Higher Certificate in Science in Agriculture
Course code: WD098
What is the Higher Certificate in Science in Agriculture course?
Agriculture is of major importance to the Irish economy and most Irish farms are family-operated with the farmer being the owner and manager and operator. This wide remit calls for a range of knowledge and skills.
The Higher Certificate in Science in Agriculture, which is run jointly by WIT and Teagasc Kildalton College, prepares students to manage a modern commercial farm.
Career Opportunities
Owner/manager of farm
Farm Experience
In the second year of the course students spend 12 weeks on farms specially chosen by Teagasc in order to get practical experience on high-quality commercial farms. A number of students choose to travel overseas for farm experience e.g. New Zealand & the UK.
Follow on study
Kildalton College
Students on this programme study both at WIT and at Kildalton College of Agriculture taking the appropriate modules at each. The laboratory-based scientific and related modules are taken at WIT and the agriculture-based modules are taken at Kildalton. A free bus service operates between Kildalton and WIT.
Course Outline
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| Introduction to Farm Accounts Plant Biology Animal Biology Communications Computer Applications Mechanisation & Safety |
Introduction to Crop Production Chemistry for Land Sciences Agriculture in the Economy Animal Breeding and Welfare Animal Production Agricultural Mechanisation |
| Semester 3 & 4 | |
| Soils Management Environmental Science Farm Business Management |
Dairy Production (E) (E) - Electives - students choose one from each group |
Course Facts
Course Title: Higher Certificate in Science in Agriculture
Course Code: WD098
Course Level: 6
Duration: 2 years
Course Entry
Leaving Certificate:
- Total number of different subjects at grade D or better: 5
Required Subjects:
- English/Irish: OD3/HD3
- Mathematics: OD3/HD3
For further information:
Course Leader: Dr Eddy Fitzgerald
Email: efitzgerald@wit.ie
Recent Entry Points
| Year | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| Minimum Points | 175 | 205 | 210 | 255 |
