Bachelor of Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (3726)

  • Approved Abbreviation: BSustAg&FdSec
  • Western Sydney University Program Code: 3726
  • AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 089441F

This program applies to students who commenced in 2018 or later

Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.

For Commencement Year 2017 - please refer to 3726.2 - Bachelor of Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security

For Commencement Year 2016 - please refer to 3726.2 - Bachelor of Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security

Opportunities are rapidly emerging for entrepreneurs to lead a new food future. Immersed in an approach that integrates social, economic and environmental values, students will view plant and animal production from consumer contexts to explore personal and community perceptions about food sustainability. This innovative degree merges topics of agriculture, food and health to empower students to design solutions for international development, community education and the urban–rural interface. Throughout study, engagement with industry and community will inspire students to take action towards a more sustainable food future. The program includes disciplines of natural science, social science and business studies.

Study Mode

Three years full-time or six years part-time

Program Advice

Dr Ryan McQuinn

Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Campus Attendance Mode Advice
Hawkesbury Campus Full Time Internal See above
Hawkesbury Campus Part Time Internal See above

Work Integrated Learning

Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline.  This program includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

There is a mandatory work component required for completion of this program.  Please contact the Program Advisor listed above for information.

International students should also refer to the link below for more information and a link to the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students

Admission

Assumed Knowledge: Any two Units of Mathematics and Science or equivalent.

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas may be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly through the Western Portal. Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

International students currently completing an Australian Year 12 in or outside Australia, an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 3 must apply via UAC International.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

All other International applicants must apply directly to the University via the International Office.  

International students applying to the University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Recommended Sequence

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points which include the subjects listed in the recommended sequence below.

Majors

Students may choose to major in Natural Science, Social Sciences or Business (see links below), or may choose a general pathway.

Natural Science Major

Social  Sciences Major

Business Major

General Pathway - Start year Intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1Credit Points
Autumn session
AGRI 1004 Feeding the Planet 10
NATS 1019 Scientific Literacy 10
BIOS 1001 Biodiversity 10
CHEM 1008 Introductory Chemistry 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
EART 1004 Soils 10
MATH 1026 Quantitative Thinking 10
PROC 1002 Food Science 1 10
HORT 1004 Horticultural Production Systems 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Autumn session
HORT 2001 Greenhouse Technology for Food Sustainability 10
ENVL 2006 Environmental Planning and Climate Change 10
Select one of the following: 10
Integrated Science  
Issues in World Development: Rich World, Poor World  
Marketing Principles  
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
AGRI 2005 Sustainable Food Production 10
NATS 2025 Natural Science Research Methods 10
AGRI 2006 Agriculture, Food and Health 10
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Year 3
1H/Autumn session  
NATS 3015 Field Project 1 10
AGRI 3001 Analysis of Agricultural Supply and Demand 10
Select one of the following: 10
Creating Change and Innovation  
Plant Health and Biosecurity  
Sustainable Futures  
Select one elective 10
2H/Spring session  
NATS 3017 Field Project 2 10
Select two of the following: 20
Business, Society and Policy  
Community and Social Action  
Globalisation and Sustainability  
Postharvest  
Social Computing  
Water in the Landscape  
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points80
 Total Credit Points240

General Pathway - Mid-year Intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Spring sessionCredit Points
NATS 1019 Scientific Literacy 10
PROC 1002 Food Science 1 10
HORT 1004 Horticultural Production Systems 10
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
AGRI 1004 Feeding the Planet 10
MATH 1026 Quantitative Thinking 10
BIOS 1001 Biodiversity 10
CHEM 1008 Introductory Chemistry 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Spring session
AGRI 2005 Sustainable Food Production 10
AGRI 2006 Agriculture, Food and Health 10
NATS 2025 Natural Science Research Methods 10
EART 1004 Soils 10
 Credit Points40
1H/Autumn session  
NATS 3015 Field Project 1 10
HORT 2001 Greenhouse Technology for Food Sustainability 10
Select one of the following: 10
Integrated Science  
Issues in World Development: Rich World, Poor World  
Marketing Principles  
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Year 3
2H/Spring session  
NATS 3017 Field Project 2 10
Select two of the following: 20
Business, Society and Policy  
Community and Social Action  
Globalisation and Sustainability  
Postharvest  
Social Computing  
Water in the Landscape  
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
AGRI 3001 Analysis of Agricultural Supply and Demand 10
ENVL 2006 Environmental Planning and Climate Change 10
Select one of the following: 10
Plant Health and Biosecurity  
Sustainable Futures  
Creating Change and Innovation  
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Suggested Elective Subjects

AGRI 1010 Protected Cropping Climate Control and Technology 

HORT 1007 Protected Cropping Plant Nutrition

Minor elective spaces

Elective subjects may be used toward obtaining an additional approved minor (40 credit points).  Western Sydney University offers minors in a range of areas including Sustainability and Indigenous Studies.

Global Sustainability Minor 
Indigenous Australian Studies Minor

Western Sydney University also offers the following innovative transdisciplinary Challenge Minors which we encourage those students who have elective space to consider.

Equitable Technologies
Urban Evolution
Migration and Global Change  
Personal Innovation    
Innovating, Creating and Problem Solving 
Eco-Socially Conscious Design and Manufacturing
Water for Life 
Climate Justice
Creative and Visual Communication
Global Workplaces
Innovating For Humans 
Creative Living for Cultural Wellbeing  
Ideate.Strategise.Innovate.
Humanising Data

For more information, visit the Challenge Minor website.  

Search for majors and minors

Students can apply for an elective minor via Western Now.

WesternNow