Bachelor of Science Agriculture
Admission Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
Candidates must have obtained the minimum University and School admission requirements.
The following shall be eligible for registration for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in the Department of Water and Agricultural Resource Management:
a) Holders of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) with mean grade of C+ or equivalent with passes at C plain or above in Biology or Biological Sciences/C + (plus) in Agriculture; C (plain) in Chemistry and C (plain) in any one of the following subjects: Physics, Physical Sciences, Mathematics or Geography
b) Holders of KCSE mean Grade of C- or equivalent plus a Diploma in a relevant field from an institution recognized by the Senate.
c) Holders of ‘O’ level Division II or equivalent plus, a Diploma in a relevant field from an institution recognized by the Senate
d) Holders of ‘A’ level with two Principal Passes or equivalent in Biology and any one of the following subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Geography or Agriculture.
e) Holders of KCSE mean Grade of C plain or equivalent plus a Diploma in Biological Sciences or related sciences from an institution recognized by the senate.
f) Holders of a higher national Diploma in Biological Sciences or related sciences from an institution recognized by the Senate.
g) Holders of a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences or related sciences from an institution recognized by the senate
h) Equivalent qualifications to the above from institutions recognized by the Senate
Duration of Study
Four (4) academic years
Expected Learning Outcomes
General Programme Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program students will be able to:
a) Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental agricultural principles.
b) Acquire proficiency in production, value addition and marketing of agricultural products
c) Set up and run sustainable agricultural enterprises,
d) Apply and effectively communicate scientific reasoning and data analysis in both written and oral forums.
Specialization Learning Outcomes
Crop Science Major
The objective of this major is to produce graduates with the knowledge and skills to effectively address all aspects of crop management, crop improvement and postharvest handling. On completion, the Crop Science Major programme graduates will have the competence to:
a) Contribute to enhanced crop productivity through good husbandry, research and extension
b) Enhance promotion of technology application and advancement in agricultural production
c) Contribute to setting up and running of crop production and value addition enterprises.
Crop Protection Major
The objective of this major is to produce graduates with knowledge and skills to effectively address all aspects of crop protection and integrated pest management. On completion, the Crop Protection Major programme graduates will have the competence to:
a) Offer advisory services in the design and execution of crop protection strategies
b) Address all aspects of safe use, handling, disposal and evaluation of pesticides.
c) Contribute to setting up and running of crop protection enterprises.
Animal Science Major
The objective of this major is to produce graduates with knowledge and skills to effectively address all aspects of livestock management, livestock improvement and value addition. On completion, the Animal Science Major programme graduates will have the competence to:
a) Effectively address all aspects of livestock development from a multidisciplinary point of view;
b) Promote sustainable livestock production in all agro-ecological zones;
c) Contribute to setting up and running of livestock products enterprises;
Career prospects
The University of Embu aims to train Agriculturist who will work in industry and academia.
Course Requirements
a) Each semester shall consist of 15 teaching weeks inclusive of teaching and examinations, while the third semester shall be eight weeks.
b) A learner is required to attend at least two thirds of the total number of lectures in a unit in order to be allowed to sit for the end of semester examination in a given unit of the programme.
c) The lecturer shall ensure the programme course(s) are delivered in a manner that learning takes place and in line with the University requirements for teaching, assessment and evaluation of a unit.
d) A candidate for B.Sc. Agriculture shall participate and complete course work and practical assignments that may be applicable to the programme. Admission to the examination at the end of the semester shall be based on satisfactory completion of such requirements.
e) Any student who fails to attain the pass mark in:
a) Less than 40% of the units taken in an academic year shall be required to retake the failed units when next offered.
b) Between 40% and 75% of the units taken in an academic year shall be required to repeat the year.
c) More than 75% of the units taken in an academic year shall be discontinued.
f) A student who fails to attain a pass mark in a retake examination, shall on recommendation of the school board and approval by Senate be allowed to retake the failed unit only once. Grading of retake examinations shall be similar to that of ordinary examinations as specified in respective programmes.
g) A student will not be allowed to proceed to the subsequent year of study without clearing retakes in the previous year. For instance, a second year student with retakes in the first year will not be allowed to proceed to the third year of study.
h) A student who fails after the second retake will be required to repeat the year and shall not be allowed to register for the next year of study until they have passed in all the pending retake units.
i) A student shall be allowed to repeat a year of study ONLY ONCE.
j) A repeating student in any academic year who fails to attain the pass mark in any of the failed courses shall on recommendation of the School Board and approval by Senate, be discontinued from the degree programme.
k) The lecturer is obliged to interpret and implement the curriculum and check student class attendance.
l) In the third and fourth years of study, each student will be required to take courses in any of the following Three majors: Animal production and nutrition, Crop Protection or Crop Science. The majors shall be taken after completion of the second-year level courses.
m) Each candidate shall be required to undertake field practice (attachment) after completion of the second semester of the third year of study. The field attachment will be equivalent of 315 hours.
Bachelor of Science Agriculture Courses/Unit Distribution Table
|
Year I |
||||||
|
S/NO. |
CODES |
COURSE TITLE |
CONTACT HOURS |
SEM |
||
|
L |
P |
TOTAL |
||||
|
1. |
CCS 101 |
Communication Skills |
45 |
0 |
45 |
1 |
|
2. |
CCS 103 |
HIV & AIDS |
45 |
0 |
45 |
1 |
|
3. |
SCH 101 |
Inorganic Chemistry |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
4. |
AVP 101 |
Animal Physiology |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
5. |
ACS 103 |
Fundamentals of Mathematics |
45 |
0 |
45 |
1 |
|
6. |
ACS 101 |
Agricultural Botany |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
7. |
ACS 106 |
Introduction to Agriculture |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
8. |
CCS 102 |
Fundamentals of Development |
45 |
0 |
45 |
2 |
|
9. |
AEC 101 |
Introduction to Micro-economics |
45 |
0 |
45 |
2 |
|
10. |
AEB 101 |
Foundation of Information Technology |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
11. |
SCH 102 |
Organic Chemistry |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
12. |
ACS 104 |
Principles Plant Physiology |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
13. |
ACS 105 |
Principles of Genetics |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
14. |
ASS 102 |
Introduction to Soil Science |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
Year II |
||||||
|
S/NO. |
CODES |
COURSE TITLE |
CONTACT HOURS |
SEM |
||
|
L |
P |
TOTAL |
||||
|
1. |
AEC 201 |
Sociology and Development |
45 |
0 |
45 |
1 |
|
2. |
AEC 202 |
Introduction to Macro-economics |
45 |
0 |
45 |
1 |
|
3. |
ACS 206 |
Bio-statistics |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
4. |
ACP 201 |
Principles of Plant Pathology and Disease Control |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
5. |
AEN 201 |
Power Systems and Machinery for Agriculture |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
6. |
AEN 202 |
Farm Structures and Materials |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
7. |
ACP 202 |
Agricultural Entomology |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
8. |
ACS 200 |
Internal Agricultural Practicum |
0 |
90 |
90 |
1 & 2 |
|
9. |
SBT 202 |
Microbiology |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
10. |
SBT 204 |
Plant Biochemistry |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
11. |
ACS 201 |
Principles of Crop Production |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
12. |
ACP 203 |
Principles of Weed Science |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
13. |
AAS 201 |
Principles of Animal Production |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
14. |
ACS 204 |
Ecology, Agrometeorology and Climate change |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
15. |
ACS 202 |
Principles of Plant Propagation |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
Third year (Crop Science Major)
|
YEAR III |
||||||
|
S/NO. |
CODES |
COURSE TITLE |
CONTACT HOURS |
SEM |
||
|
L |
P |
TOTAL |
||||
|
1. |
ACS 301 |
Field Crops |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
2. |
ACS 302 |
Principles of Plant Breeding |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
3. |
ACS 303 |
Seed Science and Technology |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
4. |
ASS 301 |
Application of RS & GIS in Land Use Management |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
5. |
AFN 311 |
Food Security, Livelihoods and Nutrition |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
6. |
AWM 302 |
Irrigation and Water Management |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
7. |
AEC 301 |
Farm Management |
45 |
0 |
45 |
1 |
|
8. |
ACP 304 |
Environmental Management |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
9. |
ACP 305 |
Crop Pests and their Management |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
10. |
ASS 307 |
Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Use |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
11. |
ACS 306 |
Experimental Designs and Data Analysis |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
12. |
ACS 310 |
Vegetable Production |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
13. |
AEC 302 |
Production Economics |
45 |
0 |
45 |
2 |
|
14. |
AEC 304 |
Agriculture Policy and Law |
45 |
0 |
45 |
2 |
|
15. |
ACS 307 |
Field Attachment |
0 |
315 |
315 |
3 |
Third year (Crop Protection Major)
|
YEAR III |
||||||
|
S/NO. |
CODES |
COURSE TITLE |
CONTACT HOURS |
SEM |
||
|
L |
P |
TOTAL |
||||
|
1. |
ACS 301 |
Field Crops |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
2. |
ACP 301 |
Breeding for Resistance to Pests and Diseases |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
3. |
ACP 302 |
Plant Disease Epidemiology & Seed Health |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
4. |
ASS 301 |
Application of RS & GIS in Land Use Management |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
5. |
AFN 311 |
Food Security, Livelihoods and Nutrition |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
6. |
AWM 302 |
Irrigation and Water Management |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
7. |
AEC 301 |
Farm Management |
45 |
0 |
45 |
1 |
|
8. |
ACP 304 |
Environmental Management |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
9. |
ACP 305 |
Crop Pests and their Management |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
10. |
ASS 307 |
Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Use |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
11. |
ACS 306 |
Experimental Designs and Data Analysis |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
12. |
ACS 308 |
Horticultural Crops |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
13. |
AEC 302 |
Production Economics |
45 |
0 |
45 |
2 |
|
14. |
AEC 304 |
Agriculture Policy and Law |
45 |
0 |
45 |
2 |
|
15. |
ACS 307 |
Field Attachment |
0 |
315 |
315 |
3 |
Third year (Animal Science Major)
|
YEAR III |
||||||
|
S/NO. |
CODES |
COURSE TITLE |
CONTACT HOURS |
SEM |
||
|
L |
P |
TOTAL |
||||
|
1. |
AAS 301 |
Analytical methods in Animal Science |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
2. |
AAS 310 |
Feed Resources |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
3. |
AAS 306 |
Livestock Production Systems |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
4. |
ASS 301 |
Application of RS & GIS in Land Use Management |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
5. |
AFN 311 |
Food Security, Livelihoods and Nutrition |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
6. |
AAS 302 |
Principles of Animal Nutrition |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
7. |
AEC 301 |
Farm Management |
45 |
0 |
45 |
1 |
|
8. |
ACP 304 |
Environmental Management |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
9. |
AAS 304 |
Animal Genetic Resources |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
10. |
AAS 309 |
Aquaculture & Laboratory Animals |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
11. |
ACS 306 |
Experimental Designs and Data Analysis |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
12. |
AAS 303 |
Population and Quantitative Genetics |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
13. |
AEC 302 |
Production Economics |
45 |
0 |
45 |
2 |
|
14. |
AEC 304 |
Agriculture Policy and Law |
45 |
0 |
45 |
2 |
|
15. |
AAS 312 |
Field Attachment |
0 |
315 |
315 |
3 |
Fourth year (Crop Science Major)
|
YEAR IV |
||||||
|
S/NO. |
CODES |
COURSE TITLE |
CONTACT HOURS |
SEM |
||
|
L |
P |
TOTAL |
||||
|
1. |
ACS 401 |
Floriculture and Landscape Horticulture |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
2. |
ACS 402 |
Fruit Production |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
3. |
ACS 407 |
Physiological Aspects of Crop Yield |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
4. |
ACS 408 |
Molecular Genetics & Molecular Breeding |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
5. |
ACP 409 |
Pesticides and Phytosanitary Regulations |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
6. |
AEC 403 |
Agricultural Extension and Technology Transfer |
45 |
0 |
45 |
1 |
|
7. |
ACS 409A |
Special Projects and Seminars |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
8. |
ACS 404 |
Post-harvest Physiology and Technology |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
9. |
ACP 408 |
Crop diseases and their Management |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
10. |
ACS 410 |
Plant Biotechnology |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
11. |
AEC 410 |
Agricultural Marketing |
45 |
0 |
45 |
2 |
|
12. |
AEC 408 |
Micro-Enterprise Development & Management |
45 |
0 |
45 |
2 |
|
13. |
ACS 409B |
Special Projects and Seminars |
0 |
45 |
45 |
2 |
Fourth year (Crop Protection Major)
|
YEAR IV |
||||||
|
S/NO. |
CODES |
COURSE TITLE |
CONTACT HOURS |
SEM |
||
|
L |
P |
TOTAL |
||||
|
1. |
ACP 404 |
Plant Mycology & Bacteriology |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
2. |
ACP 405 |
Plant Virology & Nematology |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
3. |
ACP 401 |
Diagnostic Studies of Crop Pests |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
4. |
ACS 408 |
Molecular Genetics and Molecular Breeding |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
5. |
ACP 409 |
Pesticides and Phytosanitary Regulations |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
6. |
AEC 403 |
Agricultural Extension and Technology Transfer |
45 |
0 |
45 |
1 |
|
7. |
ACS 409A |
Special Projects and Seminars |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
8. |
ACP 403 |
Postharvest Pests and Diseases |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
9. |
ACP 408 |
Crop diseases and their Management |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
10. |
ACS 410 |
Plant Biotechnology |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
11. |
AEC 410 |
Agricultural Marketing |
45 |
0 |
45 |
2 |
|
12. |
AEC 408 |
Micro-Enterprise Development & Management |
45 |
0 |
45 |
2 |
|
13. |
ACS 409B |
Special Projects and Seminars |
0 |
45 |
45 |
2 |
Fourth year (Animal Science Major)
|
YEAR IV |
||||||
|
S/NO. |
CODES |
COURSE TITLE |
CONTACT HOURS |
SEM |
||
|
L |
P |
TOTAL |
||||
|
1. |
AAS 401 |
Dairy Production Systems |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
2. |
ARM 405 |
Economics of Livestock Production |
45 |
0 |
45 |
1 |
|
3. |
AAS 413 |
Cattle, Camel, Sheep and Goat Production |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
4. |
AAS 411 |
Processing of animal products |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
5. |
AAS 407 |
Pig and Poultry production |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
6. |
AEC 403 |
Agricultural Extension and Technology Transfer |
45 |
0 |
45 |
1 |
|
7. |
ACS 409A |
Special Projects and Seminars |
30 |
15 |
45 |
1 |
|
8. |
AAS 408 |
Biotechnology in Animal Industries |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
9. |
AAS 405 |
Animal Breeding |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
10. |
AAS 414 |
Camel, Horse & Donkey (Equines) Production |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
11. |
AAS 415 |
Animal Health Management |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
12. |
AAS 416 |
Ration Formulation and Feed manufacturing technology |
30 |
15 |
45 |
2 |
|
13. |
AEC 410 |
Agricultural Marketing |
45 |
0 |
45 |
2 |
|
14. |
AEC 408 |
Micro-Enterprise Development & Management |
45 |
0 |
45 |
2 |
|
15. |
ACS 409B |
Special Projects and Seminars |
0 |
45 |
45 |
2 |
Graduation Requirements
i) To qualify for the award of a degree, a candidate for the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree shall take a minimum of fifty eight (57) units during the four years of study.
ii) A candidate may be allowed, on requisition, to graduate with a maximum of one failed unit. The unit shall be non-core unit.
iii) The degree award and classification shall be based on the average score of all the units taken in the programme.
Award of Degree
a) The degree award and classification shall be based on the average score of all the fifty-eight (58) units taken in the programme.
b) The degree award shall be Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with options indicated as follows:
i) Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Crop Science Major)
ii) Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Crop Protection Major)
iii) Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Animal Science Major)
Classification of Degrees
A candidate who qualifies for Award of the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture shall be placed in one of the classes as follows:
i) First Class Honours 70% - 100%
ii) Second Class Honours (Upper Division) 60% - 69%
iii) Second Class Honours (Lower Division) 50% - 59%
iv) Pass 40% - 49%