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2024 unit offering information will be available in November 2023

Unit description

Introduces agricultural concepts, including farming systems as part of the landscape in a geographic, climatic and human context. A long history of agriculture is explored, including first nations agriculture. Challenges of contemporary farming are discussed, with a focus on sustainability challenges of feeding and clothing our growing population. The concepts of regenerative agriculture and complex socio-ecological phenomena are introduced.

Unit content

  1. A long history of farming and traditional agricultural systems
  2. Influence of climate, soils and topography on farming landscapes
  3. The social and economic context of farming systems
  4. Challenges in contemporary farming systems, including cropping, horticulture and livestock
  5. Complex adaptive socio-ecological systems in food production, including farmer decision-making
  6. Holism: ecology, agriculture and the regenerative agriculture movement.

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
1describe the cultural, environmental and production characteristics of different food production systems over time
2describe some of the major challenges in agricultural systems
3describe some of the complex influences on farmer decision-making
4discuss the attributes and philosophy of complex systems in the context of food production

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. describe the cultural, environmental and production characteristics of different food production systems over time
  2. describe some of the major challenges in agricultural systems
  3. describe some of the complex influences on farmer decision-making
  4. discuss the attributes and philosophy of complex systems in the context of food production

Teaching and assessment

Notice

Intensive offerings may or may not be scheduled in every teaching period. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Southern Cross University employs different teaching methods within units to provide students with the flexibility to choose the mode of learning that best suits them. SCU academics strive to use the latest approaches and, as a result, the learning modes and materials may change. The most current information regarding a unit will be provided to enrolled students at the beginning of the teaching period.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.

Fee paying courses
For postgraduate or undergraduate full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees

International

Please check the international course and fee list to determine the relevant fees.

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