Plant Science
Available for 2012 entry, subject to validation
Why Plant Science?
Where better to study plant sciences than in the ‘Garden of England’? This degree pathway is an exciting new innovation for 2012, having been put together by a very experienced team in discussion with key stakeholders in the horticultural and agricultural industry. The resulting qualification will not only make students highly employable within this industry, and allied support industries, but wll also equip them with a range of transferable skills highly valued by all sectors from farming to finance.
Plants are fundamental to all life on Earth, not only providing atmospheric oxygen, food and materials such as cotton, wood, paper and rope, but also perfumes, beverages and cures for disease. They can be used as filtration plants for industry, pollution indicators and just pure aesthetics.
The Royal Society recently issued a statement warning of an impending worldwide skills shortage in the agricultural sciences that would endanger our ability to deal with rising populations, citing plant breeding, plant pathology, agronomy, crop physiology, agricultural entomology, weed science and post-harvest biology as key areas in which shortages are likely. This degree programme includes strong elements of all of these disciplines.
What will I study?
Whilst not compulsory, students will be encouraged to work in the agricultural or horticultural industry either prior to beginning the degree and/or by taking an optional sandwich year [not available to overseas students]. Such a course of action will provide you with invaluable experience and make you much more employable when you graduate.
The first year consists of a set of compulsory modules covering introductory biology (at both whole organism and molecular level), plant taxonomy and environmental science. The physical sciences are also taught to a level needed to underpin sound biological knowledge but the ethos of the programme is to integrate the sciences together rather than treating them as separate subjects. There is also an emphasis on experimental science, so students learn a wide range of practical techniques, including microbiology and cell culture.
In the second year, dedicated modules probe deeper into plant physiology, plant nutrition, developmental genetics and plant biotechnology. Core modules also include those that adopt a systems approach to biology with the emphasis on key aspects of employability (laboratory, computational biology and communications skills) while other options allow them to specialise in areas that interest them such as evolution and biogeography.
In the third year, core modules further examine the interactions between plants, their environment and other organisms such as pests, pathogens and symbionts. Optional subject areas include ecology and conservation and biological imaging. Students also carry out a practical research project as part of a final year Individual Study.
What can I do next?
Students taking this degree pathway will be highly employable in the horticultural and agricultural industry, possessing the key skills and knowledge required to manage crop systems and storage. They will also be suitably qualified to work in agricultural or horticultural research and many of the auxiliary industries that support agriculture, including retail and wholesale outlets such as supermarkets and marketing companies.
Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly looking to plants for new compounds from which to synthesise drugs, and local authorities need people with plant science backgrounds for managing open spaces, parks and street trees.
The level of scientific literacy developed by this course of study is highly valued in other non-scientific areas of industry, commerce and the media. The good communication and presentation skills also developed, coupled to an ability to think critically and analyse complex data sets, make our graduates highly employable. Our graduates also have an excellent record of progressing to study for higher degrees either by research or a taught programme.
Did you know?
“Only with a major contribution from science and engineering can we hope to succeed. The Royal Society's findings on key skills gaps are therefore a cause for concern. It is vital that we attract fresh talent to our universities and to our industries, to develop and apply the solutions that will be critical in the decades to come." Professor John Beddington, Government Chief Scientific Advisor, April 2009