Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

Overview

In recent times, agricultural production systems have become increasingly more intensive and susceptible to adverse effects of climatic variability and changes in local, regional and global markets. In addition, the local, regional and global food situation is grim due to increased demand and the increasing use of staple food crops as alternative energy sources. There is, therefore, need for graduates who can effectively generate and promote technologies, strategies and services that enhance agricultural productivity and quality while preserving the environment as envisaged in Kenya’s vision 2030 and the Agricultural Sector Development Strategy. The Bachelor of Science in Agriculture programme is a rigorous and broad-based curriculum designed to produce graduates who through extension, teaching, research, or consultancy will provide technical services in agribusiness, agricultural policy formulation, animal production, crop and land management, and environmental protection.

The first two years of the BSc Agriculture programme will be spent on core courses which will ground the students in agriculture-related basic sciences and the fundamentals of the professional agricultural disciplines (i.e. agricultural economics, animal science, crop protection, crop science and soil science). In the third year of study, the students will opt and specialize in any of the following majors: Crop Science, Crop Protection, Land Resource Management, Animal Science and Agricultural Economics). The respective majors will appear on students’ transcripts and degree certificates (e.g. B.Sc. Agriculture-Crop Science major).  

2. PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES

The programme objective is to produce competent graduates in agricultural sciences and environmental management with adequate knowledge and skills to effectively exploit agricultural research and development opportunities. This objective will be achieved through the majors mentioned below.

2.1 Agricultural Economics Major

The objective of this major is to produce graduates with the knowledge and skills for efficient and sustainable use of agricultural resources. Therefore, students branching into Agricultural Economics Major after two years of general grounding in agriculture will:

  1. Acquire knowledge of economic disciplines to have an integrated approach to understanding agricultural and environmental problems.
  2. Apply the skills of the discipline in solving agricultural and environmental problems as managers in enterprises that use these resources or in research, extension and education.

  3. 2.2 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:           

  4. Contribute to the improvement of  crop productivity  through research, extension and training
  5. Contribute to setting up and running of crop products enterprises.
  6. Promote domestic, urban and institutional landscapes through design, development and maintenance.
  7. Promote environmental conservation

  1. 2.3 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:            

  2. Offer advisory services in the design and execution of crop protection strategies
  3. Address all aspects of safe use, handling, disposal and evaluation of pesticides.
  4. Contribute to setting up and running of crop protection enterprises.

  5. 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:         

  6. Effectively address all aspects of livestock development from a multidisciplinary  point of view
  7. Promote sustainable livestock production in all agro-ecological zones
  8. Contribute to setting up and running of livestock products enterprises.
  9. Promote environmental conservation in the livestock sector.

2.5 Land Resource Management Major

  1. The objective of this major is to produce graduates with the knowledge and skills to effectively manage land resources. On completion, the Land Resource Management Major graduates will have the competence to:     

  2. Promote sustainable land and water management for increased agricultural production and environmental protection
  3. Contribute to the prevention and alleviation of  land degradation
  4. Provide leadership in the implementation of the national policies relating to natural resource management
  5. 2.4 Animal Science Major

  6. the course shall be offered under two modules; full time and through Open, Distance and e-learning (ODeL).

     

    Full-time modules

  7. A candidate shall take a minimum of four academic years and a maximum of 8 academic years to complete the course
  8. Each academic year shall consist of two semesters except during the third year of study which will have a third semester
  9. Each semester shall consist of 15 teaching weeks inclusive of teaching and examinations, while the third semester shall be eight weeks
  10. 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.
  11. Each candidate shall be required to undertake field practise (attachment) after completion of the second semester of the third year of study. During the field attachment, students are expected to embark on a research project, which they have to complete and present at a seminar during the fourth year of study.
  12. In the third and fourth years of study, each student will be required to take courses in any of the following five majors: Agricultural Economics, Animal Science, Crop Protection, Crop Science or Land Resource Management  
  13. Majors shall be taken after completion of the second year level courses

Open, distance and e-learning

The course structure and requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture offered by open, distance and e-learning mode (ODeL) remain the same as under the full-time format. However, the model of delivery will involve:

  1. Use of various media and largely home-based
  2. Other modes of delivery:

  3.      Written self-instructional study modules at the registration time including study books, relevant literature, interactive devices and self-tests

         Mediated technical learning materials; audio cassettes, e-learning materials and video clips

         Limited face-to-face sessions to provide an overview of the course at commencement of semester, mid-semester and revision period before examinations.

    Provision of learner support services

         Support study centres at the University of Nairobi   

         Access to information through computers at the University of Nairobi

         Use of libraries at the University of Nairobi and related research institutions.

    Orientation (immediately after registration):

    Orientation on ODeL delivery

    Study, reading and computer skills

    Time management and techniques in handling assignments

    Mentorship, guidance and counselling

    The emphasis in ODeL is the use of satellite centres that serve as a link between the university and the students in the following: registration, collecting reading materials, collecting results and programmes, examination information, posting timetable and holding meetings.

3.1 The common regulations for the Bachelor of Science degrees in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nairobi, shall apply. In addition, the applicants with the following minimum qualifications shall be admissible:

Holders of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) with a mean grade of C+ or equivalent with passes at C plain or above in Biology or Biological Sciences and any one of the following subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Physical Sciences, Mathematics, Agriculture  or Geography

  1. Holders of KCSE mean Grade of C- or equivalent plus a Certificate and Diploma in a relevant field from an institution recognized by the Senate.
  2. Holders of ‘O’ level Division II or equivalent with subjects indicated in 3.1.1 above; plus a Diploma in a relevant field from an institution recognized by the Senate
  3. Holders of ‘A’ level with two Principal Passes or equivalent in Biology and any one of the following subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Geography or Mathematics
  4. 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
  5.  Holders of a higher national Diploma in Biological Sciences or related sciences from an institution recognized by the Senate.
  6. Holders of a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences or related sciences from an institution recognized by the senate
  7. Equivalent qualifications to the above from institutions recognized by the Senate

 

Agriculture expert

Bachelor Of Science-Agriculture year 1 - 16units      
   Semester 1   Semester 2   Yearly Total  
TUITION                 162,000.00            162,000.00              324,000.00
ICT SERVICES - (PER YEAR)                     7,000.00                              -                    7,000.00
CAUTION - (ONCE)                     5,000.00                              -                    5,000.00
EXAMINATION (PER UNIT @1000)@1000                     8,000.00                 8,000.00                16,000.00
REGISTRATION (PER SEMESTER@2250)                     2,250.00                 2,250.00                  4,500.00
STUDENT ORGANISATION(PER YEAR)                     1,000.00                              -                    1,000.00
ID CARD ( PER YEAR)                     1,000.00                              -                    1,000.00
MEDICAL FEE (PER YEAR)                     6,500.00                              -                    6,500.00
ACTIVITY-( PER YEAR)                     2,000.00                              -                    2,000.00
LIBRARY (PER YEAR)                     4,000.00                              -                    4,000.00
Total-Bsc-Agriculture-Year1                 198,750.00            172,250.00              371,000.00
       
Bachelor Of Science-Agriculture year 2 - 16units      
   Semester 1   Semester 2   Yearly Total  
TUITION                 162,000.00            162,000.00              324,000.00
ICT SERVICES - (PER YEAR)                     7,000.00                              -                    7,000.00
EXAMINATION (PER UNIT @1000)                     8,000.00                 8,000.00                16,000.00
REGISTRATION (PER SEMESTER@2250)                     2,250.00                 2,250.00                  4,500.00
STUDENT ORGANISATION(PER YEAR)                     1,000.00                              -                    1,000.00
ID CARD ( PER YEAR)                     1,000.00                              -                    1,000.00
MEDICAL FEE (PER YEAR)                     6,500.00                              -                    6,500.00
ACTIVITY-( PER YEAR)                     2,000.00                              -                    2,000.00
LIBRARY (PER YEAR)                     4,000.00                              -                    4,000.00
Total-Bsc-Agriculture-Year2                 193,750.00            172,250.00              366,000.00
       
Bachelor Of Science-Agriculture year 3 - 16units      
   Semester 1   Semester 2   Yearly Total  
TUITION                 162,000.00            162,000.00              324,000.00
ICT SERVICES - (PER YEAR)                     7,000.00                              -                    7,000.00
EXAMINATION (PER UNIT @1000)                     8,000.00                 8,000.00                16,000.00
REGISTRATION (PER SEMESTER@2250)                     2,250.00                 2,250.00                  4,500.00
STUDENT ORGANISATION(PER YEAR)                     1,000.00                              -                    1,000.00
ID CARD ( PER YEAR)                     1,000.00                              -                    1,000.00
MEDICAL FEE (PER YEAR)                     6,500.00                              -                    6,500.00
ACTIVITY-( PER YEAR)                     2,000.00                              -                    2,000.00
LIBRARY (PER YEAR)                     4,000.00                              -                    4,000.00
Total-Bsc-Agriculture-Year3                 193,750.00            172,250.00              366,000.00
       
Bachelor Of Science-Agriculture year 4 - 13units      
   Semester 1   Semester 2   Yearly Total  
TUITION                 162,000.00            162,000.00              324,000.00
ICT SERVICES - (PER YEAR)                     7,000.00                              -                    7,000.00
EXAMINATION (PER UNIT @1000)                     6,500.00                 6,500.00                13,000.00
REGISTRATION (PER SEMESTER@2250)                     2,250.00                 2,250.00                  4,500.00
STUDENT ORGANISATION(PER YEAR)                     1,000.00                              -                    1,000.00
ID CARD ( PER YEAR)                     1,000.00                              -                    1,000.00
MEDICAL FEE (PER YEAR)                     6,500.00                              -                    6,500.00
ACTIVITY-( PER YEAR)                     2,000.00                              -                    2,000.00
LIBRARY (PER YEAR)                     4,000.00                              -                    4,000.00
Total-Bsc-Agriculture-Year4                 192,250.00            170,750.00              363,000.00
Grand Totals     1,466,000.00

 

The conduct of examinations shall be governed by the following regulations:

1. No candidate shall be permitted to sit an examination unless he/she has satisfactorily attended 70% of the prescribed course of study.

2. For purposes of these regulations, Field Practice (Attachment) shall be deemed to be part of the fourth year.

3. All examination procedures shall be governed by the following:

  • Each course unit shall be examined out of a total of 100%.

  • The pass mark in each course examination shall be 40% and graded as follows:

    •   70 - 100% = A

    •   60 - 69% = B

    •   50 - 59% = C

    •   40 - 49% = D

    •   39% and below = FAIL

      1. There shall be special examination(s) for candidates who miss the University examinations provided that such candidates shall, to the satisfaction of the Faculty Board and approval by Senate, provide evidence that they were genuinely unable to sit the examination(s).
      2.  
      3. Continuous assessment tests (CATs) shall constitute 30%, while the end of semester written examinations shall constitute 70%. The end of semester written examinations in each course shall be a 1 x 2 hour paper.
      4.  
      5. Field/Industrial attachment will be examined by oral examination and written reports. The grades shall be used in the degree classification. Evaluation of the students while in the field shall constitute 30%, written reports 40% and oral presentations 30%.
      6.  
      7. The Special Projects and Seminars shall be examined by written reports and presentations and shall be graded for use in the degree classification. The seminars and project proposal shall constitute 30%, the special project report shall constitute 40% and oral presentation shall constitute 30%.
      8.  
      9. The courses ACP 401 (Diagnostic Studies of Crop Pests) and ACP 402 (Diagnostics of Crop Diseases) shall be examined by laboratory practicals for both CATs and final examination, where CATs constitute 30% but as described under 6.3(d) and final examination shall constitute 70%.
      10.  
      11. For purposes of regulations 6.3 (a)-(g) herein, all papers shall carry equal weight.
      12. In any academic year, a candidate who fails to attain the pass mark in half or less of the courses offered may, on recommendation of the Faculty Board and approval by Senate, be allowed to sit supplementary examinations in the failed courses to be held at a time to be determined by the Faculty Board of Examiners
      13. Supplementary examinations shall be marked out of 100% but the pass grade shall be reduced to 40%.
      14.  
      15. A candidate who fails to attain the pass mark in the supplementary examination(s) shall on recommendation of the Faculty Board and approval by Senate be allowed to repeat the year, attend classes in the failed course(s) and take the examination(s) in the failed course(s), provided that the candidate shall pay all the prescribed fees for the respective course(s) and examination(s)
      16.  
      17. In any academic year, a candidate who fails to attain the pass mark in more than half of the courses offered shall, on recommendation of the Faculty Board and approval by Senate, be allowed to repeat the year, attend classes in the failed course(s) and sit examinations in the failed course(s) at the next University examinations, provided that the candidate shall pay the prescribed fees for respective course(s) and examination(s)    
      18.  
      19. A repeating candidate in any academic year (under clauses 6.3k and 6.3l) who fails to attain the pass mark in any of the failed courses shall, on recommendation of the Faculty Board and approval by Senate, be discontinued from the degree programme.
      20.  
      21. For purposes of evaluation of all supplementary examinations, regulation 6.3j shall apply.
      22. No candidate shall be allowed to register for a course more than twice on academic grounds.
      23.  

       The final degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (specifying the major) shall: -

      1. Be awarded to candidates who have completed and passed examinations in all courses of study including Field Practice/Attachment.
      2. Be based on the average score of all examinations of courses taken in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years of study.
      3.  
      4. In classifying the degree for each candidate, the Faculty Board of Examiners shall consider the overall mean mark obtained by the candidate, while observing regulation above,  and shall apply the principle that a mean score of:
      1.  70 -100% merits First Class Honours
      2.  60-69% merits Second Class Honours (Upper Division)
      3.  50-59% merits Second Class Honours (Lower Division)
      4.  40-49% merits a Pass

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