DN272 Horticulture, Landscape & Sportsturf Management (HLS1)
School:
Agriculture and Food Science This degree programme includes Sportsturf Management, Landscape Management and Social Horticulture.
This programme in Horticulture, Landscape & Sportsturf Management provides students with the education and skills to enable them to attain leadership roles, and to both set and maintain professional standards of excellence within horticulture in Ireland and globally. Graduates can become professional horticulturists and horticultural scientists who utilise their scientific education to provide sustainable management of horticulture enterprises, services and organisations. They have the capacity to be educators, to influence and direct policy and governance at corporate, local, national and international level for the betterment of their enterprise or services and the wider community. Dissemination of knowledge by engagement with the various industry sectors and horticultural services is a key activity for staff and students. Student education is informed by active internationally recognised research where engagement in learning is through formal lectures, practical classes, scenario based learning, group and individual research project work. Teaching and learning activities are conducted in an atmosphere of fairness, quality, and excellence, which is supported by an assessment process, which includes the submission and critique of reports, continuous assessment, individual and group project presentations and end of module examinations, designed to provide students with a record of their academic progress. Their educational experience is enriched by intensive interaction with staff as part of our community of scholars and by their participation in study abroad opportunities, professional work placement and within-module industry/site visits. This programme enables students to develop critical thinking capabilities, to be confident and competent individuals who have the ability to acquire the knowledge necessary for professional decision-making and to advocate for horticulture in a global context. The programme facilitates the progression of students from other horticulture courses and welcomes mature applicants.
- Apply practical horticultural skills and techniques such as plant selection, propagation, cultivation and plant protection required in food, environmental and social & therapeutic horticulture.
- Apply relevant scientific evidence and other knowledge, to effect horticultural policy, evaluation and analysis.
- Apply the principles underpinning sound horticultural practice acquired in the following key areas: Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Plant Biology, Plant Physiology, Microbiology, Soil Science, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Statistics and Agribusiness,
- Apply the principles underpinning sound horticultural practice acquired in the following key areas: Sports Turf Construction and Management, Nursery Stock Production and Sales, Information and Communication Technology.
- Apply the principles underpinning sound horticultural practice acquired in the following key areas: Plant Identification and Appropriate Use of Plant Material, Horticulture Food Production, Landscape Design.
- Create, plan and realise sustainable management of biological, human, financial, and social resources, to ensure the success of commercial and non-commercial horticulture enterprises.
- Demonstrate knowledge of Irish, European and global horticulture, landscape and sportsturf industries.
- Describe and communicate multiple examples of the importance of plants for human health and well-being..
- Devise scientific investigations and identify relevant accurate information and synthesise knowledge to generate effective solutions to problems within the horticulture industry.
- Evaluate and demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the growth, development and protection of plants for food, leisure, sports, environmental use and health benefits.
- Evaluate and demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of horticultural systems including an understanding of the art, science, business, technology and sustainability of intensive plant cultivation for human use.
- Research, combine and apply the interpretation and application of new scientific, technological & business knowledge to their horticultural practice.
- Use a range of communication and advocacy techniques to interact effectively with all relevant stakeholders.
This degree programme includes Horticulture, Sportsturf Management, Landscape Management and Social & Therapeutic Horticulture.
Horticulture is the art and science of plant cultivation for human use. It is a topic that covers a vast and interesting range of modules, including all of the sciences, plant protection (pests and diseases), environmental studies, business, management and communications and of course growing plants.
Sportsturf Management focuses on the science behind developing and maintaining Ireland's golf courses, tennis courts, and football, rugby and other sports pitches.
Nursery, Garden Centre and Ornamental Plant Production concentrates on the booming business of growing plants for housing developments, road construction and other projects.
Social & Therapeutic Horticulture looks at the interaction between humans and plants and the use of horticulture to develop social capital and its use in therapy. This area would be of interest for those individuals who like working with people and plants.
Fresh Produce Production studies food production, food supply and globalisation and its impact on food supply, safety and quality.
The objectives of this degree are to give you:
- An appreciation of the importance of plants for human existence
- Knowledge of the growth, development and protection of plants and use of plants for food, leisure, sports, social and environmental benefits
- An understanding of horticultural plant production systems and how their components are integrated and managed in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner
- Knowledge of the horticulture, landscape and sportsturf industries in Ireland
STAGE 1
Stage 1 will ensure that you have a good knowledge of the core sciences, e.g. biology, chemistry and physics. You will also undertake Introduction to Horticulture, Landscape & Sportsturf Management, which provides a good insight of the degree programme in the subsequent stages.
STAGE 2
In Stage 2 you will go on to cover the applied sciences such as Chemistry, Soil Science and Plant Physiology as well as modules and electives in Business Management and Fundamentals of Horticulture.
STAGES 3 & 4
Later stages cover the core modules including:
- Nursery / Garden Centre Management and Retail Horticulture
- Protected Food Crops and Mushroom Production
- Fruit Growing
- Potato and Vegetable Crops
- Landscape Trees and Shrubs
- Sportsturf Management
- Landscape Management
- Garden Design
PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
Professional Work Experience is an important element of your degree and gives you the opportunity to further develop your skills in a real-life environment. Five months work experience is taken in your area of interest between Stages 3 and 4 of your degree.
Professional Work Experience (PWE) is an important element of your degree and gives you the opportunity to further develop your skills in a real-life environment. Five months PWE is taken in your area of interest between Stages 3 and 4 of your degree.
All or part of your Professional Work Experience can be taken abroad. EU-funded exchange programmes may be available to facilitate study abroad, or you can consider Australia and the USA. Studying abroad for an entire semester is also possible.
The areas of Horticulture, Landscape & Sportsturf Management all need highly trained individuals in management, technical advisory, consultation, research, quality assurance and sales and marketing positions, either working for the emerging large corporate companies active in this area or within your own business.
In addition, opportunities exist in state, semi-state, EU and international organisations for professional horticulturists.
DN010 Agricultural Science - Omnibus
DN042 Forestry
DN044 Agri-Environmental Sciences
DN041 Landscape Architecture
