Graduate Certificate in Agriculture

The Graduate Certificate in Agriculture is the first award level of a fully articulated program which gives qualified applicants the opportunity for study at a higher level in agriculture related disciplines - Master of Science in Agriculture.

Course Aims

The Graduate Certificate in Agriculture should provide graduates with the opportunity to broaden their professional knowledge and management skills in their chosen area of study. Completion of the Graduate Certificate in Agriculture will qualify graduate entry to the Master of Science in Agriculture.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: demonstrate specialised knowledge of agricultural sciences, land and resource management and agricultural extension with responsibility and accountability for all aspects of the work; apply technical, field and/or laboratory competencies relevant to food and fibre production and management of agricultural systems to provide solutions to complex problems with responsibility and accountability for all aspects of the work; apply advanced skills in written and oral scientific communication to demonstrate an understanding of theoretical concepts and to transmit complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences; and locate and critically evaluate scientific information.

Graduate Attributes

Knowledge of a Discipline Students will be required to read literature on practical, conceptual and theoretical aspects of agricultural science and management. Agricultural systems are part of the biosphere, the global perspective is drawn upon in all areas involved with understanding, applying and evaluating agricultural information. Knowledge is built upon from information gathered from agricultural systems throughout the world. Thus teaching will draw upon case studies and examples from a range of countries. Students develop the global context of the discipline and its ability to minimise or solve problems. Interaction with students from all over Australia and overseas will assist in developing students' understanding of global issues. Communication Skills Students will be required to express well-organised, logical and clearly written assessment tasks. There is emphasis on the ability to provide clear and accurate descriptions of agricultural issues; on writing reports of technical and scientific investigations; and on presenting critical reviews of knowledge. Problem Solving Problem solving is taught in the scientific context of researching the issue, formulating hypotheses in agricultural science, and drawing conclusions from the results. Many practical assignments are based around this approach. Problem solving skills are also developed in field and laboratory settings where students decide the best approach to performing tasks. This will prepare students for dealing with and solving high-level and complex real-world problems that arise in agricultural science and management. Information Literacy Students will be taught how to access the literature, especially online resources, how to evaluate the robustness of literature sources, discrimination skills, and how to critique available information. Students will plan and execute a high-level research capacity in written assignments and utilise a wide range of data resources in such a way that others can learn from them. Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility Students are taught ethical practices in relation to the discipline, including respecting intellectual property rights, ethical behaviour in fieldwork and assessment tasks, and honesty and trust as the basis of the cooperative endeavour of science. Students will be encouraged to act ethically and be socially responsible. These are underlying principles of the discipline of agricultural science which enable the production of food and fibre at the same time as protecting the environment. Legal obligations and responsibility will also be integrated into the teaching content. Lifelong Learning Students will develop the ability to identify, evaluate and implement personal learning strategies and/or study skills in pursuit of ongoing personal and professional development. Students will continually develop the ability to be responsive to change, have a high-level of personal autonomy and conduct independent research that will be useful to them in a professional workplace. Independence and Collaboration Students are encouraged and taught to develop independence of thought and action. Teamwork is used in classes at all levels, especially in practical work in the field and laboratory. Students develop the skills to work cooperatively to define and achieve common goals, to take initiative and to assume responsibility for tasks. Students will learn in a professional forum to discuss, calmly and rationally, ideas and concepts, sometimes controversial and sometimes from different points of view. This, in addition to the ability to use the language of the discipline in reasoned argument, is one of the aims of online discussions.