Horticulture, Landscape and Sportsturf Management at UCD
Interested in Horticulture? You might think that it’s just about gardening, but you’d be wrong! How about Sportsturf and Landscape Management, Floriculture or Social Horticulture?
Degree: BAgrSc (Horticulture, landscape and Sportsturf Management)
Direct entry CAO Code: DN048 or
Omnibus entry CAO code: DN010
Length of Programme: 4 years.
Required Subjects: Irish, English, Mathematics, one laboratory science subject, two other recognised subjects.
Introduction
Horticulture is the Art and Science of plant cultivation for human use. It is a topic that covers a vast and interesting range of subjects, including all of the sciences, plant protection (pests and diseases), environmental studies, business, management and communications, and of course growing plants. This degree offers a huge variety of career paths for those of you interested in working indoors or outdoors. With this degree you can choose the area you would like to concentrate on, pure horticulture or the management of plants in the landscape or the sportsturf industry. Sport and leisure has become very important in everyone’s lives. You could work and play at the same time with a career in the €750M sportsturf sector. By studying Sportsturf Managementyou could develop and maintain one of the 400 golf courses or thousands of tennis, football, rugby, bowling and other sports pitches in Ireland. If you like helping other people and you have felt the joy of sowing seeds and nurturing plants as they grow, you can combine these and study Social Horticulture. This area of horticulture studies the interaction between humans and plants and how you can use this knowledge to improve the lives of people. If food production is your interest or if you are concerned about globalisation and its impact on food supply, safety and quality then you can study Fresh Produce Production. Or if you are interested in growing plants then you can studyNursery, Garden Centre and Ornamental Plant Production. With the continuing dramatic increase in house building, road construction and other projects, the demand for plants, both for indoors and outdoor landscapes has exploded. If you are interested in an international career, using your French or Spanish language skills, then a career in Floriculture may be what you want? This sector produces and supplies flowers and pot plants valued at over €35M, which are sourced from all over the world, from countries such as Kenya, Israel, Bolivia, Columbia or South Africa. Find out what current a student thinks of the programme by clicking here.
Career Opportunities
All the above areas need highly trained individuals in management, technical advisory and consultation roles, research, quality assurance, sales and marketing positions, either working for the emerging large corporate companies active in this area or within your own business.
Programme Objectives
This degree programme is designed to help you acquire:
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As well as providing you with the principles, knowledge and skills directly related to the degree, it is also designed to help you develop your transferable skills, such as:
- the ability to think analytically, solve problems, and be creative;
- enhanced leadership skills and
- a range of information technology and communication skills plus interpersonal and professional development skills which can be used in many areas of your future professional career and social life.
Programme Content
Year 1 is designed to ensure you have a good knowledge of the basic sciences. There is also an introduction to the horticulture programme.
Professional Work Experience (PWE)
This is an important element of your degree and gives you the opportunity to further develop your skills in a real life environment. Six months PWE is taken in your area of interest between the years 3 and 4 of your degree. There are opportunities to travel for your PWE or take a semester in another university through our exchange programme.
Transfers from Institutes of Technology
The Programme normally accepts a number of transferees from Institutes of Technology who have completed relevant Ordinary Degree Programmes. Details are available from the Programme Office, contact details below.
Further Information:
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