Agriculture And Environmental Management (hons) in Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Ireland

Agriculture And Environmental Management (hons) in Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology

This programme provides you with a range of specialised skills ideal for employment in the agriculture and environmental sectors. This programme places a strong emphasis on sustainable agriculture and sustainable development.

The programme consists of modules in Agriculture, Environmental Management and Agribusiness.

There is an increasing demand for graduates with these skills sets. Graduates of the programme can expect to gain employment in a range of areas including farming, agri-foods, environmental management and consultancy, applied ecology and agri-business.

This programme which is offered both as a four year level 8 programme and a 3 year level 7 programme is highly practical, with a mixture of lectures, field work, laboratory practicals and Information Technology.

Graduates of the 3 year level 7 degree may progress to the fourth year of the level 8 degree to achieve an honours degree (subject to availability of places).

Career Opportunities

Employment in the area of farm planning and farm advisory services is rapidly growing. Graduates of the honours degree in Agriculture & Environmental Management meet the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine educational qualification requirements for FAS / GLAS advisors. 

More and more, employers are looking for graduates with a broad mix of skills and this programme has been designed so that it is a mix of Agriculture, Environmental Management and Agri-business. Furthermore, it is extremely ‘hands-on’, with considerable time allocated to the development of practical laboratory skills and Information Technology skills.Thus, the graduates have both the theoretical and practical skills which employers are demanding.

This qualification will enable graduates to gain employment in diverse roleswithin the Agriculture, Agri-business and Environmental Management areas.

Graduates will be able to work in areas such as:

• Environmental Management
• Applied Ecology, Agriculture
• Agri-business 
• Agri-foods

Essential Information: 

• Year one of the programme is common with the Bachelor of Business in Rural Enterprise & Agribusiness course and is based at GMIT Mountbellew campus four days per week, and one day per week in GMIT Galway campus (Dublin Road)
• Students may switch into year 2 Rural Enterprise & Agribusiness course at the end of year 1.
• Year two of the programme is based at GMIT Mountbellew campus for three days per week and at GMIT Galway campus (dublin road) two days per week.
• Students typically reside in Mountbellew for the first two years.
• There is a three-month work placement period in year 2 on a farm, environmental project or agri-business.
• The Level 8 degree is designed such that graduates may apply to the Teaching Council for assessment to teach Agricultural Science at second level.
• The course is ‘hands-on’ with a lot of time dedicated to field work and laboratory practicals.
• There is a work placement in year 3 and a major research project in year 4

Graduates satisfy the training requirements for farming and farm grants as follows:

• Students who do not wish to progress to year three may graduate with a Higher Certificate in Science on successful completion of year two.
• Higher Certificate graduates are entitled to get a “Letter of Equivalence” to the FETAC/CAS Advanced Certificate in Agriculture (Level 6) award.
• Similarly, graduates of the Level 7 or Level 8 degree course are entitled to get a “Letter of Equivalence” to the FETAC/CAS Advanced Certificate in Agriculture (level 6) award.