Higher Education Course of the Week: SE517 - Organic Agriculture at SETU Wexford

SE517 – Organic Agriculture at SETU Wexford is a four year programme is designed to provide students with a cross-disciplinary learning experience of business and science and their links to organic agricultural systems. Course outlines are designed to educate students with the most up to date knowledge in this area of organic agriculture and a particular focus will be put on organic food production including the marketing and distributing of these food products in different markets.

Upon completion of the course graduates will be learned in the production of meat and dairy products, fruit and vegetables and will be equipped with the know how to ensure the food produced meets the high standard of quality that exists within organic food production.

The programme is very hands on with a combination of guest lecturers and field trips to enhance the learning done within the classroom. Students will be exposed to experts in this field.

Modules of study include:

• Farm Financial Accounting
• Fundamentals of Protected Cropping Systems in Organic Agriculture
• Genetics and Breeding
• Concepts in Soil Science
• Agricultural Marketing I
• Animal Nutrition
• Agroforestry Production Systems
• Protected Cropping Systems in Organic Agriculture
• Soil and Nutrient Management on Organic Farms
• Farm Animal Health and Welfare
• Farm Business and Agri Food Law

Some Electives include:

• Organic Field Vegetables Production
• Organic Pulse Production
• Organic Cereal Production

Course outlines may vary year to year. See full list of modules on the college website here.

Entry Requirements:

This is a brand new course so there is currently no points history. Applicants are required to have a minimum of 2 H5 and 4 O6/H7, O6 in English or Irish and O6/H7 in Maths.

Studying a PLC course, a course at QQI Level 5 enables progression into this course. To see courses that provide progression into this course click here.

PLC Courses you could consider:

-        5M20454 – Agriculture at Clonakilty Agricultural College

-        5M20454 - Agriculture (Pig Production) at Ballyhaise Agriculture College

-        5M2586 – Horticulture at Kildalton Agricultural & Horticultural College

Further Study:

Graduates of this course may go on to postgraduate studies or research MSc or PhD positions.

-        MSc in Organic and Biological Agriculture

Careers:

Graduates can secure employment in the agricultural sector after completing this course, in roles of production, processing, marketing or in food legislation.

Careers to consider:

-        Agricultural Adviser

-        Agricultural Technician

-        Food Safety Consultant