyth Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32 Mon 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 14:00 - 14:50
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.