Bachelor of Agriculture Honours
Agriculture and Nature Conservation - Primary Agriculture
Purpose and Rationale
The Bachelor of Agriculture (B. Agric). Honours degree program is designed to provide learners with analytical, reasoning, and communication skills necessary to serve the Agricultural Industry through supervised research. The program aims to empower learners to critically assess real-life problems relevant to their chosen profession. Upon completion of the program, graduates can find employment in various sectors such as government, agribusiness, private consultancies, extension projects, education, and entrepreneurship.
The degree offers specialization in Animal Science, Horticultural Science, Plant Production, and Soils Science while introducing management principles and methodology to students. The rationale behind the program lies in the significance of the Agricultural Industry in the Southern African economy, addressing food demands, creating employment opportunities, adding value, and establishing linkages with other sectors. Agriculture has been identified as a key area for growth and poverty reduction in South Africa, as outlined in relevant development programs and strategies.
The School of Agriculture aims to educate learners for life, equipping them with the skills to tackle the challenges of a dynamic agriculture sector with a focus on small-scale agriculture. The program offered by the School of Agriculture, through various departments, such as Agricultural and Rural Engineering, Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Forestry, Food Science and Technology, Horticultural Sciences, Plant Production, and Soil Science, emphasizes applied agriculture to meet its educational objectives.
Outcomes
- Communicate effectively with peers, in a variety of modes, in the discourse of Agricultural and Animal production.
- Demonstrate responsible and effective time-management and organization of projects, meeting personal objectives and negotiated deadlines.
- Demonstrate effective Management of data and information.
- Exhibit a detailed knowledge and understanding of a range of discipline specific theories, and comprehends both the interactions between Agricultural and Animal Production and the Agricultural environment and the multidisciplinary nature of problems of Agricultural and animal production.
- Exhibit the necessary skills to successfully carry out a research project of limited scope. The graduate will submit a Mini-dissertation on or before the expiry of the maximum period set for the qualification as per the university rules and regulations.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Participate and interact intelligently in class discussions and presentations.
- Write and present mini-seminars.
- Prepare assignments.
- Participate effectively in oral presentations.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Submit assignments and reports in an acceptable format according to clear guidelines.
- Submit assignments and reports and meet deadlines.
- Adhere to timelines as indicated in the research proposal.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Ability to collect relevant data effectively.
- Store data electronically.
- Demonstrate ability to analyze, synthesize, present, and critically evaluate data and information, using a variety of analytical methods and techniques.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Do independent reading and information retrieval in the library and on the Internet.
- Work with reduced supervision.
- Demonstrate the ability to critically read current literature in the field, interpret and analyze literature.
- Ability to interact with increasing self-confidence as a member of a team or group in a variety of discussion and problem-solving situations in Agriculture and animal production.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Write a research project proposal:
- Identification of the key research questions.
- Description of the methods/procedures and techniques to be followed.
- Collect, analyze, and interpret the data.
- Write up the results in a clear, concise, and acceptable manner.
Integrated Assessment:
- University of Venda (UNIVEN) has the Assessment Policy and related procedures which specify clearly the mechanisms, such as the use of external examiners.
- The learner will demonstrate the integration of learning through the submission of the dissertation and scientific paper.
- The research dissertation will be examined by two examiners, with provision for more examiners in case of a dispute.
- The learner will demonstrate the ability to identify and solve a problem and link research findings to current literature in the field of specialization.
Qualification Details
- Type
- Honours Degree
- NQF Level
- 08
- Min. Credits
- 120
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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