Subject benchmark statement

Agriculture, horticulture, forestry, food and consumer sciences

2009

© The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education 2009

ISBN 978 1 84979 017 8

All QAA's publications are available on our website www.qaa.ac.uk

Registered charity numbers 1062746 and SC037786

Contents

Preface

Foreword 1

Introduction 3

Defining principles 4

Subject knowledge and understanding 7

Abilities and skills 8

Teaching, learning and assessment 11

Benchmark standards 12

Appendix A: Indicative programme titles 34

Appendix B: Membership of the review group for the subject benchmark statement for agriculture, horticulture, forestry, food and consumer sciences 37

Appendix C: Membership of the original benchmarking group for agriculture, horticulture, forestry, food and consumer sciences 38

PrefaceSubject benchmark statements provide a means for the academic community to describethe nature and characteristics of programmes in a specific subject or subject area. Theyalso represent general expectations about standards for the award of qualifications at agiven level in terms of the attributes and capabilities that those possessing qualificationsshould have demonstrated.

This subject benchmark statement, together with others published concurrently, refers tothe bachelor's degree with honours.1 In addition, some subject benchmark statementsprovide guidance on integrated master's awards.

Subject benchmark statements are used for a variety of purposes. Primarily, they are animportant external source of reference for higher education institutions (HEIs) when newprogrammes are being designed and developed in a subject area. They provide generalguidance for articulating the learning outcomes associated with the programme but arenot a specification of a detailed curriculum in the subject.

Subject benchmark statements also provide support to HEIs in pursuit of internal qualityassurance. They enable the learning outcomes specified for a particular programme tobe reviewed and evaluated against agreed general expectations about standards. Subjectbenchmark statements allow for flexibility and innovation in programme design and canstimulate academic discussion and debate upon the content of new and existingprogrammes within an agreed overall framework. Their use in supporting programmedesign, delivery and review within HEIs is supportive of moves towards an emphasis oninstitutional responsibility for standards and quality.

Subject benchmark statements may also be of interest to prospective students andemployers seeking information about the nature and standards of awards in a givensubject or subject area.

The relationship between the standards set out in this document and those produced byprofessional, statutory or regulatory bodies for individual disciplines will be a matter forindividual HEIs to consider in detail.

This subject benchmark statement represents a revised version of the original publishedin 2002. The review process was overseen by the Quality Assurance Agency for HigherEducation (QAA) as part of a periodic review of all subject benchmark statementspublished in this year. The review and subsequent revision of the subject benchmarkstatement was undertaken by a group of subject specialists drawn from, and acting onbehalf of, the subject community. The revised subject benchmark statement wentthrough a full consultation with the wider academic community and stakeholder groups.

QAA publishes and distributes this subject benchmark statement and other subjectbenchmark statements developed by similar subject-specific groups.

1 Level 6 in The framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (2008)

and level 10 in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (2001).

The Disability Equality Duty (DED) came into force on 4 December 2006 in England,Scotland and Wales. The DED requires public authorities, including HEIs, to actproactively on disability equality issues. The DED complements the individual rights focusof the Disability Discrimination Act and is aimed at improving public services andoutcomes for disabled people as a whole. Responsibility for making sure that such duty ismet lies with HEIs.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published guidance2 to help HEIs toimplement the DED and provides illustrative examples on how to take the DED forward.HEIs are encouraged to read this guidance when considering their approach to engagingwith components of the Academic Infrastructure3, of which subject benchmarkstatements are a part.

Additional information that may assist HEIs when engaging with subject benchmarkstatements can be found in the Code of Practice (revised) for providers of post-16 educationand related services,4 and also through the Equality Challenge Unit5 which is establishedto promote equality and diversity in higher education.

2 Copies of the guidance Further and higher education institutions and the Disability Equality Duty, Guidance forPrincipals, Vice-Chancellors, governing boards and senior managers working in further and higher educationinstitutions in England, Scotland and Wales may be obtained from www.dotheduty.org/sectoral-guidance.asp

3 An explanation of the Academic Infrastructure, and the roles of subject benchmark statements within it, is available at www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure

4 Copies of the Code of Practice (revised) for providers of post-16 education and related services, published bythe Disability Rights Commission, may be obtained from:www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/code_of_practice__revised__for_providers_of_post-16_education_and_related_services__dda_.pdf83.137.212.42/...service_provider/education/...education/drc_post_16_code_of_practice.html

5 Equality Challenge Unit: www.ecu.ac.uk

ForewordThe subject benchmark statement for agriculture, horticulture, forestry, food andconsumer sciences6 was first produced in 2002 by a committee made up of arepresentative group of subject specialists in response to an invitation from the QualityAssurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). In 2008, in line with QAA's originalcommitment to oversee the review of existing subject benchmark statements every fiveyears, a small committee was formed for the purposes of revising the existing subjectbenchmark statement.

The subject benchmark statement for agriculture, horticulture, forestry, food and consumersciences continues to fulfil its original intention, which can be summarised as follows:

to make explicit the nature and standards of awards that carry the subject in their titles

to acknowledge the difference and diversity of programmes within agreed limitsset by the subject community itself

to provide scope for variety and flexibility in the design of programmes andencourage innovation within an agreed conceptual framework

to explain the conceptual framework which gives the discipline its coherence and identity

to set out the attributes and capabilities expected of graduates, in order torepresent the general expectations of standards in awards

to guide internal and external reviews of programmes within institutions.

The existing subject benchmark statement was therefore subject to only minor changes,largely to reflect developments in the subject.

August 2009

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6 Originally published as Agriculture, forestry, agricultural sciences, food sciences and consumer sciences (2002)

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1 Introduction 1.1 The purpose of this subject benchmark statement (statement) is to make explicitthe nature and the standard of degree awards in the subject areas of the land-basedindustries and professions, related applied and social sciences, rural studies, andconsumer sciences and studies. The statement will clarify the boundaries of each subjectarea and the specific threshold, typical and excellent standards for the award of anhonours degree.

These subjects have been grouped on the basis that all are concerned with production offood and non-food products from land resources, consumer products and services, andecosystem and other services. Although the focus changes, each subject encompassesvarious aspects of production chains involving animals, crops and retail of consumer goodsand services. They all involve consumer interactions with producers, service providers andother stakeholders. Sustainable and secure production, consumption and development areimportant areas of study in these subjects as scarcity of resources impacts on a global scale,highlighting the need to modify consumer attitudes and behaviour.

1.2 The review group endorses the view that statements do not constitute definitiveregulatory criteria for individual programmes or awards. They provide valid frames ofreference within which an honours degree in a discipline should be offered. They needto be used with particular care in interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary contexts, wheresimple or general application may be inappropriate.

1.3 This benchmark statement will assist:

higher education institutions (HEIs) to design and validate programmes of study

external examiners and academic reviewers to compare and verify standards

professional bodies (if and where appropriate) to review processes and contentfor the purpose of accreditation

students and employers to obtain information on the purpose and content ofdegree courses.

1.4 The programmes covered in this statement are not taught at all HEIs. Often thesubjects are taught as a 'cluster'. Individual HEIs may focus on, and have national andinternational recognition for, specialising in teaching and research in these subject areasas well as constituent and cognate disciplines.

1.5 In 'mapping the territory', the original benchmarking group aimed to identify thetypical substantive core of the main programme areas. Programmes in these subjectsprovide academically rigorous study of material of relevance which will be applicable inthe world of work and to society. Many programmes of study provide a period of workplacement. A common feature of the programmes covered in this statement is that theyare applied academic subjects, often involving study across more than one discipline,and often integrating aspects of chemical, physical, biological, economic and socialsciences. The diversity of programmes and the extent of interdisciplinary work allowstudents entering higher education to choose a course with an emphasis suited to theirneeds and aspirations. They develop the student's ability to understand, use andcontribute to the further development of the subject. Many courses are concerned withaspects of human use of the biosphere and with people in their role as managers and/orconsumers of goods or services.

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The degree programmes covered by this benchmark statement can be described underthe following indicative headings:

Programmes broadly concerned with land-based industries

Agriculture and horticulture are the science, occupations, businesses and industriesinvolved with the generation of food and other products through the management andmanipulation of the terrestrial biosphere. Other programmes may be broadly concernedwith the husbandry, welfare and management requirements of companion animals andanimals kept for their athletic abilities or the recreational and sporting interests of theirowners. The subjects apply fundamental physical, biological, economic and sociologicalprinciples to sustainable production in the countryside and consider the social andenvironmental impacts of such management systems.

Programmes broadly concerned with applied sciences

Agricultural sciences are the fundamental sciences of plants, animals, fungi,microorganisms, soils and global processes, which underpin human utilisation of thebiosphere, including the production or management of animals and plants for food andother products, the husbandry and management of companion animals, and thesustainable management of productive resources for economic or social value.

Food science and technology is the understanding and application of a range ofsciences to satisfy the needs of society for sustainable food security, quality and safety.

Programmes broadly concerned with rural studies/sciences

Rural studies address the application of fundamental biological, economic andsociological principles to the sustainable management of the countryside in the interestsof society as a whole.

Forestry is the application of physical, biological, economic and sociological principles tothe sustainable management of trees, woodlands and forests for the benefit of society.

Programmes broadly concerned with consumer sciences/studies

Consumer sciences/studies are defined as interdisciplinary subjects which seek tounderstand the relationships between the consumer and the economic, legal, social,technical, ethical and environmental forces which influence the development, provisionand consumption of goods and services.

2 Defining principles 2.1 The subject group for this statement is large and diverse. Rather than attempt toensure that all possible aspects are covered, all interests represented and all nuances ofthe subjects detailed, the benchmark statement seeks to provide a practical guide to theessential features of the range of degree programmes. All the degree programmes areapplication-orientated, broadly-based and require some study across a spectrum ofdisciplines from physics and chemistry through biology to the social sciences, policy,economics, management and consumer behaviour.

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2.2 The study programmes covered by this statement will display distinctive featuresrelating to the generation of 'products' (often originating from the terrestrial biosphere)and their subsequent processing, marketing and consumption. Studies of productionprocesses, transformation processes, business environments, consumer behaviour andsocial values will be apparent. The initial resources may be biological, environmental orsocial and be capable of being assigned an economic value. A product chain may beapparent, set in a business and economic framework for producers and consumers. The'products' have to be safe for consumers, and so policy, legal, ethical, and health andsafety issues will be apparent. Environmental impacts and sustainability will also feature.

2.3 Degree programmes covered by this statement are interdisciplinary, drawing ondiverse disciplines but each with a clear and integrated set of learning outcomes. Theprogrammes will include many elements that are subject-specific. Other elements relateto the context of the degree programme and will give a broad appreciation of therelevant underpinning in physical, chemical, biological or nutritional principles,economic and business analysis, human behaviour, social and environmental context,and the linkages between these. Programmes will often examine processes and theirmanagement, and have a clear focus of utility and application.

2.4 There is a measure of institutional diversity in the provision of programmes whichwill reflect the individual institutional strengths and programme aims in relation tospecific sectors of the graduate labour market. Graduates typically gain employment in awide range of industries and organisations. Some HEIs recognise this with a range ofaward titles. Others offer diversity through option choice and specialisation opportunitieswithin programmes of study that may include work-based placements. Programmedefinition is a dynamic process and new configurations of component subjects willemerge in response to developments in these subjects, changes in the needs andaspirations of society, and in response to opportunities in the graduate labour market.

2.5 Although individual degree programmes differ in their focus, broad indicativedefinitions of the various degree programme groups and of the capabilities of graduatesare given below.

Programmes broadly concerned with land-based industries

2.6 Degree programmes in agriculture are designed to develop the knowledge andskills required by those who may go on to manage agricultural enterprises, agri-foodbusinesses, and those who are involved in closely related official or commercial researchand advisory work. Graduates with agricultural degrees will have a thoroughunderstanding of crop and animal production methods and of the underpinning scientific,economic and business principles. In particular they will be able to identify technologicaland economic problems encountered in current production systems; evaluate newtechniques and, where appropriate, apply them to commercial practice; know how toorganise and manage a business; identify and evaluate public concerns over foodproduction practices and evaluate the wider consequences of agricultural activities.

2.7 Degree programmes in horticulture are designed to develop the knowledge andskills required by those who may go on to manage horticultural enterprises and relatedbusinesses and those who are involved in closely related official or commercial researchand advisory work. Graduates with horticulture degrees will have a thoroughunderstanding of plant manipulation and production methods and of the underpinning

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scientific, economic and business principles. In particular, they will be able to identifytechnological and economic problems encountered in current production systems;evaluate new techniques and, where appropriate, apply them to commercial practice;appreciate the social, rural and urban landscape values associated with horticulture;organise and manage a business; identify and evaluate public concerns over productionpractices; and evaluate the wider consequences of horticultural activities.

Programmes broadly concerned with applied sciences

2.8 Degree programmes in the agricultural sciences are concerned with the scientificbasis of agriculture, horticulture and related applied sciences. They include all the sciencesunderpinning the sustainable production and use of animals, fungi, plants and theirproducts, including food and non-food materials. Graduates of agricultural scienceprogrammes will have developed and integrated their knowledge and skills across areas ofapplied biology, physics and chemistry appropriate to the programme. The degreeprogrammes will develop students' appreciation of, and ability to apply, detailed scientificknowledge and understanding in key sub-disciplines appropriate to the programme. Thesesub-disciplines are likely to include soil science; animal and plant nutrition and husbandry;product quality; the biochemistry and physiology of animals and plants; genetics(including genetic engineering); endocrinology; reproductive and developmental biology;and weed, pest and disease control and animal welfare; together with aspects ofmanagement, economics, environmental interactions, sustainability and bioethics.

2.9 Degree programmes in food science and technology are designed to developthe knowledge and skills required by those who are involved in food supply,manufacture and sale, and associated regulatory and advisory work. Graduates withdegrees in food science and technology will have an understanding of the characteristicsand composition of major food materials; the microbiology, nutritional quality,chemistry, physical properties and eating qualities of food; and the impact of foodstorage and processing. In particular, they will be able to identify and respond totechnological and economic challenges encountered in food chains; evaluate developingtechnologies and, where appropriate, apply them to commercial practice; understandthe appropriate legislation; identify and evaluate public concerns on food safety;evaluate the wider consequences of food chain activities; and minimise any harmfuleffects on the environment and on people.

Programmes broadly concerned with rural studies/sciences

2.10 Degree programmes in rural studies are designed to develop the knowledge andskills of those who are involved in a range of activities in the countryside. Some degreeprogrammes may have a primary concern with the economic structure of theagricultural, horticultural or forestry industries and their associated and ancillaryenterprises. Others may address the physical, social and cultural aspects of the ruralenvironment, while some may have a focus on the complex ecology of both managedand unmanaged landscapes. The degree programmes are multidisciplinary frameworkswithin which there are discrete specialisms. Graduates in rural studies will take anintegrated and holistic approach within an analytical and evaluative framework. They willview the countryside as a complex environmental and cultural resource of great nationaland global value. Graduates will be able to address the issues of sustainability and the

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conflict between commercial production and the competing demands of society in aphysically and culturally diverse landscape.

2.11 Degree programmes in forestry are designed to develop the knowledge and skillsof those who go on to work in the forestry profession. Graduates will have a thoroughunderstanding of the physical, biological, economic and sociological principles andprocesses that underpin forestry. They will be able to apply such principles and processesto the sustainable management of trees, woodland and forests for multiple goods andecosystem services (for example, carbon accumulation; conservation; landscape;production of wood and non-wood forest products; protection of soil and water resources;and recreation). They will understand the social and environmental contexts in whichforestry is practised and the consequences of forestry for society and the environment.

Programmes broadly concerned with consumer sciences/studies

2.12 Programmes in consumer sciences/studies have a focus on the consumption ofgoods and services and on the behaviour of people as consumers. With the increasingimportance of sustainable consumption and development, there is an interest in howconsumer choices are made and can be modified. This includes critical analysis of thesocial, economic, legal, technological, ethical and environmental contexts within whichconsumer choices are made. There is also concern with the development, production andprovision of goods and services in terms of quality, acceptability, value, safety andaccessibility for consumers. All consumer sciences/studies programmes have strongvocational elements; many offer work-based learning or placements and some haveprojects designed to meet the needs of external organisations. The programmes are set inappropriate theoretical frameworks with an emphasis on equipping students with theknowledge and skills required to make informed decisions. A graduate in consumersciences/studies will understand the social and psychological contexts of consumerbehaviour. Graduates will understand the economic, legal, scientific and technologicalprinciples underlying the production of, and access to, goods and services. They will beable to select and apply concepts, theories and methods drawn from constituentdisciplines to the analysis of consumer issues and other factors affecting consumer choice.

3 Subject knowledge and understanding 3.1 Given the diversity of award titles (see Appendix A, page 34) and differences inemphasis among individual programmes of study, it is not sensible to list all thedisciplines which might contribute to specific degree programmes. Thus, it is notpossible to specify a precise core subject knowledge which will be common to all thesubjects considered by the review group. Nevertheless, courses in these subject areas willshare common features of structure, approach and pedagogic philosophy.

3.2 This section describes the general characteristics of the programmes underconsideration, with the aim of facilitating and encouraging a diversity of provision acrosshigher education. Each HEI will be able to map its own provision within this generalframework.

3.3 For individual degree programmes, the content will depend on whether theobjective is to produce a graduate who is a 'general practitioner' or a 'subject specialist',that is, a graduate who is skilled in a broad or a narrow range of disciplines. The balancebetween breadth and depth of a graduate's knowledge will thus be similarly variable.

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Nevertheless, graduates will possess an appreciation of the interacting nature of a rangeof elements growing out of a more specialist understanding of some of them. Typically,students will develop an ability to synthesise concepts and ideas across disciplines and totake a holistic view appropriate to their particular subject.

3.4 Despite the diversity, the subject areas being considered share a number ofimportant features:

the relevance and application of the subject

the development of integrated, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches

integration of theory, experiment, investigation and fieldwork, and thedevelopment of principles into practice

quantitative and qualitative approaches to information

awareness of risks of exploitation and concern over sustainable solutions

consideration of continuing change and development of the subject.

3.5 Each degree programme will address:

the underlying principles of the subject

its relevant defining concepts, theories and methods

the current knowledge and development of the subject

identification of current gaps in knowledge or understanding and current issues ofwider concern to society and the world

the global, regional and local contexts of the topic

the location of resources, and the management, exploitation and pattern ofutilisation of resources within socio-economic, policy and legal frameworks

subject-specific and key skills, problem-solving and a professional approach tostudy and lifelong learning

an understanding of issues of sustainability and environmental impact.

4 Abilities and skills 4.1 Honours graduates of programmes covered by this benchmark statement shouldbe able to:

demonstrate familiarity with a wide range of subject-specific facts and principles in combination with an awareness of the current limits of theory andapplied knowledge

understand the provisional nature of information and allow for competing andalternative explanations within their subject

exhibit ownership of the defining elements of the discipline as a result of in-depthstudy or research

tackle problems by collecting, analysing and evaluating appropriate qualitativeand quantitative information, and using it creatively and imaginatively to solveproblems, introduce and develop innovations, and make decisions

plan and execute research or development work, evaluate the outcomes anddraw valid conclusions

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display skills in evaluating and interpreting, in a balanced manner, newinformation provided by others from a range of fields of study

display the transferable skills and ability to acquire new competencies required forcareer progression

assess the ethical consequences of human activities to optimise community andenvironmental sustainability.

4.2 The abilities and skills that should be developed during the course of degreeprogrammes covered by this benchmark statement are subdivided into:

intellectual skills

practical skills

numeracy skills

communication skills

information and communication technology (ICT) skills

interpersonal/teamwork skills

self-management and professional development skills.

4.3 These skills will normally be developed in a subject-specific context, but havewider applications for continuing personal development and in the world of work. Thesubject skills will encompass technical knowledge and abilities specific and appropriate tothe focus of the degree programme. In addition, each individual programme willdevelop a capacity for holistic and lateral thinking and an appreciation of both inductiveand deductive reasoning.

4.4 Intellectual skills

recognising and using appropriate theories, concepts and principles from a range of disciplines

collecting and integrating several lines of evidence to develop balanced arguments

designing an experiment, investigation, survey or other means to test ahypothesis or proposition

critically analysing information, synthesising and summarising the outcomes

applying knowledge and understanding to address multidisciplinary problems

creativity and innovation

demonstrating awareness of the provisional nature of the facts and principlesassociated with a field of study

decision making in complex and unpredictable contexts.

4.5 Practical skills

planning, conducting and reporting on investigations, including the use ofsecondary data

collecting and recording diverse types of information generated by a wide rangeof methodologies and summarising it using appropriate qualitative and/orquantitative techniques

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devising, planning and undertaking field, laboratory or other investigations in aresponsible, sensitive and safe manner, paying due diligence to risk assessment;ethical and data protection issues; rights of access; relevant health and safety regulations; legal requirements; and the impact of investigations on the environment

appreciating and analysing financial and other management information andusing it in decision-making.

4.6 Numeracy skills

appreciating issues of sample selection, accuracy, precision and uncertainty duringcollection, recording and analysis of data in the field, laboratory or collated fromsecondary sources

appreciating the difficulties of having incomplete information on which to base decisions

understanding the nature of risk

preparing, processing, interpreting and presenting data, using appropriatequalitative and quantitative techniques and packages

solving numerical problems using computer-based and other techniques.

4.7 Communication skills

receiving, evaluating and responding to a variety of information sources (that is,electronic, textual, numerical, verbal, graphical)

communicating accurately, clearly, concisely, confidently and appropriately to avariety of audiences in written, verbal and graphical forms

contributing constructively to group discussions

considering, appreciating and evaluating the views of others.

4.8 ICT skills

using the internet critically as a means of communication and a source of information

demonstrating competence in the use of computer-based information handlingand data processing tools

using computer software to communicate information to a range of audiences effectively.

4.9 Interpersonal and teamwork skills

organising teamwork and participating effectively in a team

setting realistic targets

identifying individual and collective goals and responsibilities

planning, allocating and evaluating the work of self, individuals and teams

performing in a manner appropriate to allocated roles and responsibilities

recognising and respecting the views and opinions of other team members

having positive intent

reflecting on and evaluating own performance as an individual or as a team member.

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4.10 Self-management and professional development skills

appreciating the need for professional codes of conduct where applicable

recognising the moral, ethical and social issues related to the subject

assuming responsibility for one's actions

identifying and working towards targets for personal, academic and career development

developing an adaptable and flexible approach to study and work

developing the skills necessary for self-managed and lifelong learning (that is,working independently, time-management and organisation skills)

demonstrating the competence, behaviour and attitude required in a professionalworking life, including initiative, leadership and team skills.

5 Teaching, learning and assessment 5.1 The ultimate goal of student learning will be the considered application ofknowledge and skills together with an appreciation of the integrative nature of thesubject areas in an appropriate context.

5.2 As students progress through a degree programme there will be increasingreliance on student-centred modes of learning, which will foster the development of aprofessional approach to lifelong learning.

5.3 Graduates in these subjects have wide employment prospects and need to beadaptable as well as having subject-specific knowledge and abilities and transferableskills. There will be many different formats for teaching and learning in order to develop these attributes. All programmes will incorporate a research project or other self-motivated individual study leading to a thesis, dissertation or report. Programmeswill also contain most (but not necessarily all) of:

lectures

tutorials and seminars

student-led seminars

specialist external lectures

practical classes in and outside the laboratory (defined broadly and including thecomputing laboratory and other specialist facilities)

literature-based research

database, web-based and other e-learning technologies

case studies

problem solving

problem-based learning

working in groups on realistic/live projects with external organisations

other exercises which require students to integrate information and techniques

visits to commercial and industrial businesses, consumer organisations, publicservices, policy-making bodies and research or monitoring HEIs

opportunities for work experience, for example a managed placement or work-based learning.

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5.4 Assessment will be formative as well as summative and is likely to take a numberof forms, including examinations (written, oral or practical; closed or open book), and to incorporate continuous assessment. The style of assessment will vary betweendisciplines and HEIs, but will be linked to clearly defined goals and anticipated learningoutcomes. It will be managed to promote deep rather than surface learning.Assessments based on real-life problems, with employer involvement and with effectivefeedback, are valuable and will be included, provided they are compatible with theassurance of academic standards.

6 Benchmark standards6.1 In this section, standards of attainment are expressed as statements of learningoutcomes. These describe what a student should be able to achieve on completion of anhonours degree in the range of subjects covered by this subject benchmark statement.The outcomes will be demonstrable through appropriate assessment strategies. It isrecognised, however, that not all learning outcomes can be objectively assessed.Preceding sections have emphasised the diversity of degree programmes covered by thisstatement. Many of the degree programmes involve study in more than one subject areaand may cover a relatively broad or narrow range of topics. This needs to be consideredwhen evaluating levels of student performance. It is important that standards ofattainment reflect the shared values of the academic community as moderated internallyand externally by academic quality procedures, including the external examiner system.

6.2 Table 1 (page 13) and table 2 (page 17) articulate standards at three levels:'threshold', 'typical' and 'excellent'. These are defined as:

threshold standard: the minimum required to gain an honours degree; studentsat this level will be able to demonstrate an acceptable level of ability and skills

typical standard: the level of attainment expected of the majority of students;such students will demonstrate definite competence and skills

excellent standard: students achieving this standard will have a range ofcompetencies and skills at an enhanced level.

6.3 The benchmark standards are defined in table 1 for the seven main categories ofabilities and skills outlined in section 4.2, and in table 2 for subject-specific skills. Thesecategories do not constitute a checklist, nor does the list imply any particular weighting.Whereas the full range of abilities and skills should feature in undergraduateprogrammes, their point of introduction and the level of engagement will be decided bycurriculum designers.

6.4 To reach a given standard at the point of completion of an honours degree in thesubjects covered by this statement, students should demonstrate achievement across themain categories of abilities and skills in tables 1 and 2, interpreted for the particulardegree programme. However, a lower performance in one category may becompensated by a higher performance in another.

6.5 The standards in the following tables should be read in conjunction with sections4 and 5, and paragraphs 6.1 to 6.4.

On completion of an honours degree covered by this statement, a student should beable to:

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from

aw

ide

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e of

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rces

to

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ulat

e an

d te

st h

ypot

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s

dem

onst

rate

the

abi

lity

toco

nsid

er is

sues

fro

m a

wid

era

nge

of m

ultid

isci

plin

ary

and

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rdis

cip

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y p

ersp

ectiv

esan

d to

dra

w o

n ap

pro

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ts a

nd v

alue

s in

arr

ivin

gat

a c

ritic

al a

sses

smen

t

dem

onst

rate

a h

ighl

y de

velo

ped

abili

ty fo

r cr

itica

l app

raisa

l of

acad

emic

lite

ratu

re a

nd o

ther

sour

ces

of in

form

atio

n.

reca

ll kn

owle

dge

base

d on

the

dire

ctly

tau

ght

pro

gram

me

dem

onst

rate

som

eun

ders

tand

ing

of s

ubje

ct-

spec

ific

theo

ries,

par

adig

ms,

conc

epts

and

prin

cip

les

dem

onst

rate

abi

lity

to d

efin

ean

d so

lve

rout

ine

pro

blem

s

colla

te, s

umm

arise

and

an

alys

e in

form

atio

n

inte

grat

e lin

es o

f ev

iden

ce f

rom

a lim

ited

rang

e of

sou

rces

to

sup

por

t fin

ding

s an

dhy

pot

hese

s

dem

onst

rate

som

e ab

ility

to

cons

ider

issu

es f

rom

a r

ange

of

mul

tidis

cip

linar

y an

din

terd

isci

plin

ary

per

spec

tives

sour

ce a

cade

mic

lite

ratu

re a

ndex

trac

t re

leva

nt p

oint

s.

Tab

le 1

: B

ench

mar

k s

tan

dar

ds

- g

ener

ic s

kil

ls

14

Thre

shol

dTy

pic

alEx

celle

nt

Prac

tica

l sk

ills

p

lan,

con

duct

and

pre

sent

an

inde

pend

ent

inve

stig

atio

n w

ithso

me

relia

nce

on g

uida

nce

re

late

inve

stig

atio

ns t

o p

rior

wor

k an

d re

fere

nce

itap

pro

pria

tely

; re

cogn

ise

whe

nin

form

atio

n is

inco

mp

lete

us

e ap

pro

pria

te la

bora

tory

an

d fie

ld e

qui

pm

ent

com

pet

ently

and

saf

ely

se

lect

and

ap

ply

a r

ange

of

app

rop

riate

met

hods

to

solv

e p

robl

ems

us

e ap

pro

pria

te t

echn

olog

y to

addr

ess

pro

blem

s ef

ficie

ntly

de

scrib

e cl

early

and

rec

ord

accu

rate

ly in

the

fie

ld

and

labo

rato

ry

inte

rpre

t p

ract

ical

res

ults

in a

logi

cal m

anne

r

pre

sent

res

earc

h fin

ding

sef

fect

ivel

y an

d ap

pro

pria

tely

ina

num

ber

of f

orm

ats.

su

gges

t, p

lan,

con

duct

and

pre

sent

an

inde

pend

ent

inve

stig

atio

n w

ith li

mite

dre

lianc

e on

gui

danc

e

rela

te in

vest

igat

ions

to

prio

rw

ork,

be

awar

e of

rec

ent

rese

arch

dev

elop

men

ts a

ndre

fere

nce

it ap

pro

pria

tely

us

e ap

pro

pria

te la

bora

tory

and

field

eq

uip

men

t hi

ghly

com

pet

ently

and

saf

ely

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lect

, ju

stify

and

ap

ply

a r

ange

of a

pp

rop

riate

met

hods

to

solv

e ch

alle

ngin

g p

robl

ems

se

lect

and

use

ap

pro

pria

tete

chno

logy

to

addr

ess

pro

blem

s ef

fect

ivel

y

desc

ribe

adeq

uate

ly a

nd

reco

rd a

ccur

atel

y in

the

fie

ldan

d la

bora

tory

in

terp

ret

pra

ctic

al r

esul

tsp

erce

ptiv

ely

p

rese

nt r

esea

rch

findi

ngs

per

cep

tivel

y an

d ef

fect

ivel

y in

anu

mbe

r of

for

mat

s.

p

lan,

con

duct

and

pre

sent

an

inde

pen

dent

inve

stig

atio

n w

ith

sign

ifica

nt g

uida

nce

re

late

inve

stig

atio

ns t

o so

me

prio

r w

ork

and

refe

renc

eit

app

rop

riate

ly

use

app

rop

riate

labo

rato

ry a

ndfie

ld e

qui

pm

ent

safe

ly

app

ly a

ran

ge o

f m

etho

ds t

oso

lve

pro

blem

s

use

tech

nolo

gies

to

addr

ess

pro

blem

s

desc

ribe

and

reco

rd in

the

fie

ldan

d la

bora

tory

in

terp

ret

pra

ctic

al r

esul

ts

with

gui

danc

e

pre

sent

res

ults

of

inve

stig

atio

nsin

a n

umbe

r of

for

mat

s.

Thre

shol

dTy

pic

alEx

celle

nt

Num

erac

ysk

ills

Co

mm

unic

atio

n

skill

s

ICT

skill

s

Inte

rper

son

al a

nd

te

amw

ork

ski

lls

defin

e a

suita

ble

and

effic

ient

sam

plin

g p

roce

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gnis

e in

com

ple

te s

ets

ofin

form

atio

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gges

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lutio

ns

unde

rsta

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uant

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isk

choo

se a

pp

rop

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hniq

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ata

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rpre

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ffect

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y

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e ch

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g nu

mer

ical

pro

blem

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ing

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rop

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niq

ues.

com

mun

icat

e ef

fect

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y an

den

gagi

ngly

to

a va

riety

of

audi

ence

s in

writ

ten,

gra

phi

cal

and

verb

al f

orm

s

cont

ribut

e co

nstr

uctiv

ely

togr

oup

dis

cuss

ions

liste

n to

, ev

alua

te a

nd r

esp

ond

effe

ctiv

ely

to t

he v

iew

s of

oth

ers.

use

the

inte

rnet

crit

ical

ly a

ndim

agin

ativ

ely

for

com

mun

icat

ion

and

info

rmat

ion

retr

ieva

l

hand

le c

omp

uter

-bas

edin

form

atio

n co

nfid

ently

and

com

pet

ently

usi

ng a

pp

rop

riate

tech

niq

ues

and

soft

war

e.

orga

nise

and

mot

ivat

e a

team

effe

ctiv

ely

cont

ribut

e ef

fect

ivel

y an

den

thus

iast

ical

ly t

o te

amw

ork

defin

e a

suita

ble

and

effe

ctiv

esa

mp

ling

pro

cedu

re

reco

gnis

e in

com

ple

te s

ets

ofin

form

atio

n an

d p

rop

ose

app

rop

riate

sol

utio

ns

unde

rsta

nd r

isk

pro

cess

and

inte

rpre

t da

taef

fect

ivel

y

solv

e a

rang

e of

num

eric

alp

robl

ems

usin

g ap

pro

pria

tete

chni

que

s.

com

mun

icat

e ef

fect

ivel

y to

audi

ence

s in

writ

ten,

gra

phi

cal

and

verb

al f

orm

s

cont

ribut

e co

here

ntly

to

grou

pdi

scus

sion

s

liste

n at

tent

ivel

y an

d re

spon

dto

oth

ers.

use

the

inte

rnet

crit

ical

ly f

orco

mm

unic

atio

n an

din

form

atio

n re

trie

val

hand

le c

omp

uter

-bas

edin

form

atio

n us

ing

app

rop

riate

tech

niq

ues

and

soft

war

e.

orga

nise

a t

eam

effe

ctiv

ely

cont

ribut

e ef

fect

ivel

y to

tea

mw

ork

sele

ct a

n ap

pro

pria

te

sam

plin

g p

roce

dure

reco

gnis

e w

hen

info

rmat

ion

is in

com

plet

e

app

reci

ate

risk

pro

cess

and

inte

rpre

t da

ta

solv

e ba

sic

num

eric

al p

robl

ems

usin

g ap

pro

pria

te t

echn

ique

s.

com

mun

icat

e to

a v

arie

ty o

fau

dien

ces

in w

ritte

n, g

rap

hica

lan

d ve

rbal

for

ms

mak

e co

ntrib

utio

ns t

o gr

oup

disc

ussi

ons

liste

n an

d re

spon

d to

oth

ers.

use

the

inte

rnet

for

com

mun

icat

ion

and

info

rmat

ion

retr

ieva

l

hand

le c

omp

uter

-bas

edin

form

atio

n w

ith g

uida

nce,

usin

g ap

pro

pria

te t

echn

ique

san

d so

ftw

are.

mak

e so

me

cont

ribut

ion

tote

amw

ork

and

goal

s

reco

gnis

e an

d re

spec

t th

e vi

ews

of o

ther

s

15

16

Thre

shol

dTy

pic

alEx

celle

nt

Inte

rper

son

al a

nd

te

amw

ork

ski

lls

Self

-man

agem

ent

and

pro

fess

ion

al

dev

elo

pm

ent

skill

s

iden

tify

indi

vidu

al a

ndco

llect

ive

goal

s

reco

gnis

e an

d re

spec

t th

e vi

ews

of o

ther

s

eval

uate

per

form

ance

as

anin

divi

dual

and

tea

m m

embe

r.

reco

gnis

e an

d be

abl

e to

com

men

t on

the

mor

al a

ndet

hica

l iss

ues

asso

ciat

ed w

ithth

e su

bjec

t

unde

rsta

nd a

nd b

e ab

le t

o ap

ply

prof

essio

nal c

odes

of c

ondu

ct

acce

pt

resp

onsi

bilit

y fo

r th

eir

own

lear

ning

iden

tify

and

wor

k to

war

dsta

rget

s fo

r p

erso

nal,

care

er a

ndac

adem

ic d

evel

opm

ent

take

a r

esp

onsi

ble,

ada

pta

ble

and

flexi

ble

app

roac

h to

stu

dyan

d w

ork

deve

lop

the

ski

lls n

eces

sary

for

self-

man

aged

and

life

long

lear

ning

(th

at is

, in

dep

ende

ntst

udy,

tim

e m

anag

emen

t,or

gani

satio

nal s

kills

)

anal

yse

per

sona

l str

engt

hs

and

wea

knes

ses.

iden

tify

indi

vidu

al a

ndco

llect

ive

goal

s an

dre

spon

sibi

litie

s

reco

gnis

e an

d re

spec

t th

e vi

ews

of o

ther

s

eval

uate

per

form

ance

as

anin

divi

dual

and

tea

m m

embe

r,an

d le

arn

for

the

futu

re.

reco

gnise

, exp

lain

and

eva

luat

eth

e m

oral

and

eth

ical

issu

esas

soci

ated

with

the

sub

ject

unde

rsta

nd a

nd b

e ab

le t

o ap

ply

prof

essio

nal c

odes

of c

ondu

ct

assu

me

resp

onsi

bilit

y fo

r th

eir

own

lear

ning

iden

tify

and

wor

k to

war

dsam

bitio

us t

arge

ts f

or

per

sona

l, ca

reer

and

ac

adem

ic d

evel

opm

ent

man

age

a re

spon

sibl

e,ad

apta

ble

and

flexi

ble

app

roac

h to

stu

dy a

nd w

ork

deve

lop

the

ski

lls n

eces

sary

for

self-

man

aged

and

life

long

lear

ning

(th

at is

, in

dep

ende

ntst

udy,

tim

e m

anag

emen

t,or

gani

satio

nal s

kills

) to

an

enha

nced

leve

l

anal

yse

per

sona

l str

engt

hs a

ndw

eakn

esse

s an

d ta

ke a

ccou

nt

of t

hem

.

refle

ct o

n te

am p

erfo

rman

ce.

reco

gnis

e th

e ex

iste

nce

ofm

oral

and

eth

ical

issu

esas

soci

ated

with

the

sub

ject

app

reci

ate

the

need

for

pro

fess

iona

l cod

es o

f co

nduc

t

acce

pt

som

e re

spon

sibi

lity

for

thei

r ow

n le

arni

ng

iden

tify

targ

ets

for

per

sona

l,ca

reer

and

aca

dem

icde

velo

pm

ent

be a

dapt

able

and

hav

e a

flexi

ble

appr

oach

to

stud

y an

d w

ork

deve

lop

som

e sk

ills

nece

ssar

yfo

r se

lf-m

anag

ed a

nd li

felo

ngle

arni

ng (

that

is,

inde

pen

dent

stud

y, t

ime

man

agem

ent,

orga

nisa

tiona

l ski

lls)

reco

gnis

e p

erso

nal s

tren

gths

and

wea

knes

ses.

Thre

shol

d

Typ

ical

Ex

celle

nt

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

agri

cult

ure

and

h

ort

icul

ture

17

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

a w

ell-

grou

nded

und

erst

andi

ng o

f th

esc

ienc

e an

d m

anag

emen

t of

sust

aina

ble

pro

duct

ion

syst

ems

whi

ch c

omp

rise

the

broa

dag

ricul

tura

l or

hort

icul

tura

lin

dust

ries

with

in t

he s

ocio

-ec

onom

ic a

nd e

nviro

nmen

tal

cont

exts

req

uire

d by

soc

iety

. Th

ey w

ill b

e ab

le t

o:

dem

onst

rate

und

erst

andi

ng o

fth

e sc

ient

ific

fact

ors

limiti

ngp

rodu

ctio

n

unde

rsta

nd t

he p

olic

y an

d so

cio-

econ

omic

fact

ors

whi

ch fo

rm a

ndin

fluen

ce s

yste

ms

unde

rsta

nd h

ow p

rodu

ctio

nsy

stem

s ca

n be

imp

rove

d by

man

ipul

atio

n an

d m

anag

emen

t

reco

gnis

e an

d ad

dres

s th

eet

hica

l im

plic

atio

ns o

fp

rodu

ctio

n sy

stem

s

app

reci

ate

the

need

s an

dre

qui

rem

ents

of

soci

ety

app

ly t

his

know

ledg

e to

a w

ide

rang

e of

rea

l-life

situ

atio

ns.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

aco

mp

rehe

nsiv

e un

ders

tand

ing

ofth

e bi

olog

y an

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anag

emen

t of

sust

aina

ble

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duct

ion

syst

ems

whi

ch c

omp

rise

the

broa

dag

ricul

tura

l or

hort

icul

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lin

dust

ries

with

in t

he s

ocio

-ec

onom

ic a

nd e

nviro

nmen

tal

cont

exts

req

uire

d by

soc

iety

. Th

eyw

ill d

emon

stra

te b

oth

exce

llent

know

ledg

e of

the

lite

ratu

re a

ndcr

eativ

e ap

plic

atio

n of

the

mat

eria

l.Th

is w

ill d

istin

guis

h th

e m

anne

r in

whi

ch t

hey:

dem

onst

rate

und

erst

andi

ng

of t

he s

cien

tific

fac

tors

lim

iting

pro

duct

ion

and

thei

r in

tera

ctio

ns

unde

rsta

nd t

he p

olic

y an

dso

cio-

econ

omic

fac

tors

whi

chfo

rm a

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fluen

ce s

yste

ms

pro

pos

e im

pro

ved

syst

ems

thro

ugh

man

ipul

atio

n an

d m

anag

emen

t

reco

gnis

e, a

ntic

ipat

e an

dad

dres

s th

e et

hica

l im

plic

atio

ns

unde

rsta

nd,

antic

ipat

e an

dad

dres

s th

e ne

eds

and

req

uire

men

ts o

f so

ciet

y

app

ly t

his

know

ledg

e cr

eativ

ely

to a

wid

e ra

nge

of

real

-life

situ

atio

ns.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

som

efa

mili

arity

with

the

sci

ence

an

d m

anag

emen

t of

sus

tain

able

pro

duct

ion

syst

ems

whi

chco

mp

rise

the

broa

d ag

ricul

tura

l or

hort

icul

tura

l ind

ustr

ies

with

in t

heso

cio-

econ

omic

and

env

ironm

enta

lco

ntex

ts r

equi

red

by s

ocie

ty.

They

will

be

able

to:

dem

onst

rate

som

eun

ders

tand

ing

of t

he s

cien

tific

fact

ors

affe

ctin

g p

rodu

ctio

n

desc

ribe

the

pol

icy

and

soci

o-ec

onom

ic f

acto

rs w

hich

for

man

d in

fluen

ce s

yste

ms

unde

rsta

nd h

ow p

rodu

ctio

nsy

stem

s ca

n be

man

ipul

ated

and

man

aged

reco

gnis

e th

e et

hica

lim

plic

atio

ns o

f p

rodu

ctio

nsy

stem

s

reco

gnis

e th

e ne

eds

and

req

uire

men

ts o

f so

ciet

y

app

ly t

his

know

ledg

e to

a r

ange

of r

outin

e re

al-li

fe s

ituat

ions

.

Tab

le 2

: B

ench

mar

k s

tan

dar

ds

- su

bje

ct-s

pec

ific

kn

ow

led

ge

and

un

der

stan

din

g i

n h

on

ou

rs d

egre

es

in a

gri

cult

ure

, fo

rest

ry,

agri

cult

ura

l sc

ien

ce,

foo

d s

cien

ces

and

co

nsu

mer

sci

ence

s/st

ud

ies

18

Thre

shol

d

Typ

ical

Ex

celle

nt

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

agri

cult

ure

and

h

ort

icul

ture

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

a w

ell-

grou

nded

und

erst

andi

ng o

f th

eso

cial

, ec

onom

ic,

lega

l, sc

ient

ific

and

tech

nolo

gica

l prin

cip

les

unde

rlyin

g th

e bu

sine

ssm

anag

emen

t of

far

m o

rho

rtic

ultu

ral e

nter

pris

es.

They

will

be a

ble

to:

desc

ribe

and

eval

uate

a w

ide

rang

e of

eco

nom

ic a

ndbu

sine

ss m

anag

emen

t th

eory

and

tech

niq

ues

dem

onst

rate

fam

iliar

ity w

ithre

leva

nt p

olic

y an

d un

ders

tand

its a

ims

desc

ribe

and

eval

uate

fea

ture

sof

the

lega

l and

eth

ical

fram

ewor

k ap

plic

able

to

pro

duct

ion

syst

ems

app

ly a

nd e

valu

ate

a ra

nge

ofsp

ecifi

c sc

ient

ific

and

tech

nolo

gica

l pro

cess

es

app

rais

e an

d ev

alua

te t

he r

oles

and

resp

onsi

bilit

ies

ofre

gula

tory

and

adv

isor

y bo

dies

.

Gra

duat

es w

ill b

e ab

le t

o se

lect

,ap

ply

and

eva

luat

e a

wid

e ra

nge

ofco

ncep

ts,

theo

ries

and

met

hods

draw

n fr

om t

he c

onst

ituen

tdi

scip

lines

of

thei

r de

gree

pro

gram

me

to a

gric

ultu

ral o

rho

rtic

ultu

ral e

nter

pris

es.

They

will

be a

ble

to:

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

a w

ell-

grou

nded

und

erst

andi

ng o

f th

eso

cial

, ec

onom

ic,

lega

l, sc

ient

ific

and

tech

nolo

gica

l prin

cip

les

unde

rlyin

g th

e bu

sine

ssm

anag

emen

t of

far

m o

rho

rtic

ultu

ral e

nter

pris

es.

They

will

dem

onst

rate

bot

h ex

celle

ntkn

owle

dge

of t

heor

y an

dte

chni

que

s an

d cr

eativ

e ap

plic

atio

nof

the

mat

eria

l. Th

is w

ill d

istin

guis

hth

e m

anne

r in

whi

ch t

hey:

desc

ribe,

eva

luat

e an

d ap

ply

aw

ide

rang

e of

eco

nom

ic a

ndbu

sine

ss m

anag

emen

t th

eory

and

tech

niq

ues

dem

onst

rate

fam

iliar

ity w

ithre

leva

nt p

olic

y an

d un

ders

tand

its o

rigin

s an

d ai

ms

desc

ribe

and

eval

uate

fea

ture

sof

the

lega

l and

eth

ical

fram

ewor

k ap

plic

able

to

pro

duct

ion

syst

ems

app

ly a

nd e

valu

ate

a ra

nge

ofsp

ecifi

c sc

ient

ific

and

tech

nolo

gica

l pro

cess

es

desc

ribe

and

eval

uate

the

rol

esan

d re

spon

sibi

litie

s of

regu

lato

ry a

nd a

dvis

ory

bodi

es.

Gra

duat

es w

ill b

e ab

le t

o se

lect

,ap

ply

and

eva

luat

e a

wid

e ra

nge

ofco

ncep

ts,

theo

ries

and

met

hods

draw

n fr

om t

he c

onst

ituen

tdi

scip

lines

of

thei

r de

gree

pro

gram

me

to a

gric

ultu

ral o

rho

rtic

ultu

ral e

nter

pris

es.

They

will

dem

onst

rate

bot

h an

exc

elle

nt

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

som

efa

mili

arity

with

the

soc

ial,

econ

omic

, le

gal,

scie

ntifi

c an

dte

chno

logi

cal p

rinci

ple

s un

derly

ing

the

busi

ness

man

agem

ent

of

farm

or

hort

icul

tura

l ent

erp

rises

.Th

ey w

ill b

e ab

le t

o:

dem

onst

rate

lim

ited

fam

iliar

ityw

ith a

ran

ge o

f ec

onom

ic a

ndbu

sine

ss m

anag

emen

t th

eory

and

tech

niq

ues

dem

onst

rate

fam

iliar

ity w

ithre

leva

nt p

olic

y

desc

ribe

som

e fe

atur

es o

f the

lega

l and

eth

ical

fram

ewor

kap

plic

able

to

prod

uctio

n sy

stem

s

app

ly a

lim

ited

rang

e of

sp

ecifi

csc

ient

ific

and

tech

nolo

gica

lp

roce

sses

app

rais

e th

e ro

les

and

resp

onsi

bilit

ies

of r

egul

ator

yan

d ad

viso

ry b

odie

s.

Gra

duat

es w

ill b

e ab

le t

o se

lect

and

appl

y a

limite

d ra

nge

of c

once

pts,

theo

ries

and

met

hods

dra

wn

from

the

cons

titue

nt d

iscip

lines

of t

heir

degr

ee p

rogr

amm

e to

agr

icul

tura

l or

hort

icul

tura

l ent

erpr

ises.

The

y w

ill b

eab

le t

o:

iden

tify

app

rop

riate

kno

wle

dge

19

Thre

shol

d

Typ

ical

Ex

celle

nt

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

agri

cult

ure

and

h

ort

icul

ture

iden

tify

and

eval

uate

app

rop

riate

kno

wle

dge

base

san

d a

rang

e of

the

oret

ical

per

spec

tives

app

ly a

ran

ge o

f m

etho

ds t

op

robl

em e

valu

atio

n an

dam

elio

ratio

n.In

add

ition

to

the

acqu

isiti

on o

ftr

ansf

erab

le s

kills

, gra

duat

es w

ill b

eab

le t

o:

com

mun

icat

e ef

fect

ivel

y on

aw

ide

rang

e of

agr

icul

tura

l or

hort

icul

tura

l iss

ues

and

revi

ewth

eir

per

form

ance

crit

ical

ly

desc

ribe,

ap

ply

and

eva

luat

ep

rofe

ssio

nal s

tand

ards

and

resp

onsi

bilit

ies

in r

elat

ion

to t

heag

ricul

tura

l or

hort

icul

tura

lin

dust

ry.

know

ledg

e of

the

lite

ratu

re a

ndcr

eativ

e ap

plic

atio

n of

the

mat

eria

l.Th

is w

ill d

istin

guis

h th

e m

anne

r in

whi

ch t

hey:

iden

tify

and

eval

uate

app

rop

riate

kno

wle

dge

base

san

d a

full

rang

e th

eore

tical

per

spec

tives

just

ify,

app

ly a

nd e

valu

ate

ara

nge

of m

etho

ds f

or p

robl

emev

alua

tion

and

amel

iora

tion.

Gra

duat

es w

ill b

e ab

le t

ode

mon

stra

te m

aste

ry o

ftr

ansf

erab

le s

kills

. A

dditi

onal

ly,

per

form

ance

will

be

dist

ingu

ishe

dby

an

exce

llenc

e in

the

irkn

owle

dge

of t

he li

tera

ture

and

the

crea

tive

app

licat

ion

of t

hem

ater

ial.

They

will

be

able

to:

com

mun

icat

e ef

fect

ivel

y on

aw

ide

rang

e of

agr

icul

tura

l or

hort

icul

tura

l iss

ues

and

revi

ewth

eir

per

form

ance

crit

ical

ly

inte

ract

effe

ctiv

ely

with

and

guid

e p

rofe

ssio

nals

fro

m a

wid

era

nge

of c

ogna

te d

isci

plin

es in

solv

ing

mul

tidis

cip

linar

yp

robl

ems

in a

gric

ultu

re

and

hort

icul

ture

desc

ribe,

ap

ply

and

eva

luat

ep

rofe

ssio

nal s

tand

ards

and

resp

onsi

bilit

ies

in r

elat

ion

to t

hebr

oade

r ag

ricul

tura

l or

hort

icul

tura

l ind

ustr

y

base

s an

d so

me

theo

retic

alp

ersp

ectiv

es

app

ly li

mite

d ra

nge

of m

etho

dsto

pro

blem

eva

luat

ion

and

amel

iora

tion.

In

add

ition

to

the

acqu

isitio

n of

tran

sfer

able

ski

lls, g

radu

ates

will

be

able

to:

com

mun

icat

e on

a li

mite

dra

nge

of a

gric

ultu

ral o

rho

rtic

ultu

ral i

ssue

s

desc

ribe

and

appl

y pr

ofes

siona

lst

anda

rds

and

resp

onsib

ilitie

s in

rela

tion

to t

he a

gric

ultu

ral o

rho

rtic

ultu

ral i

ndus

try.

20

Thre

shol

d

Typ

ical

Ex

celle

nt

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

agri

cult

ure

and

h

ort

icul

ture

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

the

agri

cult

ural

sc

ien

ces

In a

dditi

on t

o p

osse

ssin

g th

e kn

owle

dge,

und

erst

andi

ng a

nd e

xper

tise

desc

ribed

on

the

follo

win

g p

ages

,gr

adua

tes

will

be

fam

iliar

with

one

or

mor

e of

the

fol

low

ing

subd

ivis

ions

of

app

lied

scie

nce:

app

lied

pla

nt s

cien

ce

app

lied

anim

al s

cien

ce

app

lied

mic

robi

al s

cien

ce

soil

scie

nce

agric

ultu

ral s

yste

ms

envi

ronm

enta

l sci

ence

.St

udie

s in

eac

h of

the

se s

ubdi

visi

ons

will

dra

w o

n su

bjec

t m

ater

ial f

rom

one

or

seve

ral p

aren

t di

scip

lines

and

refle

ct it

in a

man

ner

rele

vant

to

app

licat

ions

in a

gric

ultu

ral a

nd c

ogna

te a

reas

. Th

e co

nten

t of

indi

vidu

alco

urse

s w

ill b

e de

fined

acc

ordi

ng t

o lo

cal e

xper

tise,

kno

wle

dge,

rep

utat

ion

and

rese

arch

inte

rest

s bu

t al

lco

urse

s w

ill b

e de

sign

ed t

o p

rovi

de g

radu

ates

with

a b

alan

ced

awar

enes

s of

the

ir su

bjec

t. E

xpec

ted

leve

ls o

fac

hiev

emen

t in

the

sp

ecia

lism

are

giv

en b

elow

.

men

tor

thei

r p

eers

in t

heco

ncep

ts,

theo

ries

and

pra

ctic

eof

agr

icul

ture

and

hor

ticul

ture

,an

d its

imp

rove

men

t.

21

Thre

shol

d

Typ

ical

Ex

celle

nt

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

the

agri

cult

ural

sc

ien

ces

the

phy

sica

l and

che

mic

al p

roce

sses

of

the

bios

phe

re

the

bioc

hem

ical

pro

cess

es o

f lif

e

the

flow

of

ener

gy a

nd c

yclin

g of

mat

eria

ls w

ithin

the

bio

sphe

re

the

orga

nisa

tion

of t

he b

iosp

here

and

cla

ssifi

catio

n of

org

anis

ms

evol

utio

nary

pro

cess

and

its

gene

tic b

asis

the

rele

vanc

e an

d ap

plic

atio

n of

the

ir di

scip

line

to t

he a

gric

ultu

ral i

ndus

try

the

envi

ronm

enta

l im

pac

t an

d su

stai

nabi

lity

of a

gric

ultu

ral p

ract

ices

agric

ultu

ral p

rodu

ctio

n sy

stem

s

phy

siol

ogic

al a

nd n

utrit

iona

l prin

cip

les

of c

rop

s an

d liv

esto

ck

glob

al is

sues

in t

he p

rodu

ctio

n, d

istr

ibut

ion

and

use

of a

gric

ultu

ral p

rodu

cts

food

qua

lity

and

safe

ty

the

soci

o-ec

onom

ic,

lega

l and

pol

icy

fram

ewor

k fo

r th

e ag

ricul

tura

l ind

ustr

y

risk

asse

ssm

ent,

and

hea

lth a

nd s

afet

y is

sues

in a

gric

ultu

ral p

ract

ice.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

a w

ell-

grou

nded

und

erst

andi

ng o

f et

hica

lis

sues

rel

ated

to

the

use

and

exp

loita

tion

of b

iolo

gica

l ent

ities

,an

d:

With

ext

ende

d kn

owle

dge

in

som

e ar

eas.

Gra

duat

es w

ill:

have

ach

ieve

d a

leve

l of

spec

ialis

t kn

owle

dge

and

unde

rsta

ndin

g, a

llow

ing

them

to w

ork

as s

ubje

ct s

pec

ialis

tsw

ithin

the

bro

ad a

gric

ultu

ral

indu

stry

or

a co

gnat

e fie

ld o

f ac

tivity

be a

ble

to a

pp

ly t

heir

disc

iplin

eto

sol

ve p

robl

ems

in t

he

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

a de

ep a

ndco

mpr

ehen

sive

und

erst

andi

ng o

fet

hica

l iss

ues

rela

ted

to t

he u

se a

ndex

ploi

tatio

n of

bio

logi

cal e

ntiti

es,

and:

With

sig

nific

antly

ext

ende

dkn

owle

dge

in s

ome

area

s.

Gra

duat

es w

ill:

have

ach

ieve

d an

out

stan

ding

leve

l of

spec

ialis

t kn

owle

dge

and

unde

rsta

ndin

g, a

llow

ing

them

to

wor

k as

sub

ject

spec

ialis

ts w

ithin

the

bro

adag

ricul

tura

l ind

ustr

y or

aco

gnat

e fie

ld o

f ac

tivity

be a

ble

to a

pp

ly t

heir

disc

iplin

eto

sol

ve p

robl

ems

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

som

e fa

mili

arity

and

awar

enes

s of

eth

ical

issu

esre

late

d to

agr

icul

tura

l pra

ctic

e, a

nd:

Gra

duat

es w

ill:

have

ach

ieve

d a

leve

l of

spec

ialis

t kn

owle

dge

and

unde

rsta

ndin

g, a

llow

ing

them

to w

ork

adap

tabl

y to

ap

ply

thei

r di

scip

line

with

in t

he b

road

agric

ultu

ral i

ndus

try

or a

cogn

ate

field

of

activ

ity

be a

ble

to f

ollo

w c

urre

ntp

ract

ice,

and

ada

pt

to f

utur

ede

velo

pm

ents

22

Thre

shol

d

Typ

ical

Ex

celle

nt

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

the

agri

cult

ural

sc

ien

ces

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

foo

d s

cien

ce a

nd

te

chn

olo

gy

agric

ultu

ral i

ndus

try

be a

ble

to a

dvis

e on

cur

rent

pra

ctic

e an

d en

gage

indi

scou

rse

at a

det

aile

d le

vel

be a

ble

to a

sses

s th

e va

lue

and

app

licat

ion

of n

ew r

esea

rch

and

deve

lop

men

ts f

rom

an

info

rmed

per

spec

tive

be p

oten

tially

abl

e to

lead

deve

lop

men

ts in

the

ir ar

ea o

fsp

ecia

list

know

ledg

e

be a

ble

to e

valu

ate

the

envi

ronm

enta

l im

pac

t an

dsu

stai

nabi

lity

of a

gric

ultu

ral

pra

ctic

es.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

a w

ell-

grou

nded

und

erst

andi

ng o

f th

eke

y sc

ient

ific

disc

iplin

es r

elev

ant

tofo

od.

They

will

be

able

to:

dem

onst

rate

und

erst

andi

ng o

fth

e ch

emis

try

unde

rpin

ning

mol

ecul

ar in

tera

ctio

ns a

nd t

hebe

havi

our

of c

omp

onen

ts in

food

mat

eria

ls d

urin

gp

roce

ssin

g an

d st

orag

e

exp

lain

bio

chem

ical

, ch

emic

al,

phy

sica

l and

bio

logi

cal f

acto

rsun

derly

ing

the

synt

hesi

s an

dm

etab

olis

m o

f fo

od m

ater

ials

desc

ribe

phy

sica

l pro

per

ties

offo

od a

nd e

xper

imen

tally

dete

rmin

e th

eir

valu

es

exp

lain

the

rol

e of

nut

rient

s in

hea

lth.

be a

ble

to a

dvis

e on

cur

rent

pra

ctic

e an

d en

gage

indi

scou

rse

at a

det

aile

d le

vel

be a

ble

to a

sses

s th

e va

lue

and

app

licat

ion

of n

ew r

esea

rch

and

deve

lop

men

ts f

rom

an

info

rmed

per

spec

tive

be a

ble

to le

ad r

esea

rch

and

deve

lop

men

ts in

the

ir ar

ea o

fsp

ecia

list

know

ledg

e

be a

ble

to e

valu

ate

the

envi

ronm

enta

l im

pac

t an

dsu

stai

nabi

lity

of a

gric

ultu

ral

pra

ctic

es.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

aco

mp

rehe

nsiv

e un

ders

tand

ing

ofth

e ke

y sc

ient

ific

disc

iplin

esre

leva

nt t

o fo

od.

They

will

dem

onst

rate

an

exce

llent

know

ledg

e of

cur

rent

sci

entif

icde

velo

pm

ents

rel

evan

t to

foo

d.Th

is w

ill d

istin

guis

h th

e m

anne

r in

whi

ch t

hey:

dem

onst

rate

und

erst

andi

ng o

fth

e ch

emis

try

unde

rpin

ning

mol

ecul

ar in

tera

ctio

ns a

nd t

hebe

havi

our

of c

omp

onen

ts in

food

mat

eria

ls d

urin

gp

roce

ssin

g an

d st

orag

e

exp

lain

bio

chem

ical

, ch

emic

al,

phy

sica

l and

bio

logi

cal f

acto

rsun

derly

ing

the

synt

hesi

s an

dm

etab

olis

m o

f fo

od m

ater

ials

exp

lain

phy

sica

l pro

per

ties

offo

od a

nd e

xper

imen

tally

be a

ble

to c

omm

ent

on t

heen

viro

nmen

tal i

mp

act

and

sust

aina

bilit

y of

agr

icul

tura

lp

ract

ices

.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

som

efa

mili

arity

with

the

key

sci

entif

icdi

scip

lines

rel

evan

t to

foo

d.

They

will

be

able

to:

dem

onst

rate

som

e un

ders

tand

ing

of t

he c

hem

istry

und

erpi

nnin

gm

olec

ular

inte

ract

ions

occ

urrin

gin

food

s an

d fo

od p

rodu

ctio

n

desc

ribe

key

bioc

hem

ical

,ch

emic

al,

phy

sica

l and

biol

ogic

al f

acto

rs u

nder

lyin

gth

e sy

nthe

sis

and

met

abol

ism

of f

ood

mat

eria

ls

desc

ribe

a lim

ited

rang

e of

phy

sica

l pro

per

ties

of f

ood

and

exp

erim

enta

lly d

eter

min

eth

eir

valu

es

exp

lain

the

rol

e of

key

nut

rient

sin

hea

lth.

23

Thre

shol

d

Typ

ical

Ex

celle

nt

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

foo

d s

cien

ce a

nd

te

chn

olo

gy

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

a w

ell-

grou

nded

abi

lity

to e

xten

dkn

owle

dge

and

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

food

thr

ough

a s

cien

tific

ap

pro

ach.

They

will

be

able

to:

use

app

rop

riate

met

hods

of

anal

ysis

saf

ely

for

all t

ypes

of

larg

e an

d sm

all m

olec

ules

of

rele

vanc

e to

foo

d

expl

ain

and

unde

rtak

e st

anda

rdm

etho

ds fo

r th

e de

tect

ion

and

enum

erat

ion

of m

icro

orga

nism

sim

port

ant

to t

he fo

od in

dust

ryan

d un

dert

ake

appr

opria

teex

amin

atio

n of

the

mic

robi

olog

yof

food

s.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

a w

ell-

grou

nded

abi

lity

to a

pply

and

com

mun

icat

e kn

owle

dge

of fo

od t

om

eet

the

need

s of

soc

iety

, ind

ustr

yan

d th

e co

nsum

er fo

r su

stai

nabl

efo

od q

ualit

y, s

afet

y an

d se

curit

y of

supp

ly. T

hey

will

be

able

to:

exp

lain

the

prin

cip

les

and

pra

ctic

e of

foo

d p

roce

ssin

g

dete

rmin

e th

eir

valu

es

exp

lain

the

rol

e of

nut

rient

s in

hea

lth.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

aco

mp

rehe

nsiv

e ab

ility

to

exte

ndkn

owle

dge

and

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

food

thr

ough

a s

cien

tific

ap

pro

ach.

They

will

dem

onst

rate

an

exce

llent

app

reci

atio

n of

are

as w

here

scie

ntifi

c kn

owle

dge

is li

mite

d an

dw

ill b

e ca

pab

le o

f p

rop

osin

gm

etho

ds f

or o

verc

omin

g th

ese

defic

ienc

ies.

Thi

s w

ill d

istin

guis

hth

e m

anne

r in

whi

ch t

hey:

use

app

rop

riate

met

hods

of

anal

ysis

saf

ely

for

all t

ypes

of

larg

e an

d sm

all m

olec

ules

of

rele

vanc

e to

foo

d

exp

lain

and

und

erta

ke m

etho

dsfo

r th

e de

tect

ion

and

enum

erat

ion

of m

icro

orga

nism

sim

por

tant

to

the

food

indu

stry

and

unde

rtak

e ap

pro

pria

teex

amin

atio

n of

the

mic

robi

olog

y of

foo

ds.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

aco

mp

rehe

nsiv

e ab

ility

to

app

ly a

ndco

mm

unic

ate

know

ledg

e of

foo

dto

mee

t th

e ne

eds

of s

ocie

ty,

indu

stry

and

the

con

sum

er f

orsu

stai

nabl

e fo

od q

ualit

y, s

afet

y an

dse

curit

y of

sup

ply

. Th

ey w

illde

mon

stra

te e

xcel

lent

kno

wle

dge

of t

he li

tera

ture

, cr

eativ

eap

plic

atio

n of

the

mat

eria

l and

a

Gra

duat

es w

ill b

e ab

le t

o as

sist

inth

e ex

tens

ion

of k

now

ledg

e an

dun

ders

tand

ing

of f

ood

thro

ugh

asc

ient

ific

app

roac

h. T

hey

will

be

able

to:

use

app

rop

riate

met

hods

of

anal

ysis

saf

ely

for

mos

t ty

pes

of

larg

e an

d sm

all m

olec

ules

of

rele

vanc

e to

foo

d

exp

lain

and

und

erta

ke s

tand

ard

met

hods

for

the

det

ectio

n an

den

umer

atio

n of

mic

roor

gani

sms

imp

orta

nt t

o th

e fo

od in

dust

ry.

Gra

duat

es w

ill b

e ab

le t

o as

sist

inth

e ap

plic

atio

n an

dco

mm

unic

atio

n of

kno

wle

dge

offo

od t

o m

eet

the

need

s of

soc

iety

,in

dust

ry a

nd t

he c

onsu

mer

for

sust

aina

ble

food

qua

lity,

saf

ety

and

secu

rity

of s

upp

ly.

They

will

be

able

to:

desc

ribe

the

prin

cip

les

and

pra

ctic

e of

maj

or f

ood

24

Thre

shol

d

Typ

ical

Ex

celle

nt

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

foo

d s

cien

ce a

nd

te

chn

olo

gy

oper

atio

ns a

nd f

ood

pre

serv

atio

n sy

stem

s

eval

uate

eng

inee

ring

desi

gn o

ffo

od e

qui

pm

ent

and

com

mun

icat

e p

rofe

ssio

nally

with

sp

ecia

list

food

eng

inee

rs

exp

lain

cha

ract

eris

tics

and

pro

per

ties

of p

acka

ging

mat

eria

ls f

or f

ood

pro

duct

s an

d id

entif

y ap

pro

pria

tep

acka

ging

sys

tem

s

desi

gn,

app

ly a

nd in

terp

ret

stat

istic

ally

val

id s

enso

ryev

alua

tion

met

hods

to

asse

ssfo

od q

ualit

y an

d/or

pre

fere

nce

asse

ss t

he p

erfo

rman

ce o

f a

pro

cess

and

the

con

form

ance

of f

ood

to s

pec

ifica

tions

an

d le

gisl

atio

n

cont

ribut

e di

rect

ly t

o q

ualit

yas

sura

nce

pro

gram

mes

desc

ribe

the

risks

to

heal

th o

fch

emic

al c

onta

min

ants

of

food

and

outli

ne a

pp

rop

riate

met

hods

for

ris

k re

duct

ion

desc

ribe

the

mai

n as

pec

ts o

fth

e bu

sine

ss e

nviro

nmen

t in

whi

ch f

ood

busi

ness

es o

per

ate

and

reco

gnis

e th

e im

pac

t of

man

agem

ent

prin

cip

les

on t

hede

cisi

on m

akin

g p

roce

ss

par

ticip

ate

in h

ygie

ne a

ndw

aste

man

agem

ent

syst

ems

for

the

food

indu

stry

.

cap

acity

for

syn

thes

is.

This

will

dist

ingu

ish

the

man

ner

in

whi

ch t

hey:

exp

lain

the

prin

cip

les

and

eval

uate

the

pra

ctic

e of

foo

dp

roce

ssin

g op

erat

ions

and

foo

dp

rese

rvat

ion

syst

ems

eval

uate

eng

inee

ring

desi

gn o

ffo

od e

qui

pm

ent

and

com

mun

icat

e p

rofe

ssio

nally

with

sp

ecia

list

food

eng

inee

rs

exp

lain

cha

ract

eris

tics

and

pro

per

ties

of p

acka

ging

mat

eria

ls f

or f

ood

pro

duct

s an

d id

entif

y ap

pro

pria

tep

acka

ging

sys

tem

s

desi

gn,

app

ly a

nd in

terp

ret

stat

istic

ally

val

id s

enso

ryev

alua

tion

met

hods

to

asse

ssfo

od q

ualit

y an

d/or

pre

fere

nce

asse

ss t

he p

erfo

rman

ce o

f a

pro

cess

and

the

con

form

ance

of f

ood

to s

pec

ifica

tions

an

d le

gisl

atio

n

cont

ribut

e di

rect

ly t

o q

ualit

yas

sura

nce

pro

gram

mes

eval

uate

the

ris

ks t

o he

alth

of

chem

ical

con

tam

inan

ts o

f fo

odan

d ad

vise

on

app

rop

riate

met

hods

for

ris

k re

duct

ion

desc

ribe

the

mai

n as

pec

ts o

fth

e bu

sine

ss e

nviro

nmen

t in

whi

ch f

ood

busi

ness

es o

per

ate

and

reco

gnis

e th

e im

pac

t of

man

agem

ent

prin

cip

les

on t

hede

cisi

on-m

akin

g p

roce

ss

pro

cess

ing

oper

atio

ns a

nd f

ood

pre

serv

atio

n sy

stem

s

eval

uate

key

asp

ects

of

engi

neer

ing

desi

gn o

f fo

odeq

uip

men

t

exp

lain

the

rol

e of

pac

kagi

ngm

ater

ials

for

foo

d p

rodu

cts

app

ly s

imp

le s

enso

ry e

valu

atio

nm

etho

ds t

o as

sess

foo

d q

ualit

yan

d/or

pre

fere

nce

desc

ribe

the

food

law

fram

ewor

k w

ithin

whi

ch f

ood

busi

ness

es o

per

ate

assi

st in

the

op

erat

ion

of q

ualit

yas

sura

nce

pro

gram

mes

desc

ribe

the

risks

to

heal

th o

fke

y ch

emic

al c

onta

min

ants

of

foo

d

desc

ribe

the

mai

n as

pec

ts o

fth

e bu

sine

ss e

nviro

nmen

t in

whi

ch f

ood

busi

ness

es o

per

ate

exp

lain

the

imp

orta

nce

ofhy

gien

e an

d w

aste

man

agem

ent

syst

ems

for

the

food

indu

stry

25

Thre

shol

d

Typ

ical

Ex

celle

nt

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

foo

d s

cien

ce a

nd

te

chn

olo

gy

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

rura

l stu

die

s

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

som

efa

mili

arity

with

the

phy

sica

l, so

cial

,ec

onom

ic a

nd c

ultu

ral a

spec

ts o

fth

e ru

ral e

nviro

nmen

t. T

hey

will

be

able

to:

desc

ribe

the

phy

sica

lch

arac

teris

tics

of t

he r

ural

envi

ronm

ent

and

the

fact

ors

limiti

ng it

s de

velo

pm

ent

desc

ribe

the

soci

al,

econ

omic

and

cultu

ral b

asis

of

the

rura

l com

mun

ity

reco

gnis

e an

d de

scrib

e th

eco

nflic

ting

elem

ents

with

in t

heru

ral e

cono

my

dem

onst

rate

som

eun

ders

tand

ing

of t

he b

asic

econ

omic

and

bio

logi

cal

prin

cip

les

unde

rpin

ning

the

vario

us r

ural

indu

strie

s

reco

gnis

e th

e so

cial

and

eth

ical

imp

licat

ions

imp

licit

in t

hem

anag

emen

t of

the

rur

alen

viro

nmen

t

app

ly t

his

know

ledg

e to

ara

nge

of r

outin

e re

al-li

fesi

tuat

ions

.

par

ticip

ate

in h

ygie

ne a

ndw

aste

man

agem

ent

syst

ems

for

the

food

indu

stry

.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

aco

mpr

ehen

sive

and

deep

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

the

phy

sical

,so

cial

, eco

nom

ic a

nd c

ultu

ral

aspe

cts

of t

he r

ural

env

ironm

ent.

They

will

dem

onst

rate

com

preh

ensiv

e kn

owle

dge

ofre

leva

nt li

tera

ture

and

be

able

to

appl

y th

e m

ater

ial i

n a

crea

tive

fash

ion.

Thi

s w

ill d

istin

guish

the

man

ner

in w

hich

the

y:

dem

onst

rate

und

erst

andi

ng o

fth

e co

mp

lex

inte

ract

ions

betw

een

the

phy

sica

lch

arac

teris

tics

of t

he

rura

l env

ironm

ent

unde

rsta

nd t

he s

ocia

l,ec

onom

ic a

nd c

ultu

ral b

asis

of

the

rura

l com

mun

ity a

ndp

rop

ose

solu

tions

to

reco

ncile

conf

lictin

g el

emen

ts

app

ly a

n un

ders

tand

ing

of t

heec

onom

ic a

nd s

cien

tific

prin

cip

les

tow

ards

the

sol

utio

nof

the

pro

blem

s co

nfro

ntin

gru

ral i

ndus

trie

s

reco

gnis

e, a

ntic

ipat

e an

dad

dres

s th

e so

cial

and

eth

ical

imp

licat

ions

imp

licit

in t

he

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

a w

ell-

grou

nded

und

erst

andi

ng o

f th

ep

hysi

cal,

soci

al,

econ

omic

and

cultu

ral a

spec

ts o

f th

e ru

ral

envi

ronm

ent.

The

y w

ill b

e ab

le t

o:

unde

rsta

nd a

nd e

valu

ate

the

phy

sica

l cha

ract

eris

tics

of t

heru

ral e

nviro

nmen

t an

d th

efa

ctor

s lim

iting

its

deve

lop

men

t

unde

rsta

nd a

nd e

valu

ate

the

soci

al,

econ

omic

and

cul

tura

lba

sis

of t

he r

ural

com

mun

ity

eval

uate

the

con

flict

ing

elem

ents

with

in t

he

rura

l eco

nom

y

dem

onst

rate

a c

lear

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

the

eco

nom

ican

d bi

olog

ical

prin

cip

les

unde

rpin

ning

the

var

ious

ru

ral i

ndus

trie

s

eval

uate

the

soc

ial a

nd e

thic

alim

plic

atio

ns im

plic

it in

the

man

agem

ent

of t

he

rura

l env

ironm

ent

app

ly t

his

know

ledg

e to

a w

ide

rang

e of

rea

l-life

situ

atio

ns.

26

Thre

shol

d

Typ

ical

Ex

celle

nt

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

rura

l stu

die

s

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

a w

ell-g

roun

ded

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

the

issu

es o

fsu

stai

nabl

e de

velo

pmen

t,co

nser

vatio

n of

bio

dive

rsity

and

land

scap

es, a

nd e

nviro

nmen

tal

prot

ectio

n. T

hey

will

be

able

to:

desc

ribe

and

eval

uate

the

le

gal a

nd p

lann

ing

fram

ewor

kap

plic

able

to

the

rura

l env

ironm

ent

indi

cate

cle

ar u

nder

stan

ding

of

the

prin

cip

les

of e

colo

gy a

sap

plie

d to

hum

an,

pla

nt a

ndan

imal

com

mun

ities

indi

cate

cle

ar u

nder

stan

ding

of

the

com

ple

x ec

olog

y of

bot

hm

anag

ed n

ear-

natu

ral a

ndna

tura

l lan

dsca

pes

dem

onst

rate

fam

iliar

ity w

ith t

heco

ncep

t of

sus

tain

abili

ty a

nd it

sp

ract

ical

ap

plic

atio

n in

a v

arie

tyof

con

text

s

dem

onst

rate

fam

iliar

ity w

ith,

and

clea

r un

ders

tand

ing

of,

the

prin

cip

les

of w

ildlif

e an

dla

ndsc

ape

cons

erva

tion

with

in a

hist

oric

al a

nd c

onte

mp

orar

yco

ntex

t

man

agem

ent

of t

he

rura

l env

ironm

ent

app

ly t

his

know

ledg

e cr

eativ

ely

to a

wid

e ra

nge

of r

eal-l

ifesi

tuat

ions

, gi

ving

par

ticul

arat

tent

ion

to t

he r

equi

rem

ents

of s

ocie

ty a

nd t

he c

once

pt

of s

usta

inab

ility

.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

aco

mpr

ehen

sive

und

erst

andi

ng o

fth

e is

sues

of s

usta

inab

lede

velo

pmen

t, c

onse

rvat

ion

and

envi

ronm

enta

l pro

tect

ion.

The

y w

illde

mon

stra

te b

oth

exce

llent

know

ledg

e of

the

ory

and

tech

niqu

es a

nd c

reat

ive

appl

icat

ion

of t

he m

ater

ial.

They

will

be

able

to:

iden

tify,

des

crib

e an

d ev

alua

teth

e le

gal a

nd p

lann

ing

fram

ewor

k ap

plic

able

to

the

rura

l env

ironm

ent

and

dem

onst

rate

its

pra

ctic

alap

plic

atio

n

dem

onst

rate

a c

omp

rehe

nsiv

eun

ders

tand

ing

of t

he p

rinci

ple

sof

eco

logy

as

app

lied

tohu

man

, p

lant

and

ani

mal

com

mun

ities

indi

cate

an

abili

ty t

o ap

ply

an

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

the

com

ple

xec

olog

y of

man

aged

near

-nat

ural

and

nat

ural

land

scap

es t

o th

e so

lutio

n of

pra

ctic

al p

robl

ems

criti

cally

eva

luat

e an

d ap

ply

a

rang

e of

mod

els

ofsu

stai

nabi

lity

in a

cr

eativ

e m

anne

r

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

som

efa

mili

arity

with

the

issu

es o

fsu

stai

nabl

e de

velo

pm

ent,

cons

erva

tion

of b

iodi

vers

ity a

ndla

ndsc

apes

, an

d en

viro

nmen

tal

pro

tect

ion.

The

y w

ill b

e ab

le t

o:

dem

onst

rate

som

eun

ders

tand

ing

of t

he le

gal a

ndp

lann

ing

fram

ewor

k ap

plic

able

to t

he r

ural

env

ironm

ent

desc

ribe

the

basi

c p

rinci

ple

s of

ecol

ogy

as a

pp

lied

to h

uman

,p

lant

and

ani

mal

com

mun

ities

dem

onst

rate

som

eun

ders

tand

ing

of t

he c

omp

lex

ecol

ogy

of b

oth

man

aged

nea

r-na

tura

l and

nat

ural

land

scap

es

reco

gnis

e an

d un

ders

tand

the

conc

ept

of s

usta

inab

ility

with

ina

varie

ty o

f co

ntex

ts

dem

onst

rate

som

eun

ders

tand

ing

of t

he p

rinci

ple

sof

wild

life

and

land

scap

eco

nser

vatio

n w

ithin

a h

isto

rical

and

cont

emp

orar

y co

ntex

t

iden

tify

and

desc

ribe

the

role

san

d re

spon

sibi

litie

s of

sta

tuto

ry,

advi

sory

and

non

-gov

ernm

enta

lbo

dies

.

27

Thre

shol

d

Typ

ical

Ex

celle

nt

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

rura

l stu

die

s

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

fore

stry

iden

tify,

des

crib

e an

d ev

alua

teth

e ro

les

and

resp

onsi

bilit

ies

of s

tatu

tory

, ad

viso

ry a

ndno

n-go

vern

men

tal b

odie

s.

Gra

duat

es w

ill u

nder

stan

d th

eco

ncep

t of

an

inte

grat

ed a

ndho

listic

vie

w o

f ru

ral m

anag

emen

tan

d w

ill b

e ab

le t

o se

lect

, ap

ply

and

eval

uate

a w

ide

rang

e of

qua

ntita

tive

and

qua

litat

ive

anal

ytic

al m

etho

ds.

They

will

be

able

to:

iden

tify

and

eval

uate

sub

ject

-sp

ecifi

c kn

owle

dge

base

s an

dth

eore

tical

per

spec

tives

app

ly a

ran

ge o

f st

atis

tical

and

othe

r m

etho

ds t

o th

eev

alua

tion

and

amel

iora

tion

of p

robl

ems.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

a w

ell-

grou

nded

und

erst

andi

ng o

f th

esc

ient

ific

and

soci

o-ec

onom

icp

rinci

ple

s un

derly

ing

fore

stry

. Th

ey w

ill b

e ab

le t

o:

exp

lain

the

phy

sica

l and

biol

ogic

al p

roce

sses

tha

t sh

ape

the

natu

ral w

orld

and

the

irm

odifi

catio

n by

hum

an a

ctiv

ity

pro

vide

a c

omp

rehe

nsiv

eun

ders

tand

ing

of t

he p

rinci

ple

sof

wild

life

and

land

scap

eco

nser

vatio

n, a

nd p

rop

ose

app

rop

riate

sol

utio

ns t

o ad

dres

s co

nflic

ts.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

aco

mp

rehe

nsiv

e un

ders

tand

ing

ofth

e in

tegr

ated

and

hol

istic

nat

ure

of r

ural

man

agem

ent

and

will

be

able

to

sele

ct,

app

ly a

nd e

valu

ate

the

full

rang

e of

qua

ntita

tive

and

qua

litat

ive

anal

ytic

al m

etho

dsav

aila

ble.

The

y w

ill d

emon

stra

tebo

th a

n ex

celle

nt k

now

ledg

e of

the

liter

atur

e an

d cr

eativ

eap

plic

atio

n of

the

mat

eria

l. Th

eyw

ill b

e ab

le t

o:

iden

tify,

sel

ect

and

criti

cally

eval

uate

kno

wle

dge

base

s an

dth

eore

tical

per

spec

tives

app

ly a

wid

e ra

nge

of s

tatis

tical

and

othe

r m

etho

ds t

o th

eev

alua

tion

and

amel

iora

tion

of p

robl

ems.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

aco

mp

rehe

nsiv

e un

ders

tand

ing

ofth

e sc

ient

ific

and

soci

o-ec

onom

icp

rinci

ple

s un

derly

ing

fore

stry

. Th

ey w

ill d

emon

stra

te e

xcel

lent

know

ledg

e of

the

lite

ratu

re,

crea

tive

app

licat

ion

of t

he m

ater

ial,

and

a ca

pac

ity f

or s

ynth

esis

. Th

isw

ill d

istin

guis

h th

e m

anne

r in

whi

ch t

hey:

Gra

duat

es w

ill b

e fa

mili

ar w

ith a

nin

tegr

ated

and

hol

istic

vie

w o

f ru

ral

man

agem

ent

and

will

be

able

to

sele

ct a

nd a

pp

ly a

lim

ited

rang

e of

qua

ntita

tive

and

qua

litat

ive

anal

ytic

al m

etho

ds.

They

will

be

able

to:

iden

tify

subj

ect-

spec

ific

know

ledg

e ba

ses

and

theo

retic

al p

ersp

ectiv

es

app

ly a

lim

ited

rang

e of

stat

istic

al a

nd o

ther

met

hods

to

eva

luat

ion

and

amel

iora

tion

of p

robl

ems.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

som

e fa

mili

arity

with

the

mai

n sc

ient

ific

and

soci

o-ec

onom

ic p

rinci

ples

und

erly

ing

fore

stry

. The

y w

ill b

e ab

le t

o:

iden

tify

the

mai

n p

hysi

cal a

ndbi

olog

ical

pro

cess

es t

hat

shap

eth

e na

tura

l wor

ld

iden

tify

the

econ

omic

con

cep

tsap

plic

able

to

natu

ral r

esou

rce

28

Thre

shol

d

Typ

ical

Ex

celle

nt

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

fore

stry

exp

lain

the

eco

nom

ic c

once

pts

app

licab

le t

o na

tura

l res

ourc

em

anag

emen

t an

d ap

ply

the

min

par

ticul

ar s

ituat

ion

exp

lain

the

soc

ial f

acto

rs t

hat

influ

ence

the

use

of

natu

ral

reso

urce

s an

d id

entif

y th

ere

lativ

e im

por

tanc

e of

diff

eren

tfa

ctor

s in

par

ticul

ar s

ituat

ions

.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

a w

ell-

grou

nded

und

erst

andi

ng o

f th

est

ruct

ure

and

beha

viou

r of

for

est

ecos

yste

ms.

The

y w

ill b

e ab

le t

o:

desc

ribe

and

exp

lain

the

dist

ribut

ion

and

feat

ures

of

the

wor

ld's

fore

sts

desc

ribe

the

phy

sica

l and

biol

ogic

al c

omp

onen

ts o

f fo

rest

envi

ronm

ents

and

exp

lain

how

they

var

y in

tim

e an

d sp

ace

desc

ribe

the

pro

cess

es t

hat

cont

rol t

he s

truc

ture

and

func

tion

of f

ores

t ec

osys

tem

san

d ex

pla

in h

ow t

hey

vary

intim

e an

d sp

ace.

exp

lain

the

phy

sica

l and

biol

ogic

al p

roce

sses

tha

t sh

ape

the

natu

ral w

orld

and

eva

luat

eth

eir

mod

ifica

tion

by

hum

an a

ctiv

ity

exp

lain

the

eco

nom

ic c

once

pts

app

licab

le t

o na

tura

l res

ourc

em

anag

emen

t an

d ap

ply

th

em im

agin

ativ

ely

in

par

ticul

ar s

ituat

ions

exp

lain

the

soc

ial f

acto

rs t

hat

influ

ence

the

use

of

natu

ral

reso

urce

s an

d ev

alua

te t

here

lativ

e im

por

tanc

e of

diff

eren

tfa

ctor

s in

par

ticul

ar s

ituat

ions

.G

radu

ates

will

hav

e a

com

preh

ensi

ve u

nder

stan

ding

of

the

stru

ctur

e an

d be

havi

our

offo

rest

eco

syst

ems.

The

y w

illde

mon

stra

te e

xcel

lent

kno

wle

dge

of t

he li

tera

ture

, cre

ativ

e ap

plic

atio

nof

the

mat

eria

l, an

d a

capa

city

for

synt

hesi

s. T

his

will

dis

tingu

ish

the

man

ner

in w

hich

the

y:

desc

ribe

and

exp

lain

in d

etai

lth

e di

strib

utio

n an

d fe

atur

es o

fth

e w

orld

's fo

rest

s

desc

ribe

the

phy

sica

l and

biol

ogic

al c

omp

onen

ts o

f fo

rest

envi

ronm

ents

and

exp

lain

how

and

why

the

y va

ry in

tim

e an

d sp

ace

desc

ribe

the

pro

cess

es t

hat

cont

rol t

he s

truc

ture

and

func

tion

of f

ores

t ec

osys

tem

san

d ex

pla

in h

ow a

nd w

hy t

hey

vary

in t

ime

and

spac

e.

man

agem

ent

desc

ribe

the

mai

n so

cial

fac

tors

that

influ

ence

the

use

of

natu

ral r

esou

rces

.

Gra

duat

es w

ill u

nder

stan

d th

est

ruct

ure

and

beha

viou

r of

for

est

ecos

yste

ms.

The

y w

ill b

e ab

le t

o:

desc

ribe

the

dist

ribut

ion

and

mai

n fe

atur

es o

f th

ew

orld

's fo

rest

s

desc

ribe

the

mai

n p

hysi

cal

and

biol

ogic

al c

omp

onen

ts o

ffo

rest

env

ironm

ents

iden

tify

the

pro

cess

es t

hat

cont

rol t

he s

truc

ture

and

func

tion

of f

ores

t ec

osys

tem

s.

29

Thre

shol

d

Typ

ical

Ex

celle

nt

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

fore

stry

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

a w

ell-

grou

nded

und

erst

andi

ng o

f th

efu

nctio

ns a

nd im

pac

ts

of f

ores

ts.

They

will

be

able

to:

exp

lain

the

mul

tiple

ben

efits

that

for

ests

pro

vide

, an

dev

alua

te t

he r

elat

ive

imp

orta

nce

of t

hese

ben

efits

in p

artic

ular

situ

atio

ns

exp

lain

the

effe

cts

of f

ores

try

on s

ocie

ty a

nd t

heen

viro

nmen

t, a

nd e

valu

ate

the

rela

tive

imp

orta

nce

of t

hese

effe

cts

in p

artic

ular

situ

atio

ns

exp

lain

how

for

est

pol

icy

isde

velo

ped

and

del

iver

ed,

and

anal

yse

and

desc

ribe

the

fore

stry

pol

icy

for

a p

artic

ular

coun

try

or r

egio

n.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

a w

ell-

grou

nded

und

erst

andi

ng o

f th

em

eani

ng a

nd p

ract

ice

ofsu

stai

nabl

e fo

rest

man

agem

ent.

They

will

be

able

to:

exp

lain

the

mea

ning

of

sust

aina

bilit

y in

for

estr

y an

dev

alua

te t

he s

usta

inab

ility

of

som

e fo

rest

ry p

ract

ices

exp

lain

the

pro

cess

of

fore

stp

lann

ing,

and

des

crib

e ho

w

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

aco

mp

rehe

nsiv

e un

ders

tand

ing

ofth

e fu

nctio

ns a

nd im

pac

ts o

ffo

rest

s. T

hey

will

dem

onst

rate

exce

llent

kno

wle

dge

of t

helit

erat

ure,

cre

ativ

e ap

plic

atio

n of

the

mat

eria

l, an

d a

cap

acity

for

synt

hesi

s. T

his

will

dis

tingu

ish

the

man

ner

in w

hich

the

y:

exp

lain

the

mul

tiple

ben

efits

that

for

ests

pro

vide

, an

dev

alua

te t

he r

elat

ive

imp

orta

nce

of t

hese

ben

efits

in

par

ticul

ar s

ituat

ions

exp

lain

the

effe

cts

of f

ores

try

on s

ocie

ty a

nd t

heen

viro

nmen

t, a

nd e

valu

ate

the

rela

tive

imp

orta

nce

of t

hese

effe

cts

in p

artic

ular

situ

atio

ns

exp

lain

how

for

est

pol

icy

isde

velo

ped

and

del

iver

ed,

and

eval

uate

the

for

estr

y p

olic

y fo

ra

par

ticul

ar c

ount

ry o

r re

gion

.G

radu

ates

will

hav

e a

com

pre

hens

ive

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

the

mea

ning

and

pra

ctic

e of

sust

aina

ble

fore

st m

anag

emen

t.Th

ey w

ill d

emon

stra

te e

xcel

lent

know

ledg

e of

the

lite

ratu

re,

crea

tive

app

licat

ion

of t

he m

ater

ial,

and

a ca

pac

ity f

or s

ynth

esis

. Th

isw

ill d

istin

guis

h th

e m

anne

r in

whi

ch t

hey:

exp

lain

the

mea

ning

of

sust

aina

bilit

y in

for

estr

y an

d

Gra

duat

es w

ill u

nder

stan

d th

e m

ain

func

tions

and

impa

cts

of fo

rest

s.Th

ey w

ill b

e ab

le t

o:

desc

ribe

som

e of

the

mul

tiple

bene

fits

that

for

ests

pro

vide

iden

tify

the

mai

n ef

fect

s of

fore

stry

on

soci

ety

and

the

envi

ronm

ent

iden

tify

the

mai

n fe

atur

es o

ffo

rest

ry p

olic

y fo

r a

par

ticul

arco

untr

y or

reg

ion.

Gra

duat

es w

ill u

nder

stan

d th

em

eani

ng a

nd s

ome

of t

he p

ract

ices

of s

usta

inab

le f

ores

t m

anag

emen

t.Th

ey w

ill b

e ab

le t

o:

defin

e su

stai

nabi

lity

in a

fo

rest

ry c

onte

xt

iden

tify

the

mai

n co

mp

onen

tsof

for

est

pla

nnin

g

desc

ribe

som

e of

the

for

estr

yp

ract

ices

use

d to

mee

tm

anag

emen

t ob

ject

ives

30

Thre

shol

d

Typ

ical

Ex

celle

nt

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

fore

stry

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

con

sum

ersc

ien

ces/

stud

ies

the

pro

cess

is a

pp

lied

indi

ffere

nt s

ituat

ions

exp

lain

the

for

estr

y p

ract

ices

used

to

mee

t di

ffere

ntm

anag

emen

t ob

ject

ives

, an

dde

scrib

e ho

w t

hey

are

app

lied

in p

artic

ular

situ

atio

ns

exp

lain

the

met

hods

use

d fo

rth

e ec

onom

ic a

nden

viro

nmen

tal a

pp

rais

al o

ffo

rest

ry p

ract

ices

.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

a w

ell-

grou

nded

und

erst

andi

ng o

f th

eso

cial

, in

divi

dual

and

envi

ronm

enta

l con

text

s of

cons

umer

beh

avio

ur.

They

will

be

able

to:

desc

ribe

and

eval

uate

a w

ide

rang

e of

soc

ial a

nd in

divi

dual

fact

ors

in t

he f

orm

atio

n of

cons

umer

kno

wle

dge

desc

ribe

and

eval

uate

a w

ide

rang

e of

soc

ial a

nd in

divi

dual

fact

ors

in c

onsu

mer

att

itude

san

d ch

oice

s

app

ly t

his

know

ledg

e to

a w

ide

rang

e of

rea

l-life

situ

atio

ns.

eval

uate

the

sus

tain

abili

ty o

fdi

ffere

nt f

ores

try

pra

ctic

es

exp

lain

the

pro

cess

of

fore

stp

lann

ing,

and

eva

luat

e th

e w

ayin

whi

ch p

roce

ss is

ap

plie

d in

diffe

rent

situ

atio

ns

exp

lain

and

eva

luat

e th

efo

rest

ry p

ract

ices

use

d to

mee

tdi

ffere

nt m

anag

emen

tob

ject

ives

exp

lain

and

eva

luat

e th

em

etho

ds u

sed

for

the

econ

omic

and

envi

ronm

enta

l ap

pra

isal

of

fore

stry

pra

ctic

es.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

aco

mp

rehe

nsiv

e un

ders

tand

ing

ofth

e so

cial

, in

divi

dual

and

envi

ronm

enta

l con

text

s of

cons

umer

beh

avio

ur.

They

will

dem

onst

rate

bot

h ex

celle

ntkn

owle

dge

of t

he li

tera

ture

and

crea

tive

app

licat

ion

of t

he m

ater

ial.

This

will

dis

tingu

ish

the

man

ner

inw

hich

the

y:

criti

cally

eva

luat

e a

wid

e ra

nge

of s

ocia

l and

indi

vidu

al f

acto

rsin

rel

atio

n to

con

sum

erat

titud

es a

nd c

hoic

es in

the

form

atio

n of

con

sum

erkn

owle

dge;

and

op

por

tuni

ties

for

rep

rese

ntat

ion

and

redr

ess

anal

yse

and

synt

hesi

seac

adem

ic li

tera

ture

and

pol

icy

docu

men

ts t

hat

seek

to

influ

ence

con

sum

er a

ttitu

des,

choi

ces

and

beha

viou

r

desc

ribe

som

e of

the

met

hods

used

for

the

eco

nom

ic a

nden

viro

nmen

tal a

pp

rais

al o

ffo

rest

ry p

ract

ices

.

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

som

efa

mili

arity

with

the

soc

ial,

indi

vidu

al a

nd e

nviro

nmen

tal

cont

exts

of

cons

umer

beh

avio

ur.

They

will

be

able

to:

desc

ribe

a lim

ited

rang

e of

soci

al a

nd in

divi

dual

fac

tors

inth

e fo

rmat

ion

of c

onsu

mer

know

ledg

e

desc

ribe

a lim

ited

rang

e of

soci

al a

nd in

divi

dual

fac

tors

inco

nsum

er a

ttitu

des

and

choi

ces

app

ly t

his

know

ledg

e to

alim

ited

rang

e of

rou

tine

real

-life

situ

atio

ns.

31

Thre

shol

d p

erfo

rman

ceTy

pic

al p

erfo

rman

ceEx

celle

nt

per

form

ance

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

co

nsu

mer

scie

nce

s/st

udie

sG

radu

ates

will

hav

e a

wel

l-gr

ound

ed u

nder

stan

ding

of

the

soci

al,

econ

omic

, le

gal,

ethi

cal,

scie

ntifi

c an

d te

chno

logi

cal

prin

cip

les

unde

rlyin

g th

ep

rodu

ctio

n of

, an

d ac

cess

to,

cons

umer

goo

ds a

nd s

ervi

ces.

They

will

be

able

to:

desc

ribe

and

eval

uate

a w

ide

rang

e of

soc

ial a

nd e

cono

mic

fact

ors

in d

iffer

entia

l acc

ess

togo

ods

and

serv

ices

desc

ribe

and

eval

uate

fea

ture

sof

the

lega

l fra

mew

ork

app

licab

le t

o th

e p

rodu

ctio

n,p

urch

ase

and

qua

lity

ofco

nsum

er g

oods

and

ser

vice

s

app

ly a

nd e

valu

ate

a ra

nge

ofsp

ecifi

c sc

ient

ific

and

tech

nolo

gica

l pro

cess

es

desc

ribe

and

eval

uate

the

rol

esan

d re

spon

sibi

litie

s of

con

sum

eror

gani

satio

ns.

Gra

duat

es w

ill b

e ab

le t

o se

lect

,ap

ply

and

eva

luat

e to

con

sum

eris

sues

a w

ide

rang

e of

con

cep

ts,

theo

ries

and

met

hods

dra

wn

from

app

ly t

his

know

ledg

e cr

eativ

ely

to a

wid

e ra

nge

of r

eal-l

ifesi

tuat

ions

.G

radu

ates

will

hav

e a

deep

and

com

pre

hens

ive

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

the

soci

al,

econ

omic

, le

gal,

scie

ntifi

c, e

thic

al a

nd t

echn

olog

ical

prin

cip

les

unde

rlyin

g th

ep

rodu

ctio

n an

d su

pp

ly o

f, an

dac

cess

to,

con

sum

er g

oods

and

serv

ices

. Th

ey w

ill d

emon

stra

tebo

th e

xcel

lent

kno

wle

dge

of t

helit

erat

ure

and

crea

tive

app

licat

ion

of t

he m

ater

ial.

This

will

dis

tingu

ish

the

man

ner

in w

hich

the

y:

criti

cally

dis

cuss

a r

ange

of

soci

al a

nd e

cono

mic

fac

tors

indi

ffere

ntia

l acc

ess

to g

oods

an

d se

rvic

es

exam

ine

and

app

ly f

eatu

res

ofth

e le

gal f

ram

ewor

k in

rel

atio

nto

the

pro

duct

ion,

qua

lity,

adve

rtis

ing

and

pur

chas

e of

cons

umer

goo

ds a

nd s

ervi

ces

app

ly a

nd e

valu

ate

a ra

nge

ofsp

ecifi

c sc

ient

ific

and

tech

nolo

gica

l pro

cess

es

eval

uate

the

rol

es a

ndre

spon

sibi

litie

s of

con

sum

eror

gani

satio

ns.

Gra

duat

es w

ill b

e ab

le t

o se

lect

,ap

ply

and

eval

uate

to

cons

umer

issu

es a

wid

e ra

nge

of c

once

pts,

theo

ries

and

met

hods

dra

wn

from

Gra

duat

es w

ill h

ave

som

e fa

mili

arity

with

the

soc

ial,

econ

omic

, le

gal,

ethi

cal,

scie

ntifi

c an

d te

chno

logi

cal

prin

cip

les

unde

rlyin

g th

ep

rodu

ctio

n of

, an

d ac

cess

to,

cons

umer

goo

ds a

nd s

ervi

ces.

Th

ey w

ill b

e ab

le t

o:

desc

ribe

a lim

ited

rang

e of

soci

al a

nd e

cono

mic

fac

tors

indi

ffere

ntia

l acc

ess

to g

oods

an

d se

rvic

es

desc

ribe

som

e fe

atur

es o

f the

lega

l fra

mew

ork

appl

icab

le t

o th

epr

oduc

tion,

pur

chas

e an

d qu

ality

of c

onsu

mer

goo

ds a

nd s

ervi

ces

app

ly a

lim

ited

rang

e of

sp

ecifi

csc

ient

ific

and

tech

nolo

gica

lp

roce

sses

desc

ribe

the

role

s an

dre

spon

sibi

litie

s of

con

sum

eror

gani

satio

ns.

Gra

duat

es w

ill b

e ab

le t

o se

lect

and

app

ly t

o co

nsum

er is

sues

a li

mite

dra

nge

of c

once

pts

, th

eorie

s an

dm

etho

ds d

raw

n fr

om t

he

32

Thre

shol

d

Typ

ical

Ex

celle

nt

per

form

ance

Sub

ject

-sp

ecif

ic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d

und

erst

and

ing

in

co

nsu

mer

scie

nce

s/st

udie

s

the

cons

titue

nt d

isci

plin

es o

f th

eir

degr

ee p

rogr

amm

e. T

hey

will

be

able

to:

iden

tify

and

eval

uate

app

rop

riate

kno

wle

dge

base

s an

dth

eore

tical

per

spec

tives

app

ly a

ran

ge o

f m

etho

ds t

op

robl

em e

valu

atio

n an

dam

elio

ratio

n.In

add

ition

to

the

acq

uisi

tion

oftr

ansf

erab

le s

kills

, gr

adua

tes

will

be

able

to:

com

mun

icat

e ef

fect

ivel

y on

aw

ide

rang

e of

con

sum

er is

sues

and

revi

ew t

heir

own

per

form

ance

crit

ical

ly

desc

ribe,

ap

ply

and

eva

luat

ep

rofe

ssio

nal s

tand

ards

and

resp

onsi

bilit

ies

in r

elat

ion

tow

ork

with

con

sum

ers.

the

cons

titue

nt d

isci

plin

es o

f the

irde

gree

pro

gram

me.

The

y w

illde

mon

stra

te b

oth

an e

xcel

lent

know

ledg

e of

the

lite

ratu

re a

ndcr

eativ

e ap

plic

atio

n of

the

mat

eria

l.Th

is w

ill d

istin

guis

h th

e m

anne

r in

whi

ch t

hey:

iden

tify

and

eval

uate

ap

pro

pria

tekn

owle

dge

base

s an

d th

eore

tical

per

spec

tives

app

ly a

ran

ge o

f m

etho

ds t

op

robl

em e

valu

atio

n an

dam

elio

ratio

n

com

mun

icat

e ef

fect

ivel

y on

aw

ide

rang

e of

con

sum

er is

sues

and

criti

cally

rev

iew

con

sum

er,

indu

stry

, bu

sine

ss a

ndgo

vern

men

t p

olic

ies

eval

uate

and

ap

ply

pro

fess

iona

lst

anda

rds

and

resp

onsi

bilit

ies

inre

latio

n to

wor

k w

ith c

onsu

mer

s.

cons

titue

nt d

isci

plin

es o

f th

eir

degr

ee p

rogr

amm

e. T

hey

will

be

able

to:

iden

tify

app

rop

riate

kno

wle

dge

base

s an

d th

eore

tical

per

spec

tives

app

ly a

lim

ited

rang

e of

met

hods

to

pro

blem

eva

luat

ion

and

amel

iora

tion.

In

add

ition

to

the

acq

uisi

tion

oftr

ansf

erab

le s

kills

, gr

adua

tes

will

be

able

to:

com

mun

icat

e on

a li

mite

dra

nge

of c

onsu

mer

issu

es

desc

ribe

and

app

ly p

rofe

ssio

nal

stan

dard

s an

d re

spon

sibi

litie

s in

rela

tion

to w

ork

with

cons

umer

s.

33

Appendix A: Indicative programme titlesThe lists below give indicative programme titles which are (a) likely to fall completely orsubstantially within this statement, or (b) may fall at the interface with anotherstatement. The lists are not intended to be exhaustive of the range of degree titles thatexists currently.

(a) Completely or substantially within this statement

Agricultural botanyAgricultural business managementAgricultural economicsAgricultural sciencesAgricultureAgriculture with business managementAgroforestryAgronomyAnimal careAnimal healthAnimal health and welfareAnimal nutritionAnimal scienceArboricultureArboriculture and amenity forestryArboriculture and urban forestryConsumer behaviourConsumer scienceConsumer studies Consumer studies and hospitalityConsumer studies and managementConsumer studies and marketingConsumer studies and retailingCountryside and environmental managementCountryside managementCrop protectionCrop scienceEquine managementEquine scienceEquine studies Food and consumer sciencesFood and consumer studiesFood and nutrition

34

Food biotechnologyFood design and technologyFood marketing economicsFood microbiologyFood, nutrition and healthFood productionFood production and qualityFood scienceFood science and technologyFood studiesFood technologyFood with marketingForest and woodland managementForest managementForest sciencesForestryForestry and conservationForestry and forest productsHorticultureOrganic agricultureRural environmental protectionRural studiesSoil science

(b) At the interface with another statement

Agricultural engineeringAgri-food marketing and business studiesApplied biologyBiotechnologyBusiness management and marketing for the agricultural industryBusiness management and marketing for the food industryConsumer and management studies (home economics)Countryside business and developmentEcological agriculture EconomicsEnvironmental biologyEnvironmental scienceEquine and human sports scienceEquine business management and marketingFood and hospitality management

35

Food quality and safety managementFood quality with product development and nutritionForest products technology with forestryInternational agri-business managementLand and estate managementLandscape managementNatural sciencesNutritionNutritional biochemistryPlant sciencePre-veterinary scienceRural enterprise and land managementRural environmental sciencesRural resource managementSocial and community forestry

36

Appendix B: Membership of the review group for the subject benchmark statement for agriculture,horticulture, forestry, food and consumer sciencesMrs Carol Brennan Queen Margaret University

Dr Christine Cahalan University of Wales, Bangor

Professor Ian Connerton University of Nottingham

Professor Richard Ellis University of Reading

Professor Phil Garnsworthy University of Nottingham

Mr Mike Kitson independent, formerly London Metropolitan University

Mrs Chris Leggate Scottish Agricultural College

Dr Phil Lyon University of Umeå, Sweden

Mr Nigel Warner Royal Agricultural College

Dr Andy Wilcox Harper Adams University College

Dr Alan Younger University of Newcastle

37

Appendix C: Membership of the original benchmarkinggroup for agriculture, horticulture, forestry, food andconsumer sciencesDetails provided below are as published in the original subject benchmark statement foragriculture, horticulture, forestry, food and consumer science (2002).7

Dr Christine Cahalan University of Wales, Bangor

Mr Alan Costley Harper Adams University College

Dr David Gray University of Nottingham

Dr William Hutcheon Scottish Agricultural College, Aberdeen

Ms Margaret Jepson Liverpool John Moores University

Professor Philip John University of Reading

Dr David Jukes University of Reading

Dr Ara Kanekanian University of Wales Institute, Cardiff

Dr Karen King The Queen's University of Belfast

Dr Martin Luck University of Nottingham

Dr Phil Lyon University of Dundee

Professor Richard Moore-Colyer University of Wales, Aberystwyth

Professor Robert Naylor (chair) University of Aberdeen

Dr Iwan Owen University of Wales, Aberystwyth

Dr Chris Strugnell University of Ulster

Mr Nigel Warner Royal Agricultural College

7 Originally published as Agriculture, forestry, agricultural sciences, food sciences and consumer sciences (2002)

QA

A 308 09/09

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