HORT10020

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Academic Year 2025/2026

Plants and People (HORT10020)

Subject: : Horticulture

College: : Health & Agricultural Sciences

School: : Agriculture & Food Science

Level: : 1 (Introductory)

Credits: : 5

Module Coordinator: : Dr Syed Bilal Hussain

Trimester: : Spring

Mode of Delivery: : On Campus

Internship Module: : No

How will I be graded? : Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module introduces students to the central role of plants in supporting human life, wellbeing, and society. Plants underpin food systems, provide materials for medicine, shelter, and design, and play a critical role in climate regulation and ecosystem services.\ The module explores plant use across agricultural, horticultural, environmental, and social contexts, including food and beverage production, ornamental and landscape horticulture, urban green spaces, and social horticulture. Historical and contemporary examples are used to illustrate how plant–people relationships have shaped cultures and continue to respond to global challenges such as climate change, sustainability, and food security.\ Delivered by internal and visiting lecturers, the module develops students’ awareness of sustainability, global citizenship, and the societal relevance of plant science, while fostering interdisciplinary understanding and critical thinking in line with UCD graduate attributes.

About this Module

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What will I learn?

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to understand and describe:\ - the fundamental relationship between humans and plants\ - important role of plants in their own lives and in the lives of all organisms on Earth\ - critical role that plants play in feeding the world (all food chains on the planet begin with plants on land and in the sea\ - appreciate key features in the use of plants for design\ - understand the role of plants in regulating climate\ \

How will I learn?

Student Effort Hours:

Student Effort Type	Hours
Lectures	23
Autonomous Student Learning	77

---	---
Total	100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:

Face-to-face lectures\ \

Am I eligible to take this module?

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Learning Exclusions:\

Those who have previosuly taken Plants and People as an elective are advised not to register to this module.\ \ While no students are excluded from this module, the content of the module may be too basic for students in Stages 3 and 4.

Module Requisites and Incompatibles

Not applicable to this module. \ \

How will I be assessed?

Assessment Strategy

Description	Timing	Component Scale	Must Pass Component	% of Final Grade	In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): Mid-term exam	Week 7	Graded	No	30	No
Individual Project: Multimedia projects, presentations, or posters	Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12	Graded	No	20	No
Exam (In-person): End of trimester examination.	End of trimester Duration: 2 hr(s)	Graded	No	50	No

Carry forward of passed components

What happens if I fail?

Resit In	Terminal Exam
Autumn	Yes - 2 Hour

Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. \

Assessment feedback

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment\

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback post-assessment will be available on request by a student.

Associated Staff

Name	Role
Dr Noeleen Smyth	Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

When is this module offered?

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.


Spring	Lecture	Offering 1	Week(s) - 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32	Mon 14:00 - 14:50
Spring	Lecture	Offering 1	Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33	Thurs 14:00 - 14:50

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