Subject | Agriculture

Description

The Year 11 course incorporates the study of the interactions between the components of agricultural production, marketing and management, while giving consideration to sustainability within the farming system. This is an ‘on-farm’, environment-oriented course.

The Year 12 course builds upon the Year 11 course. It examines the complexity and scientific principles of the components of agricultural production. It places greater emphasis on farm management to maximise productivity and environmental sustainability. The Farm Product Study is used as a basis for analysing and addressing social, environmental and economic issues as they relate to sustainability.

Note: Students are required to conduct a minimum of 30% fieldwork and practical activities as part of this course.

HSC Assessment structure

The Year 11 course consists of three assessment tasks and the Year 12 course consists of four. Students are required to conduct a minimum of 30% fieldwork and practical activities as part of this course.

Career paths

The skills and knowledge developed in Agriculture are useful for a variety of careers and post-school pathways, including but not limited to study at University. This course is valuable for students intending to study or follow careers in areas such as:

• Agriculture Primary Producer or Farm hand

• Animal Handling or Veterinary Science

• Agribusiness and Resource Economics

• Agriculture and Food Production

• Forestry or Environmental Science

• Horticulturalist or Groundskeeper

• Park Ranger

• Agricultural Engineer

• Viticulturalist

• Biotechnology and production services

• Agronomy

• Systems Solutions

• Advocacy

• Government Policy

Agricultural science provides development of a wide range of transferable skills for a wide range of futures.

Skills required

Agriculture provides the opportunity to create a series of transferable life skills that you develop throughout the course.

Why choose it

Agriculture is one of Australia’s largest industries, feeding 25 million people and contributing $85 billion to the national economy. Both the Agritech and Foodtech sectors are booming meaning there is career opportunities and money behind these areas. Agricultural science means working with innovators and changemakers leading the way in digital technology, bio-innovations (tech, fuel, materials) agriculture and sustainable farming.

Students will be faced with big questions to help solve real world problems such as:

• How will we produce more using less land, water, non-renewable resources?

• How will we produce more tolerant food crops to counter climate extremes?

• How do we build trade ties and grow export markets?

• How can we increase production to feed our growing population without degrading the land?

• Can we produce biofuel crops without affecting food production?

• How can we help scientists and farmers to increase yield and alleviate poverty in their home countries?