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All detail information about the programs
Department of Plant Sciences at Shambu Campus, Wollega University
BSc, MSc and PhD Program Running Under Plant Science Department
1. Background of Bachelor degree in Plant Science Programs
The program BSc in Plant Sciences at Wollega University Shambu started to meet challenges in agriculture and to work toward sustainable development through high-level education and research. Our course focuses on the biology of plants, the production of crops, and natural resource management. Through joining together important theory and practice, our students are empowered to play a meaningful role in making sure that Ethiopia has secure food sources and preserving biodiversity as well as farming practices that can weather the climate.
1.1.Program Vision
Vision to become nationwide and regional leaders in plant science education and research and excelling at innovation, to drive sustainable agricultural transformation and environmental stewardship.
1.2. Program Mission
To produce competent professionals with high ethical standing and outstanding innovation in plant science through extraordinary teaching, hands-on practice, and leading edge research into the biology of plants and agronomy and biotechnology. Engage with our communities to meet both local and global challenges related to agriculture.
1.3.Program Goal
The goal of this program is to cultivate scientists with vital skill sets to advance sustainable agriculture and enhance crop productivity. Through sourcing sound solutions that emphasize science we promote balance at nature’s level too.
1.4.Objective of the Program
Ø To equip students with foundational and practical knowledge of plant physiology, genetics, pathology and soil science.
Ø To instill research and problem solving skills for addressing productivity and environmental sustainability.
Ø To promote sound ethical practices and focus on engaging community based management of plant resources as well.
Ø To prepare graduates for academic careers as well as positions at research institutes or government or not for profit organizations.
1.5.Admission Requirements
ü Successful candidates as per the rules and regulations of the Ministry of Sciences and Higher Education and the hosting university can be admitted.
ü Completion of Ethiopian Higher Education Entrance Certificate or equivalent required.
ü Must get a good grade in sciences like Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics at the prep school level.
ü Entrance Examination: It's best to do well on the Ethiopian University Entrance Exam.
ü Language Proficiency: The ability to speak English is required; test results during preparatory school or via placement exam show that.
1.6.Duration of the study
Ø Study duration is four years which constitute eight semesters to graduate with a BSc Degree in Plant Science.
Ø This extensive study includes coursework steeped in theory; rigorous sessions for experiments in the lab, practical work in the field and culminate in a major thesis project in the final year.
1.7.Graduation Requirements
 Minimum total credit hours for graduation are 154.
 2.0 Or higher cumulative grade point average (CGPA) overall courses and No “F” grade in any course (s) taken.
 Completion of all required courses in the program.
1.8.Medium of Instruction
The medium of instruction for the program is ENGLISH.
1.9.Degree Nomenclature
The under graduate Plant Science major program leads to a certification referred in English as: Bachelor of Science in Plant Sciences), In Amharic: “የሳይንስ ዲግሪ በእፅዋት ሳይንስ”.
2. Course Policy
All students are expected to abide by the code of conduct of students of the Senate Legislation of the University throughout this course.
1. Preparedness: Class activities will vary day to day, ranging from lectures to discussions and students will be active participants, ask questions and raise issues, come to class by bringing the appropriate materials and completed assignments, ready and willing to give constructive feedback to partners/group members and to listen to comments on their work.
2. Academic dishonesty: any cheating on an exam, test or quiz, plagiarizing assignment, fabrication, not actively participating in group work and presentation will not be tolerated and result in zero mark in that specific assignment or test or exam or will be reported to concerned bodies for action.
3. Assignment: The students are expected to carefully read all assignments supposed to be accomplished before the class in which the material is to be discussed. Written assignments should be submitted on time. Laboratory/field reports will be required to be submitted within a week time of each practical session. Any assignment turned in late shall result in an automatic reduction from the allocated mark.
4. Attendance: the students should be expected to have more than 90% of class attendance and 100% of lab/practical/tutorial attendance, unless will not sit for final exam.
5. Cell phones: students should make sure that their cell phone is turned off before entering the class as they are disruptive and annoying to all the class.
6. Exams/Tests/Quizzes: Their will be short quizzes and tests at the end of each unit or topic and if the students miss the class or late to class, they will miss the quizzes or tests, for which makeup test will be given. Final exam will be given on the date scheduled, unless prior arrangements have been made and it is expected that all students should take the exam.
7. Course evaluation: The course will be evaluated in different ways for improvement. This can be done by collecting data through questionnaire from concerned stakeholders, assessing students‟ performance, and feedbacks/comments from professional in the field and other related fields.
3. Course Breakdown
3.1.Courses offered under this Program
Year 1 Semesters I
1. Communicative English Skills I
2. General Physics
3. General Psychology
4. Math for Natural/Social Sciences
5. Critical Thinking
6. Physical Fitness**
7. Geography of Ethiopia and the Horn
Year 1 Semester II
1. Communicative English Language Skills II
2. Social Anthropology
3. General Biology
4. History of Ethiopian and the Horn, Introduction to economics??
5. Introduction to Emerging Technologies
6. Moral and Civic Education
7. General Chemistry
Year 2 Semesters I
1. Introduction to Computer and its application
2. Plant Biochemistry
3. Introduction to Agriculture*
4. Introductory Soils
5. Plant Morphology and Anatomy
6. Agricultural Microbiology
7. Climatology and Agro meteorology
Year 2 Semesters II
1. Farm Machinery and Implements
2. Principles of Genetics
3. Plant Taxonomy
4. Plant Ecology
5. Plant Ecology
6. Introduction to Statistics
7. Soil and Water Conservation
8. Agro-forestry Systems and Practices
9. GIS and Remote Sensing
Year 3 Semester I
1. Plant Breeding
2. Plant Physiology
3. Agricultural Entomology
4. Plant Pathology
5. Dry land Agriculture
6. Principles, Design and Analysis of Agricultural Experiments
7. Principles and Practices of Irrigation
8. Plant Genetic Resources
Year 3 Semester II
1. Practical Plant Sciences
2. Research Methods in Plant Sciences
3. Fruit Crops Production and Processing
4. Field Crops Production and Management
5. Seed Science and Technology
6. Floriculture and Landscaping
7. Introduction to Plant Biotechnology
8. Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition
9. Practical Attachment in Plant Sciences
Year 4 Semesters I
1. Post-harvest Handling of Grain Crops
2. Vegetable Crops Production and Management
3. Industrial Crops Production and Processing
4. Introduction to Economics
5. Management of Crop Diseases and Insect Pests of Economic Importance
6. Weeds and Their Management
7. Senior Research Proposal
8. Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture
9. Senior Seminar
Year 4 Semesters II
1. Coffee and Tea Production and Processing
2. Spices and Aromatic Crops Production and Processing
3. Post-Harvest Physiology and Handling of Horticultural Crops
4. Senior Research Report
5. Farm Management
6. Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
7. Agricultural Project Planning, Evaluation and Analysis
8. Rural Sociology and Agricultural Extension
1. Master of Science Degree Programs Under Plant Science Department
4.1. M.Sc. in Agronomy
To minimize the effects of yielding limiting and/or reducing factors in crop production and utilize efficiently the suitable environments for crop production, the skilled personnel in Agronomy at MSc level is important. Training at MSc level increase their previously gained scientific knowledge and skill relevant to food security issues. In view of this, Wollega University has planned to launch new MSc program in Agronomy under Department of Plant Science to address these problems and augment the sustainable economic development of the country. Wollega University being located in high potential area for crop production will make efficient and easy use of the resources in the area, and for academic and research purposes.
Program Goal and Objectives:
Goals:
To increase the production and productivity of crops
Objectives:
General objectives
The main objective is to produce qualified agronomists equipped with fundamentals or basic theories and practical knowledge in crop Agronomy.
Specific objectives
Ø To produce qualified MSc graduates with a good academic and practical competence in the areas of crop production and management
Ø To provide technical or research assistance and consultancy service in the area of crop production.
Ø To carry out demand driven and problem solving research and generate appropriate technologies that focus on national and regional crop production challenges and opportunities.
Ø To provide community outreach services through promotion and dissemination of appropriate technologies, and to organize professional workshops and tailored training programs in the areas of agriculture and crop production.
Program Duration
This MSc training program in Agronomy is a two-year resident studentship that consists of a course work and research based thesis; and/or literature review based thesis work. The minimum period to complete this program will be two years from the date of admission. However, for reasons beyond the capacity of the student, an extension can be allowed after approval of the academic commission. All requests for extension should be received in written through the school of graduate studies (SGS) three months in advance of the last date for submission of thesis. Applicants for M.Sc. degree should hold at least a bachelor's degree in natural sciences such as plant science, horticulture, soil science, crop science, biology, and related agricultural fields from an institution of acceptable standing with a minimum of cumulative grade points average (CGPA) of 2.0. The appropriateness of the candidature for admission to the M.Sc program will be determined by the Graduate Admission Committee of the collage/faculty.
Admission Requirements
The applicants for Master of Science degree in Agronomy are supposed to fulfil the following criteria:
1. Need to have completed academic requirements for Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Plant Sciences, Horticultural Sciences, Crop Sciences, crop production and protection/management, Soil sciences, Biology or other related fields from an accredited higher learning institutions
2. Applicants must pass written and/or oral entrance exams and fully satisfy the academic rules and regulation of the University.
3. Must be supported by at least two letters of recommendation preferably from the applicant’s undergraduate instructors and employers.
4. Produce letter indicating sponsorship for their research work or sign an agreement if self-sponsored
5. The applicant have to bring information on sponsorship (self-sponsored/organization sponsoring the whole fees)
6. Some of the BSc holders may be required to take some prerequisite undergraduate courses before registration for MSc in Agronomy based on the decision of program Graduate Council.
Graduation Requirements
The MSc degree in Agronomy is awarded to student based on different requirements. For thesis based MSc program, a graduate student must write a thesis (M.Sc.) on an approved topic under the supervision of Student Advisory Council (SAC). The thesis shall constitute individual effort to carry out a fairly adequate investigation of a selected problem by generating original data on a given agronomy related project. The graduate student must satisfactorily defend the findings of the thesis in front of an examination committee that include External examiner. The graduate student must also fulfill all other requirements set by the University. However, for non-thesis based MSc program, the graduate student must write a literature based review and defend in front of the examination committee and fulfill other course work requirements. The specialization in Agronomy has a course work requirement of at least 30 credits. A Master Thesis of 6 credit hours constitutes a partial fulfillment for completing the specialization and must accumulate a minimum of CGPA of 3.00 with not more than one “C”. The prospective graduate must fully satisfy the academic rules and regulations of the University set for graduation of graduate students.
Courses offered under this program
Year I Semester I
1. Advanced Biometry
2. Advanced Plant Physiology
3. Advanced Weed Science and Mgmt
4. Advanced Plant Breeding
5. Advanced Plant Nutrition and Soil Fertility Mgmt
6. Research Methods in Agronomy
Year I Semester II
1. Advanced Crop Ecology
2. Advanced crop Production and Management
3. Agro-Meteorology
4. Advanced Seed Science and Technology
5. Advanced Irrigation Agronomy
6. Current Topic in Agronomy
Year II Semester I & II
1.MSc Thesis Research
4.2. M.Sc. in Plant Breeding
Rationale of the program
To attain food security and generate more income, there is a huge potential for increasing production/productivity and adding value to agricultural products through increasing trained man power as an input. Ethiopia is endowed with huge genetic resources of different crop varieties including cereals, pulses, oil crops, etc that could be valuable sources for improvement works. The basic step in the plant breeding work is the availability of genetic resources that is the sources for genes responsible to create or improve the quality or increase the resistances against pests. In the context of the Plant breeding (PB) may be defined as the theory and practices of improving production and productivity of crops through creation of variability, selection of elite types from the variability and synthesis of a stable cultivar from the elite selections or it is the art and science of changing the genotype of a plant for the benefit of human being. Climate change is another important issue of the day as far as plant breeding program is concerned. For instance, screening for heat tolerant crops is a major duty of plant breeder. Conservation of plant genetic resources for the future use as sources of different stresses like heat is another important issue concerning the plant breeding program.
Vision of the Program
The Plant breeding (PB) Department at WU aspires to offer the best plant breeding program in East Africa by the coming decade.
Missions of the Program
§ To produce high caliber and practically competent graduates in the areas of plant breeding or agriculture, while mainstreaming the three crosscutting themes (gender, HIV/AIDS, and environment).
§ To carry out demand driven and problem solving research and generate appropriate technologies that focus on national and regional crop production challenges and opportunities.
§ To provide community outreach services through promotion and dissemination of appropriate technologies, and to organize professional workshops and tailored training programs in the areas of agriculture.
Program objectives
1. To produce competent graduates (M.Sc.) with the knowledge, skill and attitude necessary in plant breeding.
2. To give professional and technical consultancy service on matters pertaining to crop production.
3. To conduct demand driven and problem solving research in agriculture and thereby contributing to the improvement of the national food security and commercialization of agricultural products.
4. To organize and provide demand driven in-service and other tailored trainings for various stakeholders.
5. To disseminate improved technologies to potential users.
Admission requirements
1. Applicants for admission to the M.Sc. program should have at least a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in natural or biological sciences (food sciences, horticulture, plant sciences, Crop production and management, biology, and agriculture related disciplines) from recognized higher learning institutions.
2. The minimum CGPA for admission is 2.00.
3. Applicants must pass written and oral entrance exams and fully satisfy the academic rules and regulation of the University.
4. Three Letters of recommendation from B.Sc. instructors/institution/ of applicant
5. Information on sponsorship (self-sponsored/organization sponsoring the whole fees)
Graduation requirements
For thesis based M.Sc. program, a graduate student must write a thesis (M.Sc.) on an approved topic under the supervision of Student Advisory Council (SAC). The thesis shall constitute individual effort to carry out a fairly adequate investigation of a selected problem by generating original data on a given plant breeding (project). The graduate student must satisfactorily defend the findings of the thesis before an examination committee that include External examiner.
Courses offered under this program
Year I Semester I courses
1. Advanced Genetics
2. Advanced Plant breeding
3. Advanced Biometrics
4. Advanced Plant physiology
5. Plant Genetic Resources and Conservation
6. Cytogenetic in plant breeding (E)
7. Plant biochemistry (E)
Year I Semester II courses
1. Breeding for biotic and abiotic stresses
2. Quantitative genetics
3. Biotechnology for Crop Improvement
4. Seed science and technology
5. Breeding for quality traits
6. Graduate seminar in plant breeding
7. Heterosis breeding (E)
8. Entrepreneurship and human resource development (E)
Year II Semester I and II courses
1. Thesis work
4.3. PhD Program in Plant Breeding
Background and Rationale
Wollega University is one of the institutes of higher learning in agricultural and rural development sector in Ethiopia and must take a leading role for the upgrading of Master’s degree holders to Doctoral level in line with the national policy of human resource development. Moreover, almost all other universities running BSc and MSc programs in areas of agriculture, particularly in plant breeding and related fields of sciences, demand qualified professional at both MSc and PhD levels to be instructors and researchers in their institutions. In addition, the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) and International Agricultural Research Institutes require additional highly qualified manpower in the field of Plant Breeding who can identify priority areas, plan and undertake research that address prevailing needs of the country and on global issues. Moreover, the UN system and various international/national NGOs are also in need of highly qualified professional in the field who can initiate, manage and lead various development programs such as seed production of the major crops.
Program Objectives
The Ph.D. program in Plant Breeding is developed to provide students with a breadth of current knowledge on plant breeding and thereby create fertile ground to the solution of problems in varietal development and their management aspects; and also to contribute to a body of scientific knowledge in the field of plant breeding. Thus, the program is expected to produce highly qualified and competent human resource for research, education, policy advice, and development focusing on the development of crop types:
· with high yield per unit area along the appropriate production practices
· with high feed and food (nutritional) values
· that adapt to stress and changing environments
· with enhanced industrial and medicinal values
· with increased nutrient use efficiency
· that adapt to different cropping systems and
· In general, develop crop production technologies (particularly crop varieties) that are eco-friendly.
Admission requirements
1. Master of Science (MSc) degree in Plant Breeding, Agronomy, Genetics, Horticulture, Plant Pathology, Biology, Biotechnology, Seed Science and Technology or other related disciplines or an equivalent degree from a nationally and internationally known university;
2. Candidates requesting for admission from fields other than Plant Breeding may be required to take additional courses to compensate for the deficiencies as per the recommendation of School Graduate Council (SGC) and approved by Council of Graduate Studies (CGS);
Graduation requirements
To be eligible for graduation all the PhD candidates must fulfill the following requirements:
1. A minimum of 18 credit hours course work (seven compulsory courses and one elective course), with no “D” grade in any course taken as well as not more than one “C”;
2. Pass in written (75%) and oral (25%) comprehensive examination taken after completion of course work and before submission of PhD dissertation research proposal
3. Thirty credit hours of research work on which a dissertation must be written;
4. Letter of testimony from all members of the dissertation research supervisory committee;
5. Successful defense of dissertation;
6. A Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.00 out of the maximum 4.0; and
7. A copy of at least one published or accepted research article from the doctoral dissertation research.
Courses offered under this program
Year I; Semester I
1. Molecular Genetics
2. Breeding for Abiotic Stresses
3. Advanced Quantitative Genetics
4. Breeding for Biotic Stresses
5. Crop Evolutions and Plant Genetic Resources (E)
6. Advanced Plant Pathology (E)
7. Seminar I
Year I; Semester II
1. Advanced Plant Breeding
2. Molecular Plant Breeding
3. Advances in Plant Cell and Tissue Culture
4. Breeding for Quality Traits (E)
5. Seed Technology (E)
6. Seminar II
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