Global Utilities

La Trobe University
University Handbook 2010

Undergraduate courses offered by the Faculty

Bachelor of Viticultural Science and Wine Production (SBVSWP) – Melbourne (Bundoora)

This degree is being phased out. No new enrolments will be permitted from 2008.

This course is designed to provide professional scientific training in all aspects of viticultural science and wine production plus practical experience in vineyard operations, viticultural science, winemaking and marketing, oenology and wine production, with experience in commercial vineyards and wineries and a major placement with a commercial winemaker.

It is expected that graduates will be employed within a wide range of positions in the grape and wine industries.

Industry experience

In the first three years of the degree, industry experience in viticulture is required in each of three different climatic regions. In the Honours (fourth) year, a major placement in one or two commercial wineries is required.

Course structure

The course requires the completion of 480 credit points over four years of full-time study or the part-time equivalent.

The first year of the course covers the basic sciences microeconomics, management of grapevines and palate training. Second year of the degree covers advanced sciences, statistics, agribusiness, vineyard operations, and wine appraisal plus one or two elective subjects. The third year of the degree includes advanced sciences plus specialist studies in viticultural science, case studies in viticulture and wine, wine appraisal, plus one or two elective subjects. In the case studies, students solve problems on real issues in viticulture and winemaking.

The fourth year of the degree includes a major work placement in one or two approved commercial wineries, which may include wineries in the southern and/or northern hemisphere, three coursework subjects, wine appraisal, and a major research project. Entry to the fourth (Honours) year of the degree is based on academic achievement in the prerequisite subjects AGR3WPT and AGR3VTS. Students who pass the first three years of the degree but fail to obtain entry to the fourth year, or students who do not wish to proceed to the Honours year, will be awarded the degree of Bachelor of Viticultural Science.

First and Second Year of this course are no longer offered, please see the 2009 Handbook for full course details. The following course structure is for current students completing the Bachelor of Viticultural Science and Wine Production.

Third year (120 credit points)

Core subjects (90 credit points)

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Plant Pests and Diseases AGR3PPD 10
TE-SEM-1 Wine Production Technology AGR3WPT 20
TE-SEM-1 Viticulture and Wine Production Issues A AGR3VWA 5
TE-SEM-2 Land and Soil Management AGR3LSM 20
TE-SEM-2 Sustainable Plant Production AGR3SPP 10
TE-SEM-2 Viticulture and Wine Production Issues B AGR3VWB 5
TE-SEM-2 Viticultural Science AGR3VTS 20

Electives (30 credit points)

Any subject from the above second year list of recommended subjects, or subjects from the following:

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Communication and Critical Analysis AGR4CCA 15
TE-SEM-1 Field and Environmental Botany BOT3FEB 30
TE-SEM-1 Human and Molecular Genetics GEN2HMG 20
TE-SEM-1 Marketing Communication MKT3MCO 15
TE-SEM-1 Water Resource Management ENV3WRM 10
TE-SEM-2 Agriculture Environment Interactions AGR3AEI 10
TE-SEM-2 Ecology, Systematics and Evolution BOT3ESE 30
TE-SEM-2 International Marketing MKT3IMK 15
TE-SEM-2 Landscape Management with GIS and Remote Sensing AGR2LMG 10
TE-SEM-2 Plant Biotechnology BOT3PB 30
TE-SEM-2 Strategic Marketing MKT3SMK 15
Fourth year (120 credit points)
Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Wine Making Issues and Marketing AGR4WMM 15
TE-SEM-1 Wine Production Technology AGR4WPT 15
TE-SEM-1 Wine Appreciation Project A1 AGR4WAA 5
TE-SEM-1 Wine Industry /Oenology Project A2 AGR4WIA 30
TE-SEM-2 Wine Appreciation Project B1 AGR4WAB 5
TE-SEM-2 Wine Industry/Oenology Project B2 AGR4WIB 35
TE-SEM-2 Oenology – Wine Science and Analysis AGR4OEN 15

Key: 1 Linked subjects: normally taken in the one academic year.

2 Linked subjects: both subjects must be taken in the one academic year.

For a full description of subjects, including the subject name, subject code, credit points, campus/location, subject coordinator, class requirements, assessment, prerequisites and readings, students should access the Subject Database at www.latrobe.edu.au/udb_public.