Programme Specifications
Agriculture with Animal Science
Information provided by Department of Life Sciences:
N/A
Information provided by Department of Life Sciences:
Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Food and Consumer Sciences
Information provided by Department of Life Sciences:
August 2024
Information provided by Department of Life Sciences:
An Agriculture with Animal Science degree is an application-orientated programme requiring study across a broad spectrum of disciplines from natural sciences to social science, policy, economics and management. The degree is interdisciplinary, drawing on diverse disciplines but each with a clear and integrated set of learning outcomes. The study programme includes many elements that are subject-specific. Graduates with an Agriculture with Animal Science degree will have a thorough understanding of crop and animal production methods and of the underpinning scientific, economic and business principles. In addition, they will further develop knowledge and skills across animal nutrition and husbandry, biochemistry and physiology of animals, reproductive and developmental biology, disease control and animal welfare. In particular they will be able to:
identify technological and economic problems encountered in current production systems;
demonstrate an understanding of physiological, reproductive and nutritional principles of livestock;
evaluate new techniques and, where appropriate, apply them to commercial practice;
identify, evaluate and apply relevant scientific principles to production systems;
know how to organise and manage a business for profit;
identify and evaluate public concerns over food production practices and
evaluate the wider consequences of agricultural activities.
This degree will have built into its modular structure a number of options that allow for Welsh Medium teaching that meets the need of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.
Subject specific skills
Graduates will have a well-grounded understanding of the science and management of sustainable production systems which comprise the agricultural industry within the socio-economic and environmental contexts required by society. They will be able to :
Demonstrate understanding of the scientific factors limiting production
Demonstrate an understanding of how production systems can be improved by manipulation and management
Recognise and address the ethical implications of production systems
Achieve a level of specialist knowledge and understanding, allowing them to work as subject specialists within the agricultural industry
Apply their discipline to solve problems in the agricultural industry
Appreciate the needs and requirements of society
Apply knowledge to a wide range of real-life situations
Describe and evaluate a wide range of economic and business management theoryand techniques
Demonstrate familiarity with relevant policy and understand its aims
Apply and evaluate a range of specific scientific and technological processes
Appraise and evaluate the roles and responsibility of regulatory and advisory bodies
Identify and evaluate appropriate knowledge bases and a range of theoretical perspectives
Apply a range of methods to problem evaluation and amelioration
Communicate effectively on a wide range of agricultural issues
Describe, apply and evaluate professional standards and responsibilities in relation to the agricultural industry
Generic and graduate skills
The following transferable skills will be developed and assessed as part of the course:-
Intellectual skills
Practical skills
Numeracy
Communication skills
Information and communication technology
Interpersonal / teamwork skills
Self-management and professional development skills
Information provided by Department of Life Sciences:
Overall aim of the scheme
To develop the knowledge and skills required by those who may go on to pursue careers as managers of agricultural enterprises and businesses or become involved in the support industries, advisory work and research and development together with additional specialist knowledge of Animal Science to enable them to work as subject specialists and engage with discourse at a detailed level.
Information provided by Department of Life Sciences:
By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific factors influencing crop and, particularly, livestock production
Recognise how production systems can be improved by manipulation and management and identify and address the ethical and environmental implications of production systems
Appraise and evaluate the policy and socioeconomic factors which form and influence systems
Describe and evaluate a wide range of economic and business management theory and techniques relevant to agriculture
Apply and evaluate a range of specific scientific and technological processes
Apply the principles of a safe working environment and underline importance of health and safety as well as the protection and enhancement of the environment in a wide range of real-life situations
Learning and Teaching
Lectures; tutorials and seminars; student-led seminars; specialist external lectures; field and laboratory practical classes; problem-based learning scenarios and case studies; role play; literature based research; computer-assisted learning; working in groups on live projects with external organisations; visits to commercial businesses and organisations.
Assessment Strategies and Methods
Written examinations and coursework to include: report writing, oral and poster presentations; the submission of a research proposal; assessment based on real life problems.
Information provided by Department of Life Sciences:
10.2.1 Intellectual Skills
By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate:
Apply the skills needed to contextualise academic study and enquiry
Select and use appropriate relevant information from a wide range of sources in order to gain an understanding of theory and practice.
Undertake investigations to evaluate issues and changing situations.
Apply knowledge and understanding to address and solve familiar and novel problems.
Learning and Teaching
Lectures; tutorials and seminars; student-led seminars; specialist external lectures; field and laboratory practical classes; problem-based learning scenarios and case studies; role play; literature based research; computer-assisted learning; working in groups on live projects with external organisations; visits to commercial businesses and organisations.
Assessment Strategies and Methods
Written examinations and coursework to include: report writing, oral and poster presentations; the submission of an undergraduate dissertation; assessment based on real-life problems.
10.2.2 Professional practical skills (where applicable)
By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to:
Recognise and use appropriate theories, concepts and principles from a range of disciplines.
Plan, conduct, and report on investigations (including secondary data).
Collect, record, summarise and interpret diverse data and information using appropriate techniques.
Plan and manage practical work in the field and laboratory with due regard to health and safety.
Apply appropriate scientific, technical and business solutions to a range of agricultural situations.
Learning and Teaching
Professional skills are acquired and developed during practical work, field visits, class activities with additional (optional/extra-curricular) opportunities to acquire standard industry certification body qualifications.
Assessment Strategies and Methods
Coursework to include the submission of technical reports, business and management plans, feed analysis, crop management reports, practical precision farming exercises in media including posters, leaflets and technical or consultancy reports. Students will be provided with real life scenarios including crop plots where critical management decisions are taken as a pedagogic tool. Students are expected to make critical reference to the application of practical skills in their written examinations. The research proposal and dissertation should develop skills in conceiving and planning laboratory/field investigations or case studies, in the collection and recording of library, laboratory or field data and develop skills to summarise and synthesise using appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative techniques.
Information provided by Department of Life Sciences:
By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to:
Communicate accurately, clearly, confidently and appropriately to a range of different audiences, including academics, practitioners, special interest groups and the wider public using a range of communication techniques.
Undertake practical work and show an awareness of the health and safety issues related to working in the agricultural industry.
Apply information technology, numeric techniques and analysis of data to a variety of tasks.
Analyse problems and develop appropriate solutions.
Improve their own performance and plan their personal development.
Learning and Teaching
Transferable/key skills are incorporated within modules and related to relevant assessments as appropriate. Students learn and develop skills through tutorials; student and tutor-led seminars; problem-based learning scenarios; practical workshops; self-directed learning; oral presentations and work experience. Employment and employability related skills and team work are developed in classes and on visits.
Assessment Strategies and Methods
Transferable/key skills are
incorporated within modules and related to relevant assessments as
appropriate. Students further learn and develop skills through
tutorials / seminars; problem-based learning scenarios; practical
workshops; self-directed learning; oral presentations; assessment of
practical and applied skills in the field and work experience.
BSC Agriculture with Animal Science [53C8]
Academic Year: 2024/2025Single Honours scheme - available from 2014/2015
Duration (studying Full-Time): 3 yearsLivestock Production Science