Program Overview

This Combined Bachelor's and Master's (CBM) is a four-year accelerated program for those with an ATAR of 90 or above. Over the first three years you’ll complete an extended major in Agricultural Science and Technology, and some units from the Master of Agricultural Science. You can then choose to exit after three years with an Advanced Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Science, or continue with the Master of Agricultural Science and be awarded a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and a Master of Agricultural Science at the end of the four years.

Major: Integrated Pest Management
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a decision system with an economic basis used to limit the damage caused by pests (weeds, diseases and insects). This unit explores the practical and paddock-scale approach to development and deployment of IPM tactics for shorter-term (1-2 seasons) pest problems. The unit highlights examples and reasons for successful and failed pest management approaches, underlying economic implications, as well as short- and long-term consequences of pest management decisions. Additionally, different practical approaches to IPM are highlighted, including various combinations of chemical (mode of action grouping, application methods, pesticide resistance evolution detailed), cultural, physical, biological, and genetic (e.g. host plant resistance) options, and feature situations where different options have most or least to offer in terms of practical IPM. This unit aims to provide a clear understanding of the knowledge required to produce and implement practical IPM plans, including monitoring methods for early detection; assessing damage and losses; economics of practical pest control; usefulness of different pest control options; and awareness of unintended consequences. It is ideally suited to students with interests in applied crop protection and also highly relevant to students with interests in crop and/or animal (i.e., feed-base) production systems, but also those with a broader interest in food security and natural resource management.