AGRICULTURE

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr I E Edwards

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in programme year 3 or above.

Overview

This course requires that students undertake a period of work experience of 6 weeks at approved establishments. The experience may be gained at any time prior to entering fourth year. A report on a four-week period of such work must be submitted by the end of third year and forms the basis of the assessment.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment based on report on four-week period of work placement (100%).

Resit: In-course assessment based on report on four-week period of work placement (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr A Price

Pre-requisites

An appropriate level 2 Biology course. Other students may be admitted with permission of Head of School.

Overview

Introduction - Methods of plant breeding and their genetic basis, potential and limitations - contribution to crop yield, quality improvements; Breeding objectives - schemes and systems, crop evaluation and evolution; new technologies and genome mapping, gene sequences, arrays and mutations. Biotechnology and its application to Agriculture; Vector systems in plants - Ti plasmid; Modification of Ti - plasmid for expression of foreign genes; GM crops and specific targets in crop plants - cereal crops, photosynthesis; Plant Cell Culture - secondary metabolites. Generating new varations - somaclonal and protoplast culture, fusion; Improving Biological Nitrogen fixation; Biocontrol - Crop Production and Protection; GEMs, GM crops-release and risk assessment.

A Practical to provide experiance in genome sequence database analysis will be carried out and a practical report must be submitted and will count as in-course assessment.

Structure

Thread II: 1 two-hour written examination 6 week course – no more than 8 hours of teaching per week, Slots B and C. Weeks 18-23.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Written Paper (67%), in-course assessment: essay, seminar, data analysis exercise and practical (33%).

Resit: Written Paper (67%), in-course assessment: essay, seminar, data analysis exercise and practical (33%).

Formative Assessment

Feedback

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr S Woodward

Pre-requisites

BI 25P1, BI 1508 or BI 2505 or appropriate Level 2 Biology. Other students may be admitted to the course at the discretion of the Head of School.

Overview

This course will begin with an Introduction to Plant Pathology (causes/symptoms of disease; pathogens and pathogenesis, historical background, significance and impact of disease; pathogen structure and function, spread and survival). It will then discuss the following topics: Molecular methods in plant pathology (application of molecular techniques to detect and understand the biology of plant pathogens in managed ecosystems, the advantages and limitations of the methods); Host-Pathogen-Environment Interactions (Plant stresses and disease susceptibility; host-pathogen interactions in managed ecosystems); Plant defence mechanisms and disease control (Resistance Genes; Plant defence mechanisms including induced resistance, Nematode disease control; Microbial biocontrol; Biological crop protection for control of insect pests; General principals of crop management); Potato Pathogens: Understanding their interactions. The final week of the course will consist of lectures from specialists who work at the research and farmer level (both in-house and with visiting speakers) on the wide array of potato diseases to provide in-depth information nd concomitantly show how a broad understanding of the host, the pathogen/pest and their environments is required in order to control disease.

Structure

Thread II: 6 week course: 6 one-hour lectures per week, 2-3 hours from Visiting Speakers, 3 tutorials per course in-course assessment.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr T Stuchbury

Pre-requisites

Acceptance for Honours in a Degree Programme administered by the School of Biological Sciences and permission of the Head of School.

Overview

The course will consist of individually tailored, directed study on topics of relevance to the appropriate degree programme and leading to the presentation of a seminar and preparation of a dissertation. Students will have a tutor who will act in an advisor role. There are no face to face lectures.

Structure

12 hours staff contact time in whole course.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Dissertation (80%) and seminar (20%).

Credit Points

45

Course Coordinator

Dr T Stuchbury

Pre-requisites

Available only to level 4 candidates for Honours in Agricultural Science, Agriculture & Business Management or Wildlife Management.

Overview

An independent research project, under the supervision of a member of staff. The candidate is required to deliver a short seminar on the results of the work, publish a web site and to submit a thesis. As a preparation for the project, candidates are expected to attend a residential team building course held over 2 days in week 12.

Structure

Independent work.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Evaluation of the thesis, web-site and seminar and an oral examination.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr I E Edwards

Pre-requisites

AG 3815

Notes

Only available to students at level 4.

Overview

Budgeting and accounts revision; farm business analysis; budget reconciliation and updating; decision-making; bankers view of the farm accounts; report writing; final exam case study.

Structure

Thread II: 8 hours per week of Case visits, lectures and seminars.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment (60%); examination (40%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr I E Edwards & Dr T Stuchbury

Pre-requisites

AG 3029 and AG 3309

Overview

This course will consider the latest developments in agriculture, land-use and the relationship between agriculture and the environment. Examples of topics that may be included are: agri-environment legislation; organic systems; agriculture and climate change; agriculture and human and animal health; agricultural efficiency and world food supplies; developments in the agricultural market place.

Structure

Thread II: Weekly topics consisting of a mixture of lectures, seminars and student-centered learning activities.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Coursework (40%), written examination (60%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr T Stuchbury

Pre-requisites

Acceptance for Honours in a Degree Programme administered by the School of Biological Sciences and permission of the Head of School.

Overview

The course will consist of individually tailored, directed study on topics of relevance to the appropriate degree programme and leading to the presentation of a seminar and preparation of a dissertation. Students will have a tutor who will act in an advisor role. There are no face to face lectures.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Dissertation (80%) and seminar (20%).