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Foundations of Agricultural Sciences 1 (AGRI10045)
Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Overview
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This subject aims to provide Bachelor of Agriculture students with an understanding of the underpinning enabling physical sciences, as they relate to agricultural systems. Concepts in physics, chemistry, mathematics and data management will be introduced in the context of the science of Earth and soil, water and climate, and plant and animal biology. In particular, this subject introduces students to concepts in physics and chemistry, as they apply to agricultural science.
In addition, students will acquire and apply mathematical techniques that will enable them to model and interpret data sets.
This subject will begin with introduction to the sun and to solar radiation as the source of energy on earth. Topics will include the spectrum of solar radiation, how light carries energy, energy transformation and measurement of solar radiation. The nature of energy in chemical bonds will then be discussed, with introduction to different types of bonding, valency, and the periodic table. The energy cycle in living systems will then be introduced, and some important chemical reactions in cells will be discussed. Heating and cooling and heat transfer mechanisms, as they apply to earth systems and living systems operating in agricultural environments, will then be discussed. Topics discussed will include the latent heat of water, evaporation and condensation, states of matter, evapotranspiration and the water cycle. The subject will conclude with consideration of how the Earth’s crust captures the suns energy, measurement of temperature and introduction to principles of climate trends and climate change.
Mathematics topics in this subject will include: data visualisation; data analyses, including population statistics and correlation; determination of key data parameters such as rate of change, maxima and minima.
Intended learning outcomes
This subject should enable students to understand the importance of physical and chemical principles as the foundations of agricultural sciences, and should develop their capacity to:
- Apply an understanding of key concepts in physics and chemistry to describe fundamental biological processes such as electron transfer, photosynthesis, respiration, circulation and transpiration
- Integrate the use of numerical data, graphical analysis, basic statistics, and mapping, to represent and interpret phenomena in the natural world, in particular as they operate in agricultural environments
- Apply principles in physics and chemistry using logical reasoning, together with appropriate mathematical reasoning, to a variety of familiar and novel situations, both biological and physical, and to problems in agricultural contexts
Generic skills
A student who completes this subject should be able to:
- demonstrate their understanding of fundamental principles in chemistry, physics and data management and their application in agricultural contexts lucidly, both in writing and orally
- acquire and interpret scientific data
- participate as an effective member of a group in tutorial discussions, and study groups
- think independently and analytically, and direct his or her own learning
- manage time effectively in order to be prepared for regular tutorial classes, tests and the examination
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
This subject includes a compulsory field trip to the University’s Dookie campus. Students will be required to contribute to the cost of overnight stay at the Dookie campus, indicative cost $50 per night. Further information about intensives at Dookie can be found at: http://students.fvas.unimelb.edu.au/fvas-programs/intensive-subjects-at-dookie#Dookie-intensives
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- 3 intra-semester assessments based on workshop activities due in Weeks 5, 8 and 11 of the teaching period (30%)
- 1-hour intra-semester assessment in Week 6 of teaching period (25%)
- 2-hour end-of-semester examination (45%)
Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum 90% of scheduled workshops/practical classes.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Sarah Frankland Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 54 hours. Each week students will participate in three 1-hour lectures and one 2-hour workshop for 12 weeks. There will also be a one-off field trip to Dookie campus in week 10 of semester. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 February 2018 to 27 May 2018 Last self-enrol date 9 March 2018 Census date 31 March 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 4 May 2018 Assessment period ends 22 June 2018 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Bachelor of Agriculture - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 3 November 2022