Advanced Diploma in Plant Science VSC004

Develop a foundation for applying plant science in commercial situations. Many industries offer significant employment or business opportunities for people who have a moderate understanding of plant science, provided this knowledge is accompanied with a real sense of how it can be applied for commercial benefit in the real world.

Unfortunately scientific training is often either too theoretical (lacking relevance to commerce), or too strongly skills based (ie. how to perform tasks without a solid understanding of thescience behind the task). This course is something between those extremes. The certificate consists of 8 individual modules and 100 hour Industry Meetings or Research Project.

Course Structure Module 1. Botany I - BSC104

This short course is primarily an introduction to plant physiology and taxonomy, with some general botany including morphology and anatomy. It satisfies the learning criteria of the Royal Horticulture Society\'s Module B of the Advanced Certificate in Horticulture.

Lessons cover:

1. Taxonomic Classification of Plants
2. Cells and Tissues
3. Specific Vegetative Parts of a Plant
4. Flowers and Fruit
5. Seed and the Developing Embryo
6. Photosynthesis and Growing Plants
7. Respiration
8. The Role of Water
9. Movement of Water and Assimilates through a Plant
10. The Effects of Growth Movements

Module 2. Trees for Rehabilitation - BHT205

This course develops an understanding of environmental systems and the rehabilitation of degraded landscapes with an emphasis on trees.

Lessons cover:

1. Approaches to Land Rehabilitation
2. Ecology of Soils and Plant Health
3. Introduction to Seed Propagation Techniques
4. Propagation and Nursery Stock
5. Dealing with Chemical Problems
6. Physical Plant Effects on Degraded Sites
7. Plant Establishment Programs
8. Hostile Environments
9. Plant Establishment Care
10. Rehabilitating Degraded Sites

Module 3. Biochemistry 1 - Plants - BSC102

Biochemistry is the chemistry of living things. This introductory course concentrates on the chemistry of plants. Some secondary school chemistry will be helpful though it is not essential.

Lessons cover:

1. Biochemical substances and terms
2. Carbohydrates
3. Lipids
4. Amino acids
5. Proteins
6. Metabolism
7. The nitrogen cycle
8. Photosynthesis
9. Respiration
10. Transpiration
11. Acidity and alkalinity
12. Nutrition
13. Hormones
14. Chemical analysis and biochemical applications in the industry

Module 4. Professional Practice for Consultants - BBS301

This course is a valuable guide to setting up and operating a consulting business in any profession. It has been developed to complement studies in the various disciplines taught by this school, including Psychology, Horticulture, Agriculture, Leisure Studies, Business Management and Environmental Management. Topics covered in this course include:

1. Planning a Consultancy Practice
2. Setting up your Consultancy Practice
3. Insurance, Fees and Accounting
4. Eective Customer Relations
5. Expanding your Consultancy Practice

Module 5. Industry Meetings (100 Hrs) or Research Project I

Industry Meetings can be satisfied by showing docuumentary proof of attendance at a combination of seminars, conferences, trade shows and/or committee meetings.

Research Project I

This module develops your ability to plan and conduct research into a current issue in your chosen discipline; and to complete a descriptive report based on that research.

Lessons cover:

1. Determining Research Needs
2. Research Methods
3. Using Statistics
4. Research Reports
5. Searching For Information
6. Conducting Statistical Research
7. Reporting On A Research Project

Modules 6-9 - any four of the following: