MSc in Plant Protection
1.Program Objectives
The objectives of postgraduate training in Plant Protection are to:
- Produce well qualified and competent graduates having strong theoretical knowledge and practical skill in Plant Protection for undertaking training, research, and extension/services
- Generate base line data and technologies and knowledge in different fields of Plant Protection that would help for plant disease, insect pests, nematodes, vertebrate pests and weed management of the community and the country through problem oriented and demand driven graduate thesis research work.
2.Professional Profile
- Two years theoretical and practical study in plant protection
- Professionally committed to teach and conduct research in plant protection
- Ability in leading and managing a plant protection laboratories/industries
- Ability to apply plant protection knowledge and skill in solving practical problems
3.Graduate Profile
Up on completion of the program the graduates of M.Sc Plant protection are expected to acquire knowledge and practical skills required to:
- Engage in teaching, research and community outreach activities in the field of Plant Protection at various levels (private sectors, universities, NGOs, etc)
- Work as professionals in farms, research institutes and other governmental and non-governmental organizations engaged in crop production
- Advise decision makers in formulating crop protection relatedagricultural policies,
- Generate appropriate technologies of improved crop protection through research, and development
- Analyze the existing knowledge of farmers on crop protection in integrated manner,
- Identify plant protection problems and come up with appropriate methods of pest management, and promote the principles and practices of integrated pest management strategies.
- Work as consultants and entrepreneurs
4.Program Profile
The M.Sc program in plant protection is a two years study which includes theoretical knowledge and skills in agricultural entomology, plant pathology, nematology and weed science.
5.Admission Requirements
The applicants for Master of Science in Plant Protection are supposed to fulfill the following criteria:
1.Need to have completed academic requirements for Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Plant Sciences, Horticultural Sciences, Crop Sciences, Forestry, Crop production and protection, Biology or other related fields from an accredited higher learning institutions,
2.Must pass an entrance examination prepared by the College for the program,
3.Must be supported by at least two letters of recommendation preferably from the applicant’s undergraduate instructors, employers and professional associations,
4.Produce letter indicating sponsorship for their research work or sign an agreement if self-sponsored, and
5.A student who is believed to be deficient in certain courses may be requested to take additional undergraduate courses after admission to the program.
6.Teaching/Learning Methods
The teaching-learning process of the M.Sc program will be carried out through classroom lectures, term papers, seminars, assignments, laboratories/practical activities and reports, and group works depending on the nature of the course. Students are expected to take lectures, make presentations and participate in various seminar sessions and practical attachment. Through the thesis work students will learn how to conduct research independently and increase their research capabilities and skills.
7.Assessment and Evaluation
Course work
Students will be evaluated on written examinations, term papers, assignments, laboratory and field reports, and various presentations depending on the nature of the course. Grading of students performances will be through a scaling system of JU.
Thesis work
Research work that will be compiled into the thesis will be supervised by an advisor(s). Progress in research and thesis work will be evaluated at the end of each semester. At the end of his/her study, the student must defend his/her thesis in oral presentation administered by an appointed Thesis Examining committee.
8.Quality Assurance
In order to maintain the quality of the graduates to the standard, the curriculum has been designed considering the experiences of other national and international universities. Furthermore, needs of several stakeholders including universities, zonal and regional bureau of agriculture, federal and regional research institutions have been assessed while designing the program which can assist in meeting the interests and demand for such professional graduates. Therefore, it is believed that graduates will satisfy both the national and international requirement of professionals at MSc level in Plant Protection. Furthermore, the program will be subjectedto periodic revision to a line the content of the program with changing scenario of agriculture in Ethiopia.
9.Graduation Requirement
The M.Sc degree in Plant Protection is awarded to candidates, who have satisfied the general graduation requirements of the university (JU), passed in all examinations on courses in the program and successfully defended the thesis. Students must take minimum credit hours set by the university and must accumulate CGPA of 3.00, with a maximum of one course with a C grade.
10.Duration of Study
The master’s program shall normally take two academic years for completion. A candidate may be allowed to continue for up to a maximum of three years if it can be shown that the extension is required by force majeure and if it is recommended by the DGC (Department Graduate Council) and approved by College Academic Commission (CAC). A candidate taking more than normal two year duration for completion of the program shall fulfill the special conditions set by the SGS.
11.Nomenclature of the Degree
The nomenclature of the degree to be offered is “Master of Science in Plant Protection” and the Amaharic naming will be “ማስትሬት ሳይንስ ዲግሪ በዕፀዋት ጢበቃ”
12.Course distribution by year and semester
Year I-Semester I
| Course Code | Course Title | Cr.Hrs |
| PLPR 501 | Biostatistics | 3 (2+1) |
| PLPR 511 | Plant Nematology | 2(1+1) |
| PLPR 521 | Insect Physiology and Ecology | 2 (1+1) |
| PLPR 531 | Weed Biology and Ecology | 3 (2+1) |
| PLPR 541 | Agricultural Mycology | 2 (2+1) |
| PLPR 551 | Agricultural Bacteriology and Virology | 2 (1+1) |
| PLPR 561 | Scientific Writing | 1(1+0) |
| Total 15 |
Year I-Semester II
| Course Code | Course Title | Cr.Hrs |
| PLPR 502 | Agricultural Pesticides | 2(1+1) |
| PLPR 512 | Diagnostic techniques in plant protection | 2 (2+1) |
| PLPR 522 | Post-Harvest insect pests and Diseases Management | 2 (1+1) |
| PLPR 532 | Insect Morphology and taxonomy | 2 (1+1) |
| PLPR 542 | Pest management | 4 (3+1) |
| PLPR 552 | Graduate Seminar | 1(0+1) |
| DTTP 562 | DTTP | 3(0+3) |
| Total 15 |
Year II
| Course Code | Course Title | Cr.Hrs |
| PLPR 611 | M.Sc Thesis Research | 6 |
| Total Cr.Hrs 37 |
Department of Horticulture and Plant Science |