Bachelor of Science in Equine Science

General Information

The four year B.Sc. degree in Equine Science provides students, who wish to follow a professional career in the horse industry, the opportunity to underpin their career aspirations with specialist knowledge and skills. This programme, unique in Europe, has been developed because of the strategic economic importance of equine and related industries and the consequential need to produce highly qualified personnel with the specialised knowledge to exploit the potential of these industries.

The overall aim of the programme is to equip students with degree level competence in the disciplines of Equine Sciences and a choice of professional studies in either the disciplines of Equitation or Equine Business Management. Graduates of the programme are expected to contribute to the continued development of the equine industry through the application of their expertise in research, development and particular skills in Equine Sciences and Equitation or Equine Business Management.

Course Structure

The programme is four years in duration with two Semesters per year.All students undertake common modules for the first four semesters providing a strong base in science. Students will take modules in Equine Anatomy and Physiology, Equine Feeding and Behaviour, Equine Reproduction, Equine Health and Disease and Equine Nutrition during the first two years of the programme. In addition a strong base in business is established with modules in Economics, Marketing and Accounting. In the first two years students also take Equitation modules including Introduction to Horsemanship, Equitation Skill Analysis, Foundations of Equine Locomotion and Performance.

In years three and four, all students continue to study a range of equine science modules including Equine Breeding and Genetics, Grassland and Grazing Management, Equine Pharmacology and Equine Performance. Students can choose to undertake the study of a language selected from Spanish, French, German or Japanese. It is also at this point that students select one of the major professional options i.e. Equine Business Management or Equitation. The Equine Business Management option offers modules in Enterprise Formation and Development, Principles of Risk Management, Business Consulting and Strategic Management.The Equitation option provides modules in the Young Horse, Equestrian Facilities, Performance Rider Development and Training, and Managing The Performance Horse. In semester 6 of year 3, for a period of up to 8 months, all students undertake Cooperative Education in an Equine or related enterprise.This provides the opportunity to exploit and develop the skills that have already been acquired while simultaneously gaining the professional experience, at home or abroad, of working in selected sectors of the industry. In semesters 7 and 8 of year four all students conduct a research project on some aspect of the horse industry.

Throughout the programme, students will be brought into contact with the industry.This will be enabled through visits to centres of excellence, through participation in seminars conducted by expert speakers, open to all persons from the industry, and also through "hands-on" experience of handling and riding horses.

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Entry Requirements

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with at least Grade C3 in two Higher Level subjects and Grade D3 in four Ordinary or Higher Level subjects (including Mathematics; Irish or another language; and English).

In addition, applicants are required to hold at least the following in the Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent): Grade C3 in a Higher Level paper in any one of the following: Physics, Chemistry, Physics with Chemistry, Engineering,Technical Drawing/Design & Communication Graphics,Technology, Biology, Agricultural Science.

A Special Mathematics Examination will be offered at UL following the Leaving Certificate results for those students who did not achieve the Mathematics requirement.

It is desirable that candidates applying for this programme should have a reasonable level of competency in horse riding and/or have experience of working with horses.

Career Prospects

Graduates from this programme may choose from a wide variety of career opportunities in areas such as the following:

• Equine Enterprise Management (Stud Farms, Show Jumping Yards, Racing Yards, Equestrian Centres).
• Leisure, Recreation and Tourism based on Equine activities.
• Equestrian Marketing and Sales Enterprises.
• Equine related service industry (food supply, equipment manufacturing, laboratory servicing, management information (IT)).
• Equine Research and Development.
• Sports Journalism.
• Equine related organisations, including state and semi-state.
• Self employment in equine industry.
• Postgraduate studies