Coursework programs
Master of Agricultural Science and Management – Melbourne (Bundoora) (SMASAC)
This two year, full-time Master of Agricultural Science and Management degree is an innovative offering from La Trobe University. Its graduates will acquire a range of skills and understanding in the production, sustainability, and agribusiness areas of agriculture, with the opportunity for additional focus in the plant, animal or biotechnology areas. In addition, the core subjects and case-study teaching style will impart generic skills required for competitive positions in research or management, for science or agribusiness organisations.
Admission requirements
Applicants must have completed a degree equivalent to an Australian Bachelor of Science or its equivalent with a specialisation in an agricultural or biological discipline. Consideration will also be given to applicants who can demonstrate an equivalent qualification based on a degree or diploma in addition to significant work experience in an area of direct relevance. Selection will be based on academic merit.
Course structure
The two year course will be moderated by interview with each applicant and the design of a specific program to suit their particular interests and experience. The Master of Agricultural Science and Management requires the completion of 240 credit points. Core subjects in the first semester include a basic grounding in land management, agricultural economics and written communication skills. Electives in this semester will be selected by the students to further their knowledge in plant or animal science. The second semester core subjects consist of two agricultural science subjects. The first is an introduction to the case-study analysis that underpins our methods of studying agricultural problems by the integration of discipline-specific knowledge. In this case, three studies will be undertaken in the areas of practical animal welfare and ethics, pasture production and an animal production system. The second core subject will explore issues such as the sustainability of agricultural systems, the impact of agriculture on the environment and the use of new technology to develop more sustainable agricultural systems. In the third semester, three case studies will assess each of the major areas of agricultural production in Victoria and include extensive field analysis and client interaction. The AGR5RAC subject will extend the first year stream designed to develop presentation and research skills and will involve a major literature review in preparation for the thesis writing in the project.
The fourth semester is research based and consists wholly of the project subject (AGR5MAP). The project subject requires the completion of a major thesis and a literature review based on the research topic.
First year
Core subjects (120 credit points)
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Introduction to Land and Soil Management | AGR2ILM | 20 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Agricultural Management Economics | AGR3AME | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Communication and Critical Analysis | AGR4CCA | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Plant Pests and Diseases OR Animal Protection | AGR3PPD OR AGR4ANP | 10 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Agricultural Environments and Sustainability | AGR4AES | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Soil Science | AGR4ASS | 20 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Foundations of Agricultural Case Studies | AGR4FAC | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Sustainable Plant Production OR Topics in Animal Nutrition | AGR3SPP OR AGR4TAN | 10 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Topics in Animal Nutrition | AGR4TAN | 10 |
Second year
Core subjects (120 credit points)
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Agricultural Case Studies | AGR4ACS | 20 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Research Analysis and Communication | AGR5RAC | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Advanced Experimental Design | AGR4AED | 10 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Commodity Derivatives | FIN3DER | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Masters in Agriculture Project | AGR5MAP | 60 |