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Course profile

Horticultural Science (HORT2007)

Study period
Sem 1 2025
Location
External
Attendance mode
Online

Course overview

Study period
Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
Study level
Undergraduate
Location
External
Attendance mode
Online
Units
2
Administrative campus
Gatton
Coordinating unit
Agriculture and Food Sustainability School

The principles of propagation and establishment of horticulture crops, model production systems and the maintenance of quality by appropriate post-harvest handling of horticultural products through the marketing chain.

This course will be last offered in external mode in 2025.

This course will provide an introduction and understanding of the science that underpinsᅠmany horticultural industries from plant propagation, managing the production environment as is relevant for fruit, vegetables and floricultural crops, with a focus on nursery practices, and dealing withᅠpostharvest management of perishable products. Understanding the physiological processes of plant growth and development providesᅠa strong base to make informed horticultural management decisions.

Course requirements

Assumed background

Students taking this course will be expected to have some background in biological and plant sciences, as offered in AGRC1021.ᅠ

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

AGRC1021, AGRC1023

Jointly taught details

This course is jointly-taught with:

  • Another instance of the same course

HORT2007 In Person and External mode share content under one blackboard site.

Course staff

Course coordinator

Lecturer

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Students enrolled in External mode are not expected to attend face-to-face classes and fieldtrips.

Aims and outcomes

Provide an understanding of the roles of plant biology and physiology that influence many aspects of horticulture, including propagation, flowering, plant growth and development and postharvest management of the quality of fresh fruit and vegetables. Enable students to build on their existing knowledge to make informed decisions on crop management and postharvest practices.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Apply horticultural principles for sustainable production and postharvest practices, based on an understanding of physiological processes of plant growth and development.

LO2.

As an individual, design and execute an experiment conducted on a horticultural crop within a complex greenhouse or postharvest environment.

LO3.

Analyze, interpret and report on the results, outcomes and applications of an experiment.

LO4.

Prepare a scientific presentation and deliver information verbally to a general audience.

LO5.

Find, evaluate and synthesise scientific information in relation to a horticultural topic of interest and express it in written form

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Creative Production/ Exhibition, Performance, Presentation Digital Stakeholder Engagement
  • In-person
30%

21/03/2025 2:00 pm

Notebook/ Logbook, Practical/ Demonstration Practical Reports 30% (4 x 7.5% each)

Experimental design and set up 7/03/2025 2:00 pm

Monitoring of results 17/04/2025 2:00 pm

Analysis of results 8/05/2025 2:00 pm

Full report 22/05/2025 2:00 pm

Examination End of Semester Exam
  • Identity Verified
  • In-person
40%

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

Assessment details

Digital Stakeholder Engagement

  • In-person
Mode
Oral, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
Category
Creative Production/ Exhibition, Performance, Presentation
Weight
30%
Due date

21/03/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L04, L05

Task description

Students are to choose a topic of their own interest related to horticultural science and of general importance to the Australian and/or international horticultural industry. The topics may include challenges faced in horticulture today, with solutions that promote the sustainable production of fresh produce for the domestic or export market. After deciding on a topic (please consult Course Coordinator for suitability), use a UQ Library database, such as Web of Science or Science Direct to search for relevant scientific literature. Select a minimum of 5 related, peer reviewed, journal papers and synthesise the information (put the information together) to form an argument.

Your argument will be delivered as a Poster that will be presented to the audience. This will be 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) style. Make it punchy and impactful. Your job is to drive change.

You will be marked on the quality of your poster as well as the quality of your presentation.

Further details for this assessment including the marking criteria will be available in the course blackboard site.

This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.

Submission guidelines

You must submit your assessment in the course Blackboard site, via the specific assessment link by the due date and time. You should keep an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.

Legal Declaration: 

By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy (https://policies.uq.edu.au/document/view-current.php?id=149) and understand its implications. 

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for documented medical reasons, accident, bereavement, jury service and other circumstances allowed in the UQ Policies and Procedures Library (PPL).

Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard before the due date of the assessment item.

Practical Reports

Mode
Written
Category
Notebook/ Logbook, Practical/ Demonstration
Weight
30% (4 x 7.5% each)
Due date

Experimental design and set up 7/03/2025 2:00 pm

Monitoring of results 17/04/2025 2:00 pm

Analysis of results 8/05/2025 2:00 pm

Full report 22/05/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

All students will undertake their own home-based seed germination experiment as part of this assessment.

Students will prepare 4 practical reports that build on experiments you will perform at home.

These will be:

  1. Experimental design and set up
  2. Monitoring of results
  3. Analysis of results
  4. Full report

This is a continuous piece of assessment that facilitates equal participation for External and Internal students.

Further details for this assessment including the marking criteria will be available in the course blackboard site.

This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.

Submission guidelines

You must submit your assessment task in Blackboard, via the Turnitin link, by the submission deadline. You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.

Legal Declaration

By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) and understand its implications.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for documented medical reasons, accident, bereavement, jury service and other circumstances allowed in the UQ Policies and Procedures Library (PPL).

Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard before the due date of the assessment item.

End of Semester Exam

  • Identity Verified
  • In-person
Mode
Written
Category
Examination
Weight
40%
Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

Learning outcomes
L01, L03

Task description

Students enrolled in External delivery must attend the exam in-person, either at an approved off-campus exam venue, or on campus as organised through UQ Examinations and listed on your personalised exam timetable. Have your UQ student ID card available for your exam. 

The exam may cover any content delivered in this course, including lectures, guest lectures, textbook chapters outlined in the Learning Activities, and practicals.

It will consist of short essay type answers (a few paragraphs per question).

This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Exam details

Planning time 10 minutes
Duration 120 minutes
Calculator options

No calculators permitted

Open/closed book Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted
Exam platform Paper based
Invigilation

Invigilated in person

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Grade Cut off Percent Description
1 (Low Fail) 0 - 34

Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: 0 - 34%

2 (Fail) 35 - 46

Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: 35 - 46%

3 (Marginal Fail) 47 - 49

Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes

Course grade description: 47% - 49%

4 (Pass) 50 - 64

Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: 50% - 64%

5 (Credit) 65 - 74

Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: 65% - 74%

6 (Distinction) 75 - 84

Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: 75% - 84%

7 (High Distinction) 85 - 100

Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: 85% - 100%

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply. 

Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.  

If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.  

Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes. 

To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment. 

Additional assessment information

Please note the following when writing your assignments:

You must not re-use past work from previous assessments in your assignments. 

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism:

All reported work must be done by the individual student. Assignments that look and sound alike will be reported as plagiarism – a serious offence at UQ. Please note the university’s policy on academic integrity and plagiarism which can be accessed at Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy

TurnItIn:

Assignments that are required to be submitted through TurnItIn, must only be uploaded to the assessment specific Turnitin link on the relevant course Blackboard site. If you submit any version of your assessment item to any alternative Turnitin link, this is considered cheating and you will be held liable for this action.ᅠ

Results:

Unless specifically indicated by the lecturer involved, every attempt will be made to have the results for progressive assessment tasks available within 3 weeks of submission. For items of assessment submitted in the last 2 weeks of the semester, the results will be available before the day of your end of semester examination in the course, unless otherwise indicated by the Course Coordinator. Results and feedback availability for progressive assessment will be announced via the course Blackboard site. 

Feedback in this course:

Feedback is welcome in this course as any information on how students find this learning experience is constructive.

Please use the evaluation form provided to you at the end of semester - or if you are enrolled internally, a course evaluation process will occur in the last few weeks of semester.

Re-mark Applications – refer to the University's Re-mark Policy to check your eligibility

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Other course materials

If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.

Required

Item Description Further Requirement
HORT2007 Blackboard site http://learn.uq.edu.au/

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Filter activity type by

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Learning period Activity type Topic
Multiple weeks

From Week 1 To Week 13
(24 Feb - 01 Jun)

Lecture

Lecture series

Lectures series of Horticulture topics

Sub-activity: Introduction and seed propagation Further seed propagation and grafting Propagation (cutting and layering) Tissue culture Post propagation and Queensland horticulture Sustainable systems Plants and the Environment Heat and urban environments Controlling growth Post-harvest Plant protection Revision

Learning outcomes: L01

Practical

Labs and study tours

Laboratory and study tours for those students who can make it. Private study for Externals.

Sub-activity: Biora set up Seedling and grafting workshop Rooting powder, layering and biora observations Long Pocket visit for tissue culture Student presentations Biora observations and data collection Withcott visit Biora round up Medicinal marijuana facility visit

Learning outcomes: L01

Additional learning activity information

A Practical manual will be made available on Blackboard to inform students about what each practical entails, with video material (where relevant) providing more details on how the Practical was conducted. All students (External and Internal) will undertake their own home-based seed germination experiment as part of their assessment.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course: