Bachelor of Science in Agriculture


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Dr. Bongiwe Mcata

 

Programme Description

The Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Agriculture is a four year undergraduate degree programme with its first cohort enrolled in 2016. The programme fits under the hard-applied and life system category. Scientific knowledge in Agricultural production is a critical skill identified in the National Development Plan (NDP). Graduates of the BSc (Agriculture) will contribute to enhancing the quality and effectiveness of agricultural production, research, technology innovation and development. They will contribute to meeting the demand for professional scientists who can lead South African agriculture through the complex world of agricultural and rural transformation whilst expanding commercial agricultural activity and productivity.

In South Africa most BSc Agriculture programmes use the format of a common first year in general sciences (Chemistry, Physics and Biology), Mathematics/Statistics and Academic Literacies. Agriculture only features as a distinct discipline from second year. The traditional BSc Agric. degrees tend to become specialised towards specific discipline e.g. BSc Agric. - Agronomy, Crop, Horticulture, Soil, Economics, Pasture, and Animal Sciences. There are curricular variations across institutions where learning appears to lean more on science than practice (production). The idea of specialisation, albeit valuable in the market economy, tends to narrow the scope of student career pathways particularly for the modern day diverse student body which by its nature requires diverse learning opportunities including career pathways. The UMP opts to offer agricultural curriculum that diverges from the South African traditional patterns to one that is responsive to student learning needs in the context of diversity whilst ensuring that the acquired knowledge and skills will advance society and the market economy.

The UMP BSc Agriculture programme thus offers both fundamental sciences and some agriculturally focused science modules in the first year of study (YOS) namely the South African Agriculture (SAG 101) and Science for Sustainable Agriculture (SAG 102) modules. The remaining three years are dedicated to a conscious mix of modules in agricultural science and agricultural practice. The qualification has elective modules normally offered by practitioners in the School of Biology and Environmental Sciences (SBES). This interdisciplinary learning approach enables the programme to provide multiple learning pathways for progression that are applicable to agriculture. The basic framework for UMP’s BSc (Agriculture) is modelled on the sister university (UKZN) agricultural curriculum which is ranked among the top 200 agricultural universities in the world according to the QS World University Rankings. Comparatively, the degree most closely resembles the Indian and Australian degrees at the international stage.
 

 

Admission Requirements

The minimum requirements for admission to a Bachelor’s Degree must be met. In addition, students will have the following:

National Senior Certificate:
  • Admission Points Score (APS): 30 with mathematics or 30 with Mathematic Literacy
  • English (home language or first additional language): Level 4
  • Mathematics: Level 4 or Mathematical Literacy: Level 6
  • Life Sciences/Biology/Agriculture: Level 4
  • Physical Sciences: Level 4
Any other relevant subjects e.g. Geography: Level 4
 

Curriculum Structure

Code Description Compulsory (Y/N) Pre-Co requisites Credits Semester
YEAR 1
BIO101 Biology 101 Y NO 14 1
BIO102 Biology 102 Y NO 14 2
CHEM101 Chemistry 101 Y NO 14 1
ENV101 Environmental Science 101 Y NO 14 1
GOG102 Geography102 Y NO 14 2
CSC1A1 End User Computing Y NO 11 2
NUL101 Numerical and Academic Literacy Y NO 11 1
SAG101 South African Agriculture 101 Y NO 14 1
SAG102 Science for Sustainable Agriculture 102 Y NO 14 2
  TOTAL     120  
YEAR 2
PPP201 Principles of Plant Production Y BIO101, 102 15 1
PPP202 Plant Production Practices Y BIO101, 102 15 2
SPR201 Large Stock Production Y BIO101, 102 15 1
SPR202 Small Stock Production Y BIO101, 102 15 2
ABM202 Agricultural Business Y SAG101, 102 15 2
SOIL202 Soil Science Y CHEM 101 15 1
ECL201 Ecology 201 N (Pre-) ENV101
(Co-) ECL202  
15 1
ECL202 Ecology 202 N ENV 101 15 2
ENT201 Entomology 201 N (Pre) BIO101,102
(Co) ENT202 
15 1
ENT202 Entomology 202 N BIO 101, 102 15 2
AGX201 Agricultural Extension 201 N (Pre-) SAG101, 102
(Co-) AGX202
15 1
AGX202 Agricultural Extension 202 N SAG101, 102 15 2
GOG201 Geography 201 N (Pre-) GOG102
(Pre-) ENV101
(Co-) GOG202
15 1
GOG202 Geography 202 N (Pre-) GOG102 (Pre-) ENV101 15 2
WSA201 Water Science 1A N CHEM101 15 1
WSA202 Water Science 1B N CHEM101 15 2
  TOTAL     120  
YEAR 3
ASP301 Advanced Small Stock Production Y SPR201/202 15 1
ASP302 Advanced Large Stock Production Y SPR201/202 15 2
PPP301 Advanced Plant Production Y PPP201, 202 15 1
PPP302 Plant Breeding Y PPP201, 202 15 2
PPP303 Grassland Science Y PPP201, 202 15 1
PPP304 Fruit Production Y PPP 201, 202 15 2
ABM301 Advanced Agricultural Business 301 N (Pre-) ABM202
(Co-) ABM302
15 1
ABM302 Advanced Agricultural Business 302 N (Pre-) ABM202 15 2
ENT301 Agricultural Entomology 301 N ENT 201, 202
(Co-) ENT302
15 1
ENT302 Agricultural Entomology 302 N ENT 201, 202 15 2
AGX301 Agricultural Extension 301 N AGX 201,202
AGX302 CO REQUISITES
15 1
AGX302 Agricultural Extension 302 N AGX 201,202 15 2
ECL301 Advanced Ecology 301 N (Pre-) ECL201
(Co-) ECL302
15 1
ECL302 Advanced Ecology 302 N ECL202 15 2
GOG301 Geography 301 N GOG201/
GOG202
15 1
GOG302 Geography 302 N GOG201/
GOG202
15 2
  TOTAL     120  
YEAR 4
ARP 401 Agricultural Research Project Y NO 15 1
ARP 402 Agricultural Research Project Y NO 15 2
PPP 401 Research-led Advanced Seed Technology Y PPP301 & PPP302 15 1
ASP 402 Research-led Advanced Animal Nutrition Y ASP301 & 302 15 2
PPP 403 Research-led Advanced Horticultural Production Y PPP 304 & PPP 302 15 1
PPP 404 Research-led Advanced Fruit Production Y PPP 304 & PPP 302 15 2
AGX 401 Advanced Agricultural Extension N AGX 301 & 302 15 1
AGX 402 Agricultural Policy N NO 15 2
PPP 402 Post-Harvest Technology N PPP 301 & PPP 304 15 2
ENT 401 Advanced Agricultural Entomology N ENT 301& 302 15 1
ECL 401 Ecology, Agriculture and Conservation N NO 15 1
GOG 402 Geography N GOG 301& 302 15 2
YEAR 4
ARP 401 Agricultural Research Project Y NO 15 1
ARP 402 Agricultural Research Project Y NO 15 2
ABM 401 Research-led Agricultural Business Case Studies
 
Y ABM 301& 302 15 1
ABM 402 Research-led Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Y ABM 301& 302 15 2
ABM 403 Research-led Agribusiness Finance and Marketing Y ABM 301& 302 15 1
ABM 404 Research-led Agricultural Development Y ABM 301& 302 15  
  TOTAL      120  
  TOTAL CREDITS     480  

 



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