05 Agriculture Environmental and related studies
Agriculture, environmental and related studies is the study of the following fields:
- Agriculture;
- Horticulture and viticulture;
- Forestry studies;
- Fisheries studies; and
- Environmental studies.
All agriculture courses cover, at least to some degree, the practical side of the agricultural industries. Some courses are more suitable if you’re good at science, while others may be better for business-minded students. One thing that all the fields have in common is a love or appreciation of the natural environment.
This field is the study of the theory and practice of growing, gathering and caring for plants and animals. Students in this field learn about the interaction between humans and the environment, and how to promote environmental sustainability.
The content of this broad field of study includes crop production, animal production and management, environmental impact and assessment, forest resource management, soil and water conservation, and aquatic resource management.
The range of specialisations in agriculture courses is as broad as the resultant career paths. While subjects like winemaking, horticulture, or forestry and fisheries may be self-explanatory, others such as arboriculture (the cultivation of trees and shrubs) or agronomy (the applied study of soil science and plant sciences) may be less clear. We recommend careful research into all available courses, specialisations and agriculture careers so that you find the best fit for you.
Look at the title of the course but also the course outline to make sure you get what you want. The best of them will usually balance a focus on the basic science or business with the fine detail of industry production, process and technology.
Many courses will offer work placements interspersed with theory, so may sure you explore these options as well.
On average, agriculture courses are easy to get into. Remember that entry difficulty will vary between courses, institutions and campuses.
Use our Search function to find a list of Australian institutions offering qualifications in this field.
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