Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in Agricultural Plant Sciences (BSA-PS)
Overview
This programme is offered from the Pietermaritzburg Campus. The Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in Agricultural Plant Sciences focuses on the science of growing plants for food, fuel, fibre, and other uses, encompassing various disciplines like agronomy, horticulture, plant breeding, and soil science. It applies scientific principles to improve crop production, manage plant diseases and pests, and ensure sustainable agricultural practices.
SAQA
115761
NQF LEVEL
07
DURATION
4 Years
CAO CODE
KN-P-SAP
CLOSING DATE
30 September
DISCIPLINE
Entry Requirements
- National Senior Certificate (NSC) – Degree (Pass).
- an APS score of no fewer than 28 points.
- Engl, LO, Maths & Agric Sci or Econ or Life Sci or Phys Sci 4.
Modules
Major 1: Agricultural Plant Sciences (Crop Science)
Semester 1
- The Smaller Side of Life – BIOL101 (16 Credits)
- General Principles of Chemistry – CHEM110 (16 Credits)
- Mathematics for Natural Sciences – MATH150 (16 Credits)
- Intro Physics for Life Sciences & Agriculture – PHYS131 (16 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits
Semester 2
- Life on Earth – BIOL102 (16 Credits)
- Chemical Reactivity – CHEM120 (16 Credits)
- Introduction to Statistics – STAT130 (16 Credits)
- Further Mathematics for Natural Sciences – MATH143 (8 Credits)
- Modern Physics for Life Sciences & Agric – PHYS133 (8 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits.
Major 2: Agricultural Plant Sciences (Horticultural Science)
Semester 1
- The Smaller Side of Life – BIOL101 (16 Credits)
- General Principles of Chemistry – CHEM110 (16 Credits)
- Mathematics for Natural Sciences – MATH150 (16 Credits)
- Intro Physics for Life Sciences & Agriculture – PHYS131 (16 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits
Semester 2
- Life on Earth – BIOL102 (16 Credits)
- Chemical Reactivity – CHEM120 (16 Credits)
- Introduction to Statistics – STAT130 (16 Credits)
- Further Mathematics for Natural Sciences – MATH143 (8 Credits)
- Modern Physics for Life Sciences & Agric – PHYS133 (8 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits
Major 3: Agricultural Plant Sciences (Plant Breeding)
Semester 1
- The Smaller Side of Life – BIOL101 (16 Credits)
- General Principles of Chemistry – CHEM110 (16 Credits)
- Mathematics for Natural Sciences – MATH150 (16 Credits)
- Intro Physics for Life Sciences & Agriculture – PHYS131 (16 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits
Semester 2
- Life on Earth – BIOL102 (16 Credits)
- Chemical Reactivity – CHEM120 (16 Credits)
- Introduction to Statistics – STAT130 (16 Credits)
- Further Mathematics for Natural Sciences – MATH143 (8 Credits)
- Modern Physics for Life Sciences & Agric – PHYS133 (8 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits
Major 1: Agricultural Plant Sciences (Crop Science)
Semester 1
- Introduction to Agricultural Economics – AGEC210 (16 Credits)
- Introductory Genetics – GENE240 (16 Credits)
- Introduction to Soils & the Environment – SSCI217 (16 Credits)
- Agrometeorology & Environmental Biophysics – AMET210 (16 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits
Semester 2
- Signal Transduction and Metabolism – BIOC212 (16 Credits)
- Introduction to Plant Production – AGPS200 (16 Credits)
- Fungi, Food and Phytopathogens – PPTH214 (16 Credits)
OR
- Pedology – SSCI230 (16 Credits)
- Experimental Designs and Analysis – STAT222 (16 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits.
Major 2: Agricultural Plant Sciences (Horticultural Science)
Semester 1
- Introduction to Agricultural Economics – AGEC210 (16 Credits)
- Introductory Genetics – GENE240 (16 Credits)
- Introduction to Soils & the Environment – SSCI217 (16 Credits)
- Agrometeorology & Environmental Biophysics – AMET210 (16 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits
Semester 2
- Signal Transduction and Metabolism – BIOC212 (16 Credits)
- Introduction to Plant Production – AGPS200 (16 Credits)
- Fungi, Food and Phytopathogens – PPTH214 (16 Credits)
- Experimental Designs and Analysis – STAT222 (16 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits.
Major 3: Agricultural Plant Sciences (Plant Breeding)
Semester 1
- Introduction to Agricultural Economics – AGEC210 (16 Credits)
- Introductory Genetics – GENE240 (16 Credits)
- Introduction to Soils & the Environment – SSCI217 (16 Credits)
- Agrometeorology & Environmental Biophysics – AMET210 (16 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits
Semester 2
- Signal Transduction and Metabolism – BIOC212 (16 Credits)
- Introduction to Plant Production – AGPS200 (16 Credits)
- Fungi, Food and Phytopathogens – PPTH214 (16 Credits)
- Experimental Designs and Analysis – STAT222 (16 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits.
Major 1: Agricultural Plant Sciences (Crop Science)
Semester 1
- Irrigation Design and Management – AGPS301 (16 Credits)
- Field Crop Management – AGPS305 (16 Credits)
32 credits from:
- Protected Cultivation of Plants – AGPS309 (16 Credits)
- Orchard Management – AGPS307 (16 Credits)
- Biotechnology in Crop Improvement – AGPS311 (16 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits
Semester 2
- Agricultural Plant Physiology – AGPS320 (16 Credits)
- Crop Protection – AGPS308 (16 Credits)
- Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition – SSCI320 (16 Credits)
- Introduction to Food Security – FDSC360 (16 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits.
Major 2: Agricultural Plant Sciences (Horticultural Science)
Semester 1
- Irrigation Design and Management – AGPS301 (16 Credits)
- Field Crop Management – AGPS305 (16 Credits)
OR
- Biotechnology in Crop Improvement – AGPS311 (16 Credits)
- Orchard Management – AGPS307 (16 Credits)
- Protected Cultivation of Plants – AGPS309 (16 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits
Semester 2
- Agricultural Plant Physiology – AGPS320 (16 Credits)
- Crop Protection – AGPS308 (16 Credits)
- Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition – SSCI320 (16 Credits)
- Introduction to Food Security – FDSC360 (16 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits.
Major 3: Agricultural Plant Sciences (Plant Breeding)
Semester 1
- Biotechnology in Crop Improvement – AGPS311 (16 Credits)
- Population and Quantitative Genetics – GENE310 (16 Credits)
- Field Crop Management – AGPS305 (16 Credits)
- Orchard Management – AGPS307 (16 Credits)
OR
- Protected Cultivation of Plants – AGPS309 (16 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits
Semester 2
- Principles of Plant Breeding – AGPS306 (16 Credits)
- Crop Protection – AGPS308 (16 Credits)
- Agricultural Plant Physiology – AGPS320 (16 Credits)
- Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition – SSCI320 (16 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits.
Major 1: Agricultural Plant Sciences (Crop Science)
Semester 1
- Forest production and Utilisation – AGPS710 (16 Credits)
- Principles of Agricultural Research – AGPS701 (8 Credits)
- Industrial Crop Production – AGPS715 (16 Credits)
Choose 16 credits from either semester 1 or 2 electives given below:
- Vegetable and Flower Crop Production –AGPS733 (16 Credits)
- Applied Plant Sciences Project and Seminar (Year-long module) – AGPS790 (32 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits
Semester 2
- Advanced Seed Technology – AGPS712 (16 Credits)
- Observation and Analysis of Agroindustry – AGPS791 (8 Credits)
Choose 16 credits from either semester 1 or 2 electives given below:
- Ornamental and Amenity Horticulture – AGPS734 (16 Credits)
OR
- Postharvest Technology – AGPS732 (16 Credits)
- Applied Plant Sciences Project and Seminar (Year-long module) – AGPS790 (32 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits.
Major 2: Agricultural Plant Sciences (Horticultural Science)
Semester 1
- Principles of Agricultural Research – AGPS701 (8 Credits)
- Pomology – AGPS716 (16 Credits)
- Vegetables and Flower Production – AGPS733 (16 Credits)
- Elective (16 Credits)
- Applied Plant Sciences Project and Seminar (Year-long Module) – AGPS790 (32 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits
Semester 2
- Postharvest Technology – AGPS732 (16 Credits)
- Ornamental and Amenity Horticulture – AGPS734 (16 Credits)
- Observation and Analysis of Agroindustry – AGPS791 (8 Credits)
- Elective (16 Credits)
- Applied Plant Sciences Project and Seminar (Year-long Module) – AGPS790 (32 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits.
Major 3: Agricultural Plant Sciences (Plant Breeding)
Semester 1
- Principles of Agricultural Research – AGPS701 (8 Credits)
- Vegetable and Flower Crop Production – AGPS733 (16 Credits)
- Advanced Population & Quantitative Genetics – GENE715 (16 )
- Plant Disease Epidemiology & Bacteriology – PPTH330
8 credit elective:
- Applied Plant Sciences Project and Seminar (Year-long Module) – AGPS790 (8 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits
Semester 2
- Advanced Seed Technology – AGPS712 (16 Credits)
- Advanced Plant Breeding – AGPS730 (16 Credits)
OR
- Staple Crop Production – AGPS714 (16 Credits)
Total Credits: 64 Credits.
- Total Credits for Qualification: 512
What do they actually do?
A Plant Pathologist is a person who specialises in plant health just like a doctor specialises in human health. Plant Pathologists study plant diseases caused by pathogens (infectious organisms) and environmental conditions (physiological factors), and how to manage them.
Plant diseases can be caused by plant pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, insects, protozoa, and parasitic plants. Non-living agents such as air pollutants, nutrient imbalances, and various environmental factors including climate change can also affect plant health.
Plant Pathologists contribute towards reliable food production; the reduction in agricultural use of land, water, fuel and other inputs; and in improving disease control to prevent crop losses.
Areas of Employment
- Universities or Colleges
- Research institutes (e.g. ARC, CSIR)
- South African Bureau of Standards (SABS)
- Perishable Produce Export Control Board (PPECB)
- Nursery industry
- Forestry industry
- Private estates
- Seed companies
- Consulting firms
- Agrochemical companies
- Biotechnology firms
- Biological control companies
- Department of Agriculture, Land Reform & Rural Development
Apply today and take the next step toward your future.