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Course Overview
WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?
The US $8 trillion agrifood sector is the largest contributor to economic development globally. In Ireland, the agrifood sector is a rapid-growth sector extensively providing food, employment and livelihoods.
The dynamic agrifood sector requires multidisciplinary skills to advance both agricultural productivity and sustainability, from production to consumption. This degree has a major focus on agricultural sustainability and innovation. Graduates will be equipped with practical multidisciplinary skills to pursue vibrant careers across all areas of agriculture and agrifood. To make a difference in the agrifood sector, you should choose this exciting new course.
Key Facts
Entry Requirements
Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, Mathematics, a laboratory science subject (i.e., Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry (joint), Computer Science or Agricultural Science) and any two other subjects recognised for entry purposes.
Duration
4 years
Next start date
September 2022
A Level Grades (2022)
nuigalway.ie/alevels
Average intake
20-30 students
QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes
4 (More Info)
CAO
GY322
Course Outline
YEAR ONE
• Key concepts in Agricultural Science and Agrifood Technology
• Biological and Chemical Sciences
• Sustainability and Business
This year is taught through lectures, labbased practical classes, interactive online assessments and AgSci tutorials and seminars.
YEAR TWO
• Rural Environments
• Animal Nutrition
• Agribiochemicals
• Agribiosciences
• Sustainability & Management
• Food Chemistry
• Agrigeography and Geographical Information Systems
• The practical Fieldwork and Skills Development module is a particularly important part of Year 2.
YEAR THREE
• Agrisciences for Global Development
• Soil Sciences
• Agrigenetics
• Forestry Systems
• Organic Farming
You will specialise further in your academic training and spend a semester on a work placement within a leading and dynamic agricultural or agrifood enterprise.
YEAR FOUR
You will select from a range of tailored modules to provide you with the skills needed for your future career. These will support your Final Year Project Thesis, a 20 ECTS project within University of Galway research groups (e.g, of the Ryan Institute) or a research placement at Teagasc or other leading agri-institutions in Ireland and globally. The taught 4th year module options include:
• Advanced Livestock Science
• Sustainable Grassland Systems
• Crop Science & Agronomy
• Crop Genetics
• Climate Change & Agriculture
• Agridevelopment
• Agriextension & Communications
• Agricultural Biotechnology
• Project & Financial Management & Structures
• Food Innovation Systems & Value Chains.
Curriculum Information
Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Glossary of Terms
- Credits
- You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
- Module
- An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
- Subject
- Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
- Optional
- A module you may choose to study.
- Required
- A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
- Required Core Subject
- A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
- Semester
- Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.
Year 1 (60 Credits)
Required BO101: Biology - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Required AG1101: Introduction to Agricultural Science - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required PH101: Physics - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Required DEV1100: Introduction to Sustainable Development I - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Required DEV1101: Introduction to Sustainable Development II - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Year 2 (60 Credits)
Optional BO2101: Scientific Writing Skills - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional DEV1103: Introduction to International Development - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required AG2103: Animal Health, Welfare and Quality Assurance - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required AG2102: Farm safety and on-farm Risk Assessment - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required AG2101: Livestock Animal Nutrition - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required TI2102: Introduction To GIS - 10 Credits - Semester 3
Required DEV2101: Sustainable Agriculture - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional TI245: Rural Geography:Concepts & European Perspectives - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required AG2104: Animal Breeding and Reproductive Physiology - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required PAB2101: AgriBiosciences - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required TI258: Rural Environments: Sustainability & Management - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required DEV2100: Comparative Rural Business Development - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required TI2103: Food Geographies: Theory and Practice - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Year 3 (60 Credits)
Year 4 (60 Credits)
Further Education
Graduates will be extremely well positioned to pursue postgraduate programs at Masters or PhD level. In particular, graduates will be eligible to pursue more specialised agri-related Masters degree programs at University of Galway, including:
• MSc in Climate Change, Agriculture & Food Security (Taught)
• MSc in Agrifood Technology & Sustainability
• MSc in Agribiosciences (Structured Research)
As the largest Research Institute in University of Galway, whose sustainability mission is focused on agriculture and bioeconomy, the Ryan Institute (www.ryaninstitute.ie) maintains a list of all available postgraduate programs in University of Galway which can be of relevance to the graduates of the BSc Agricultural Sciences program at University of Galway: www.nuigalway.ie/ryaninstitute/ postgraduateprograms/.
Why Choose This Course?
Career Opportunities
The University of Galway BSc Agricultural Science degree is designed to meet the demand from agrifood employers in Ireland and globally for graduates with the interdisciplinary skills and depth of knowledge of the agrifood sector that can effect positive change within the institutions and in the sector.
The top 1000 agrifood companies in Ireland are listed on: http://www.top1000. ie/industries/agribusiness. At the global level, agrifood companies feature very strongly in the Forbes 2000 list of the largest companies globally: https://www. forbes.com/global2000/#4cc0efed335d. In addition to careers in existing companies, graduates with interests in entrepreneurship and self-employment will be facilitated to pursue the establishment of their own enterprises. The University of Galway BSc Agricultural Science degree has extensive contacts with public sector and NGO institutions that can also provide excellent career pathways for our graduates.
Work Placement
In Year Three, students spend a semester on a work placement within a leading and dynamic agricultural or agrifood enterprise.
Study Abroad
The BSc Agricultural Science degree will encourage and facilitate study abroad opportunities for students as they arise and where they are high-quality and consistent with the mission and quality education outcomes mission of the BSc Agricultural Science degree at University of Galway.
Course Fees
Fees: EU
Fees: Tuition
Fees: Student Contribution
Fees: Student levy
Fees: Non EU
EU Fees are comprised of Tuition + Student Contribution Charge + Student Levy** €140. **Payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI. Further detail here.
Find out More
Professor Cathal O’Donoghue,
College of Science and Engineering
E: [email protected]
Professor Charles Spillane,
College of Science and Engineering
E: [email protected]