Program Overview

Master of Agricultural Science (with specialisations)

The Master of Agricultural Science (with specialisations) from Charles Sturt University is designed to advance your agriculture career. This course will prepare you for leadership roles in agriculture, including agricultural consultant, agricultural extension officer, or Landcare officer. You could move into advisory, policy, or advocacy roles. Work in catchment management, agricultural education and training, executive management, rural counselling, agricultural consultancy, agricultural finance, and natural resource management.

Key Information

• Study mode and sessions: On Campus
• Duration: Minimum time - 2 years, Maximum time - 4 years
• Entry score: TBA
• Indicative fees:
  • International on campus: Fee paying overseas - $37,040.00 per annum (full-time), $18,520.00 per annum (part-time)
• Course points and codes: Credit Points: 128, AQF: Level 9, Cricos: E
• Additional information: On campus intensive school

Why Study with Us?

Our master's is a great pathway to a research degree. Your study will include a research component, 32-point dissertation, and preparatory subjects. Learn at our agriculture hub in the heart of Australia's major agricultural region in Wagga Wagga. Our on-campus farm features horticulture, livestock, and cropping enterprises managed to industries' best practice. Our campus is home to the most sophisticated underground root growth laboratory in the southern hemisphere. We also offer five state-of-the-art laboratories and modern glasshouse facilities, working models of a range of irrigation systems, and an on-campus 1,600-hectare university farm.

Career Opportunities

This course will prepare you for a range of leadership roles in agriculture, including:

• Agricultural consultant
• Agricultural extension officer
• Landcare officer
• Advisory roles
• Policy roles
• Advocacy roles
• Catchment management
• Agricultural education and training
• Executive management
• Rural counselling
• Agricultural consultancy
• Agricultural finance
• Natural resource management

What You Will Study

For each 8-point subject you are enrolled in, you should expect to spend 10 to 12 hours per week working on assignments and assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, and attending lectures, intensive schools, or examinations. If you are studying four subjects per session, this is equivalent to a full-time job. The workload for some subjects may vary as a result of approved course design.

Core Subjects (80 Credit Points)

• AGS551: Agricultural Production and Food Systems (8 credit points)
• AGS552: Sustainable Future Agriculture Systems (8 credit points)
• AGS553: Agricultural Communication for Impact (8 credit points)
• AGS554: Agricultural and Sustainable Development Goals (8 credit points)
• AGS560: Desk-Top Research Critical Analysis (8 credit points)
• AGS561: Advanced Enquiry Methods (8 credit points)
• AGS600: Agricultural Research Dissertation (32 credit points)

Specialisation (32 Credit Points)

Select one specialisation from the following:

• AB0001: Agricultural Business Management (32 credit points)
• DA0001: Digital Agriculture (32 credit points)
• SA0001: Sustainable Agriculture (32 credit points)

Restricted Electives (16 Credit Points)

Select 16 points from the following:

• ACC501: Business Accounting and Finance (8 credit points)
• ACC549: Financial Literacy for Decision Makers (2 credit points)
• AGB410: Agricultural Marketing (8 credit points)
• AGB450: Agricultural Business Risk and Investment (8 credit points)
• AGB550: International Agriproduct Trade (8 credit points)
• AGR595: Managing Agroecosystems (8 credit points)
• AHT404: Climate Change Impacts, Mitigation and Adaptation (8 credit points)
• AHT423: Digital Agriculture in Practice (8 credit points)
• BIO516: Conservation Biology (8 credit points)
• CCI551: Networking and Building Partnerships (2 credit points)
• ENM443: Resilience Thinking and Ecologically Sustainable Development (8 credit points)
• ENM522: Environmental Assessment and Auditing (8 credit points)
• GEO503: Climatology (8 credit points)
• HRM502: Human Resource Management (8 credit points)
• IKC403: Critical Studies: Indigenous Australian Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities (8 credit points)
• MGM506: Strategic People Management (2 credit points)
• MGT501: Contemporary Management (8 credit points)
• MGT510: Strategy and Planning (8 credit points)
• MGT552: Leadership and Social Impact (8 credit points)
• MGT553: Project Management (8 credit points)
• MGT580: Forecasting and Risk Assessment (8 credit points)
• MGT584: Leadership in Teams (8 credit points)
• PSC406: Summer Cropping System (8 credit points)
• PSC415: Soil Management (8 credit points)
• PSC420: Water Policy and Management (8 credit points)
• PSC424: Advanced Plant Protection (8 credit points)
• SPA431: GIS 1: Geographic Information Science Foundations (8 credit points)
• SPA441: Remote Sensing 1: Image Data (8 credit points)

Costs

Course Fees

• International on campus: Fee paying overseas - $37,040.00 per annum (full-time), $18,520.00 per annum (part-time)
• Subject fee (8 Points): $TBA
• Please note: Fees are indicative only, based on full-time study. Check the course duration and graduation requirements to determine your study load for this course.

Payment Options

You can:

1. Pay your tuition fees up front by the census date each session direct to the university
2. Pay part of your tuition fees up front by the census date direct to the university and get help to cover the balance via a FEE-HELP loan through the Australian Government (if eligible)
3. Get help to cover the cost of your tuition fees via a FEE-HELP loan through the Australian Government (if eligible)

Entry Requirements

• Selection rank: TBA
• Academic entry requirements:
  • A completed Bachelor Degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline from a University or other tertiary education provider.
  • OR
  • A completed Graduate Certificate in Agriculture from a University or other tertiary education provider (or equivalent).
  • OR
  • A completed Graduate Diploma in Agriculture from a University or other tertiary education provider (or equivalent).
  • OR
  • Relevant Industry experience from the agricultural/business sector of at least 3 years or equivalent knowledge gained through alternate means
• Language requirements: Standard English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements apply.

Credit and Pathways

If you’ve completed relevant tertiary study, or work experience related to your course, you could receive credit towards your degree. Which would mean completing your qualification quicker. Find out how to apply for credit and see our credit policy.

We also have several admission pathways to help you take the step into your preferred course, even if you don't quite meet the entry requirements at first. Find out what admission pathways are available to you.

How to Apply

Applying to Charles Sturt University is easy. Choose how you want to apply below.

• Apply via UAC: Important dates - Refer to key dates on the UAC website
• Apply via VTAC: Important dates - Refer to key dates on the VTAC website
• Apply directly to Charles Sturt: Important dates - Check out our direct application closing dates

Related Courses

Other courses that you might be interested in:

• Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Business Management
• Graduate Certificate in Agriculture
• Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture
• Master of Agriculture (with specialisations)
• Doctor of Philosophy (Science and Agriculture)