BSc Agriculture with International Foundation Year - September Entry

Title:

Foundation Programme: Environment, Ecology and Sustainability

Code:

AP0AE1

Convenor:

DR Laura Girling

Summary:

Develop an overview of the principles and processes underpinning the earth’s natural systems, explore the ways humans interact with the physical and living environment, and formulate a basic understanding of contemporary issues in this area. You will learn through workshops, lectures, seminars, IT practical sessions and develop basic practical field skills. If you are a student on a foundation year programme aiming to pursue further studies in environmental management, animal and zoological sciences, ecology and conservation, biological sciences and agriculture, then this module is particularly relevant for you.

Assessment Method:

Exam 60%, Assignment 20%, Class test 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Foundation Programme: Biology

Code:

BI0BF1

Convenor:

DR Craig Hughes

Summary:

This module will take you on journey from the small to the large.  You’ll start by learning about biological molecules key to life, about cells and the chemical reactions that give them energy and allow them to replicate.  You’ll also learn about the biology of the human body and about natural selection and genetics.  There will be practical classes to introduce you to laboratory work, and to get used to handling and interpreting data, as well as the opportunity to undertake group work.  This module will give you the grounding required for degree programmes.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Oral 10%, Class test 40%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Chemistry

Code:

CH0CHE

Convenor:

DR Silvia Baldanza

Summary:

Study the chemical principles that provide the foundations for many scientific disciplines. Learn how to predict the properties of molecules from their structures and gain an understanding of how and why reactions happen. After studying material in lectures, you will apply your knowledge in the laboratory, developing practical skills in the process.

Assessment Method:

Exam 60%, Practical 30%, Class test 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Mathematics for Finance, Economics and Business

Code:

EC0MEB

Convenor:

DR Rehana Bari

Summary:

To provide a solid grounding in the key elements of pure mathematics and statistics to a good A-level standard for students approaching a degree in economics, finance, management or business.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Set exercise 10%, Class test 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

International English A

Code:

IF0IE1

Convenor:

DR Noor Mat Nayan

Summary:

The module will provide the necessary basis in English for study at undergraduate degree level. The focus of the module is on developing and applying skills in English for academic purposes. This module aims to develop the language skills of students who have already achieved an overall IELTS score of 5.5 or equivalent in Academic English. Delivery of the module is offered face-to-face and online.

This module is delivered at University of Reading and University of Reading Malaysia

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 15%, Oral 5%, Portfolio 10%, Class test 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Information Systems and Statistics

Code:

IF0ISS

Convenor:

DR James Appleby

Summary:

Information systems underpin every aspect of our daily life. An awareness of statistical analysis is key for understanding data. This module covers both of these important topics and helps you develop the key theoretical, practical and numerical skills to help you succeed in your future study in subjects across the University. 

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Further Mathematics and Physics

Code:

MA0FMP

Convenor:

PROF Paul Glaister

Summary:

To achieve a solid grounding in some of the aspects of vectors and matrices, mechanics and differential equations at the standard of A-level. The module also covers a range of physics topics including those most relevant to degrees in the Departments of Meteorology and Computational Science.

Assessment Method:

Exam 55%, Report 13%, Class test 33%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Introduction to Crop Production

Code:

AP1A12

Convenor:

DR Gillian Rose

Summary:

Primary food production is a complex and exciting process. In this module you’ll be introduced to a range of crop production practices, understanding the factors that influence how to choose a crop as well as the practicalities of preparing the soil and sowing the seeds. You’ll learn the principles of resource capture by crops and the components of yield, quality and nutrition, understanding how these can be manipulated by farmers to maximise yield. You’ll also be introduced to crop protection using chemical and non-chemical methods to control pests and diseases.

Assessment Method:

Set exercise 55%, Class test 45%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Digestion and Nutrition

Code:

AP1A18

Convenor:

DR Sokratis Stergiadis

Summary:

You’ll learn about the anatomy of the digestive tract of animals and humans, and understand the associated digestive physiology. You’ll also learn about the chemical composition of foods and feeds, the nutrients they contain, how they can be analysed and how they contribute to overall diets, energy and nutrient intakes. You’ll learn through lectures/screencasts, interactive seminars and a software-assisted practical exercise.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Report 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Introduction to Livestock Production

Code:

AP1A24

Convenor:

DR Sokratis Stergiadis

Summary:

You’ll be introduced to the key biological principles in livestock science and an international perspective on livestock production, including the contribution livestock production makes to human health and livelihoods, and the major principles and problems associated with intensive and extensive production. You’ll learn through lectures/screencasts, interactive seminars and project work.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 40%, Oral 40%, Class test 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Agriculture in Practice

Code:

AP1A25

Convenor:

DR Laurence Smith

Summary:

The module will help you to understand the importance of agricultural systems for supplying our food, delivering ecosystem services and supporting the rural economy. You will have the opportunity to visit a range of different farm types, businesses and systems across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. In addition, you will be encouraged to engage in a series of activities to develop team spirit and a set of research skills that involve academic writing, data analysis, data visualisation and discussion of the scientific findings. The module is relevant to future farmers, farm managers and rural entrepreneurs.

Assessment Method:

Oral 20%, Portfolio 50%, Report 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Global Sustainability: Challenges and Prospects

Code:

AP1A28

Convenor:

DR Nick Bardsley

Summary:

The world faces multiple ecological crises, including climate change, biodiversity loss and soil erosion. This module examines such challenges, their drivers, their relationship to other social and economic issues, and potential responses. 

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Crop Physiology, Nutrition and Protection

Code:

AP1A29

Convenor:

PROF Donal O'Sullivan

Summary:

Crop physiology is the study of the processes involved in growth, development and yield formation in crop plants in response to their environment.  In this module, you will learn functional anatomy of diverse crop families, how crop plants grow and develop and their nutritional, water and light resource needs during different phases of development. You will also learn about crop physiological responses when conditions are less than ideal i.e. nutrient limitation, abiotic stress and attack by pests and pathogens. We start by covering the core principles and concepts through lectures, screencasts and interactive seminars in the autumn term and progress in the spring term to a series of glasshouse and farm-based practicals to bring crop physiology to life and to draw the different strands of your learning in this module together.

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Agricultural Research Skills

Code:

AP1A30

Convenor:

DR Gillian Rose

Summary:

Sustainable farming practices are based on the application of scientific research. You will be introduced to a range of research topics and methods currently used within the agriculture industry.  You will plan, conduct and analyse a group research project working alongside a member of our research staff.  After critically analysing your results, you will present your research in the form of a scientific paper to your peers and the wider School staff. 

Assessment Method:

Assignment 20%, Project 50%, Report 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Soils in the Environment

Code:

GV1E1

Convenor:

DR Steve Robinson

Summary:

This module provides an introduction to the wide ranging scientific processes that explain why soils are so variable in terms of their properties and functions in the wider environment.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Report 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Introduction to Management

Code:

AP1SB1

Convenor:

PROF Julian Park

Summary:

This module provides a contemporary and comprehensive introduction to management science and its relevance to businesses. Interactive in-class activities and the use of online apps will help you learn techniques for inspiring teamwork in an organisation context, discover the importance of strategic management design for achieving an organisation's goals, and understand the roles of the manager and the responsibilities this carries. You will also have a range of opportunities to gain hands-on practising decision making through case studies. Furthermore, develop your leadership skills to motivate and guide a team towards the achievement of an organisation’s objectives.  

Assessment Method:

Class test 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Biogeography and Ecology

Code:

GV1BGE

Convenor:

PROF Frank Mayle

Summary:

This introductory module explores the relationship between plants and animals and their living and physical environment (ecology), as well as their patterns of geographic distribution across the globe (biogeography).  These themes are considered over a range of temporal (past, present, future) and spatial (local, regional, global) scales.

This is a 10 credit module, which means that it is intended to occupy you for 100 hours of work: attending lectures; background reading; taking part in the one-day fieldtrip to Kew; and revision and sitting the examination. With that in mind, the kind of workload you should expect might be as follows:

• 19 contact hours in formal teaching sessions
• 57 hours engaged in background reading for lectures
• 8 hours fieldtrip to Kew Gardens
• 1 hour Revision class
• 13.5 hours Revision
• 2 hours Examination (Summer Term)

Assessment Method:

Exam 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Climatology

Code:

GV1C

Convenor:

PROF Maria Shahgedanova

Summary:

This module discusses fundamentals of atmosphere and climate providing foundation for all other modules addressing aspects of climate and climate change. The lectures and practicals explain the main processes of climate formation at local, regional and global scales with regard to energy balance and atmospheric circulation; the development of weather systems; and introduces the concept of climate change. The module incorporates two practicals. The first is a hands-on field-based practical session enabling students to learn about meteorological measurements and field data analysis. Students will visit the University of Reading Atmospheric Observatory and use a variety of instruments to take a range of meteorological measurements. The second practical is designed to learn how to obtain and analyse the freely-available global climate data and perform interactive analyses online. Although the module does not have any pre-requisites, it will require willingness to cope with GCSE maths andphysics and learning basic statistics.

Assessment Method:

Class test 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Early Empires: Mesopotamia, Egypt & Rome [10 credits]

Code:

AR1EMP10

Convenor:

PROF Roger Matthews

Summary:

This module introduces the archaeology and historical context of the world’s early empires, dating from 2500 BC to AD 395. We focus on the great empires of ancient Mesopotamia (Akkad, Babylonia and Assyria), Egypt, the Persian Achaemenid Empire and the Roman Empire. We will review other imperial entities of the world, including examples from China and the Far East, and the Americas. We will examine special themes relevant to the topic of empires, including ideology, imperial cult, trade, urbanisation, warfare, agriculture and the everyday lives of imperial subjects. You will study the rise and fall of some of the greatest, and the most fearsome, socio-political entities to have existed on our planet.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Contemporary world cultures: an introduction to social anthropology [10 credits]

Code:

AR1SOC10

Convenor:

DR Alanna Cant

Summary:

This module provides a general introduction to social anthropology, the study of human societies and cultures. It will introduce you to major themes in the discipline of anthropology through focused study on topics that may include: kinship and marriage, gender and sexuality, the roles of religion, ritual and witchcraft in modern life, the concepts of ethnicity and race, and contemporary hunting and gathering societies. The module will also consider how anthropology can help us understand key issues in today’s world, such as ethnicity, race and decolonisation, and the role that work and consumption play in forming identities. Teaching is focused on real-world case studies from different cultures and regions around the globe, including the research expertise of the lecturer(s). 

Assessment Method:

Set exercise 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Introductory Microbiology

Code:

BI1S1

Convenor:

DR Geraldine Mulley

Summary:

This module provides students with an introduction to the discipline of Microbiology. Students will learn the fundamental biology of bacteria, archaea, protists, fungi and viruses; their structure, replication, nutrition, the diverse environments where they live (including host-microbe interactions), and how some microbes benefit society (food production and biotechnology), whilst others cause disease. The module will also provide students with an understanding of how some microbes cause infections, the various ways to prevent and treat infectious diseases, and how microbes develop resistance to antimicrobials. Students will learn the techniques needed for safe handling of microbiological samples to isolate and purify bacteria and fungi from food samples in the laboratory.

Assessment Method:

Exam 80%, Class test 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

The Science of Climate Change

Code:

MT1CC

Convenor:

PROF Nigel Arnell

Summary:

This module provides an introduction to the science of climate change, aimed at students who do not necessarily have a scientific background.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Assignment 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.