Mpumalanga University Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
(This qualification has been accredited and is awaiting registration with SAQA)
A four-year full time programme offered at the Mbombela Campus.
NQF level 8
The qualification aims to train and equip agricultural scientists and researchers with the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to conduct fundamental and applied technical agricultural research (across the whole value chain) that will contribute to increasing productivity and profitability and contribute to building the capacity of farmers to innovate and to engage in market-orientated sustainable agricultural production, diversification of products and value adding.
The curriculum is structured across five learning areas: foundational science, agricultural production science, agricultural business, natural resource management, and agricultural extension (with an emphasis on innovation). Each of these provides grounding in areas critical to sustainable agricultural production within a systems framework.
In the first year, students will take a fixed curriculum in which students take a full year of biology, and semester long courses in environmental science and systems, South African agriculture, science for sustainable agriculture, chemistry, end user computing, and numerical and academic literacy.
In second and third year, students take 3 core modules per semester and then pick an elective from Ecology, Environmental Science, Water Management, Entomology or Agricultural Extension.
In fourth year, students will chose between an agricultural science stream and an agricultural business stream.
Access To The Qualification:
NSC:
• Minimum NSC requirements for degree entry must be met;
• Admissions Point Score of 32;
• English (Home Language or First Additional Language) on at least a level 4 (50-59%);
• Mathematics level 4
• Two of Physical, Life, Agricultural Sciences of Geography at level 4
Students with Mathematical Literacy at level 6 or better will be considered but may need to take a supporting mathematics module.
It is assumed that students will be numerate with a reasonable ability to communicate in the language of teaching and learning (English).