MSc Programme in Agriculture

The programme is organised in accordance with Danish Ministerial Order no.

814 of 29 June 2010 on bachelor and master’s programmes (candidatus) at universities (the ministerial order of the study programmes). The programme is offered under the Natural Science Study Board.

Graduation from the programme confers the degree Master of Science (MSc) in Agriculture.
In Danish: Cand.agro. (candidatus/candidata agronomiae).

 

Chapter 1. The programme’s objective and competence profile

The MSc in Agriculture programme offers a general specialisation as well as three specific specialisations in the field of Plants and Environment.

 

Specialisations within Plants and Environment

 

1.1 The programme’s objective

The main objectives of the specialisations within the field of Plants and Environment are to provide the graduates with:

• a theoretical and method-oriented knowledge of biological sciences within the fields of plant production, food systems, natural resource use and environmental impacts
• the ability to analyse complex problems of importance for the agricultural industry, governmental agencies or educational programmes, both in national and international contexts
• skills to communicate knowledge and collaborate at all levels, with a broad knowledge of the interactions between agriculture, society and the environment

1.2 The programme’s general profile

There are three specialisations within the field of Plants and Environment, namely Biological Processes and Crop Quality, Crop Production and Management, and Systems and Sustainability. These require a specific course combination and result in specific competences as described below. It is also possible to obtain a general profile within the field of Plants and Environment. In that case the student must design an individual profile by combining the elective and core elements of the programme.

 

1.3 The programme’s employment prospects

The programme is intended for students who wish to work with the complex problem situations related to our use of natural resources for food production. The programme aims to qualify graduates to find solutions, which secures environmentally sound production of food, feed and fibres. The programme provides students with a range of competences within disciplinary and applied fields, which forms a good foundation for a broad range of carrier opportunities:

• Advising and consultancy within crop production and performance, nature and environment, economy and financing, nationally and internationally, e.g. in development projects
• Research, innovation and product development within food and feed production, seeds, plant protection, plant breeding or environmental technology in public institutions, private business or in own enterprise
• Policy development and administration related to food production, environment, GMO, in both the public sector (ministries and municipalities) and in private organisations, including international NGOs
• Teaching and communication in universities or agricultural schools or to the broader public

1.4 The programme’s competence profile

General competences for the specialisations within the field of Plants and Environment
During the Master’s programme in Agriculture with specialisations within the field of Plants and Environment students must acquire the knowledge, skills and competences described below. These qualifications are acquired through the completion of core modules and elective courses and the writing of a master’s thesis. After completion of the programme, a person holding an MSc in Agriculture with specialisation within the field of Plants and Environment should be able to:

 

1.4.1 Knowledge

• Give a detailed account of the theoretical basis and current research within fundamental and applied aspects of plant sciences, agricultural production and environmental impacts
• Reformulate theories, principles and scientific results to independently form hypotheses and theories
• Critically reflect on the scientific methods used within the subject areas of the programme

1.4.2 Skills

• Utilise and apply the knowledge obtained in core and elective courses as well as from other disciplines in an integrated manner when analyzing current problems in agriculture and environment
• Draw up a research plan, including discussion of problem identification, research question formulation, data requirements and appropriate selection of experimental or empirical methods, as well as independent analyses, interpretation and critical discussion of own results
• Analyse scientific literature and assess possibilities and limitations in the application of theories, methods and new technologies
• Formulate own information need and use relevant IT-based tools to search for and retrieve scientific literature from international databases and other sources of knowledge
• Communicate effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences at a variety of levels, using modern and appropriate information and communication tools in all work processes

1.4.3 Competences

• Demonstrate capacity for independent thought, creativity and rigour in the application of knowledge and skills in work situations or in research
• Participate in public discussions of the impact of animal or crop production on society and environment, both from an international and a national perspective
• Work independently and effectively on an individual basis, as well as in project teams and interdisciplinary environments, cooperate with relevant partners, discuss solutions and reach consensus
• Manage complex and unpredictable work and development scenarios within the professional scope of the programme
• Use lifelong learning as a principle to independently evaluate and structure learning processes and assume responsibility for continuous professional development 

1.5 Graduates with the specialisation in Biological Processes and Crop Quality should furthermore be able to:

 

1.5.1 Knowledge

• Describe how plant genetic constitution, soil quality and external plant growth factors affect crop physiology, performance and crop quality
• Demonstrate overview of and critically reflect on key genetic, biological and ecological processes within soils, plants and the environment

1.5.2 Skills

• Apply and master appropriate up-to-date methodologies (molecular, analytical, modelling) for research on plant and/or environmental processes
• Analyse interactions between abiotic factors, external inputs (fertiliser, pesticides, energy) and intrinsic plant physiology on plant productivity, plant quality and/or the environment

1.5.3 Competences

• Demonstrate applicability of new technologies within the context of applied crop production, and assess how the technology affects both product quality and the environment

1.6 Graduates with the specialisation in Crop Production and Management should furthermore be able to:

 

1.6.1 Knowledge

• Describe the biological complexity within the crop production system, including the biology and ecology of pests, diseases, weeds and other antagonists
• Account for the effects of genetic constitution and external plant growth factors on crop production and quality, including the effects of climate and external inputs
• Critically reflect on environmental impacts of crop production, in particular the efficiency of energy, water, nutrients and other crop inputs and effects on natural habitats
• Demonstrate overview of components of farming systems and their interactions in different contexts
• Reflect on farmers’ decision making

1.6.2 Skills

• Systematically analyse crop production, with respect to system productivity, profitability and environmental impact
• Apply up-to-date tools for strategic planning and management of crop production, including crop rotation, fertilisation, plant protection and postharvest management, within the current national and EU legislative framework
• Implement and assess new technologies in crop production and associated industries

1.6.3 Competences

• Transfer and communicate research results to end-user and provide adequate and timely advice on applied crop management and environmental impacts, promoting good agricultural practice (GAP)
• Participate in development of new certification and traceability schemes, interacting with professionals within other disciplines

1.7 Graduates with the specialisation in Systems and Sustainability should furthermore be able to:

 

1.7.1 Knowledge

• Summarise and describe the complexity of agricultural crop production systems, including ecosystem interactions and element cycling and transport at local to global scales
• Critically reflect on environmental impacts and sustainability of crop production, in particular the efficiency of energy, water, nutrients and other crop inputs, and effects on natural habitats
• Describe how legislative and regulatory measures at the national and international level can be utilised for reducing environmental impact of agricultural systems

1.7.2 Skills

• Apply and master appropriate up-to-date methodologies and tools (e.g. mechanistic modelling, Life Cycle Analyses, Environmental Impact Assessment) for quantifying environmental load and sustainability of crop production systems
• Discuss and assess different environmental policy initiatives, and how they are affected by environmental ethics and sustainability concepts of different stakeholders

1.7.3 Competences

• Generalise and transfer research results on environmental processes and impacts to overall analyses of agricultural systems sustainability and global climate change
• Construct relationships between basic science of environmental problems and the economic, social and political barriers to solutions in national and international settings

Chapter 2. Degree programme content 

2.1 Content

The programme is set at a total of 120 credits, equivalent to two full years of study.

 

År 1	Blok 1
	Blok 2
	Blok 3
	Blok 4

 

 

År 2	Blok 1
	Blok 2
	Blok 3	Thesis (30 or 45 credits)
	Blok 4

 

	Thesis
	Core courses (the suggested block placement of core courses above is not mandatory. The placement strictly depends on which core courses are chosen - see list below).
	Elective courses

The programme must include the following elements:

• A thesis of 30 or 45 credits
• Core courses of 45 or 60 credits, depending on the thesis
• Elective courses of 30 credits

Thesis (30 or 45 credits), compulsory courses and core courses (at least 45 or 60 credits) must comprise at least 90 credits.

 

Thesis must be 30 or 45 credits. Theses of 45 credits must have an experimental character. Theses of 45 credits must have an experimental character.

 

400040 Erhvervsprojekt/Project in Practice and courses taken at other national and foreign universities may generally be included as elective credits.

 

At the start of the programme, the student must select the general specialisation or one of the other three specialisations within Plants and Environment.

2.2 The specialisations within Plants and Environment

 

2.2.1 The general specialisation in Plants and Environment
Students following the general specialisation in Plants and Environment design an individual profile, consisting of 45 or 60 credits (depending on whether the size of the thesis is 45 or 30 credits, respectively) from the core courses listed under the three other specialisations.

Students admitted to and following “ENVEURO - Joint European Master in Environmental Science” programme will automatically fulfill the core-course requirement, and be associated with the general specialisation in Plants and Environment. For student admitted to ENVEURO the main supervisor for the thesis may be employed at any of the ENVEURO partner universities.

 

Core courses 45 or 60 credits must be chosen

210006 Statistisk dataanalyse 2 or 210001 Applied Statistics - 7.5 credits
210012 Matematik og modeller – 7.5 credits
210021 Matematik og optimering – 7.5 credits

220003 Climate, Weather and Plants – 7.5 credits

230020 Pedology – 7.5 credits

230027 Biokemi 2 – 7.5 credits
230030 Terrestrial Environmental Chemistry - 7.5 credits

240026 Landscape Ecology – 7.5 credits
240028 Molecular Plant Biochemistry and Physiology – 7.5 credits
240029 Molecular Plant Breeding – 15 credits

240066 Genetik - 7.5 credits
240077 Advanced Biotechnology and Intellectual Property Rights - 15 credits
240039 Plant Genomics - 7.5 credits
240059 Conservation and Management of Genetic Resources - 7.5 credits
240063 Applied Microbiology – 7.5 credits
240068 Plant Genetics and Biotechnology – 5 credits (summer course)
240070 Plant Pathology in a Changing World – 5 credits (summer course)
240080 Molekylærbiologiske metoder – 7.5 credits
250002 Agroforestry – 7,5 credits
250004 Applied Plant Nutrition – 7.5 credits
250009 Cool Climate Viticulture and Enology – 7.5 credits
250026 Pesticide Use, Mode of Action and Ecotoxicology – 7.5 credits
250028 Plant Breeding – 7.5 credits
250030 Plant Ecophysiology – 7.5 credits
250031 Plant Infection and Disease Management – 7.5 credits
250037 Plants in Populations, Communities and Ecosystems – 7.5 credits
250041 Seed Science and Technology – 7.5 credits
250043 Tropical Botany A 7.5 credits

250044 Tropical Botany B - 7.5 credits

250045 Vand og jord i planteproduktionen – 7.5 credits
250056 Insects in Agricultural and Horticultural Crops - 7.5 credits
250059 Climate Management in Horticultural Production - 7.5 credits

250062 Quality and Postharvest Biology of Plant Products - 7.5 credits
250064 Plant Diseases – 7.5 credits
250069 Organic Food Systems - 15 credits
250074 Fruit and Berry Phisiology and Quality - 7.5 credits

250075 From Plants to Bioenergy – 7.5 credits
250079 Biological Control of Pests - 7.5 credits
250080 Climate Change – Effects on Food and Feed – 7.5 credits

250081 Horticultural Production Chains - 7.5 credits

250082 Tropical Crop Production - 7.5 credits
250086 Crop Production in a Farming System Perspective - 7.5

250087 Weed Biology and Management - 7.5 credits

280003 Geographical Information Systems - 7.5 credits
280008 Natural Ressource Sampling and Modelling - 7.5 credits
280012 Environmental Technology for Treatment and Management of Biowaste - 5 credits
280014 Environmental and Ecotechnology - 7.5 credits
290019 Forvaltningsret - 7.5 credits
290013 Environmental and Natural Resource Economics – 7.5 credits
290021 International Economics - 7.5 credits

290057 Miljø- og planlovgivning - natur og vand – 7.5 credits
290074 Technology Assessment – 7,5 credits

310010 Environmental Impact Assessment - 7.5 credits
310028 Urban Ecosystems: Structures, Functions and Designs – 7.5 credits
310037 Applied Ethnobotany - 7.5 credits
310043 Environmental Management in Europe - 15 credits
310044 Life Cycle Assessment within Biological Production Systems
310050 Land Use, Element Balances and Environmental Impact - 7.5 credits
310074 Rural Landscapes: Methods and Approaches in Policy Making - 7.5 credits

310080 Restoration of European Ecosystems and Freshwaters: In Intensively Cultivated Landscapes – 7.5 credits
400017 Rådgivning - 7.5 credits
400022 Qualitative Methods in Agricultural Development - 7.5 credits
400023 Conflict Management – 7.5 credits
400039 Sociologiske metoder i biovidenskab – 7.5 credits
400040 Erhvervsprojekt/Project in Practice  - 15 credits 

 

2.2.2 The specialisation in Biological Processes and Crop Quality

Depending on the size of the thesis, core courses on methodologies and disciplinary areas must comprise a minimum of either 45 if thesis is 45 credtis or 60 credits if thesis is 30 credits.

 

The thesis must be in the subject area of the core courses of the specialisation.

 

Core course on methodologies (a minimum of 15 credits must be chosen):

210006 Statistisk dataanalyse 2 or 210001 Applied Statistics– 7.5 credits
210012 Matematik og modeller – 7.5 credits
210021 Matematik og Optimering – 7.5 credits
230020 Pedology – 7.5 credits
230030 Terrestrial Environmental Chemistry - 7.5 credits
240077 Advanced Biotechnology and Intellectual Property Rights - 15 credits
240039 Plant Genomics - 7.5 credits
240059 Conservation and Management of Genetic Resources - 7.5 credits
240063 Applied Microbiology – 7.5 credits
290074 Technology Assessment – 7,5 credits

240068 Plant Genetics and Biotechnology – 5 credits (summer course)
240070 Plant pathology in a Changing world – 5 credits (summer course)
240080 Molekulærbiologiske metoder – 7.5 credits

 

Core course within disciplinary areas (a minimum of 15 credits must be chosen):

220003 Climate, Weather and Plants – 7.5 credits
230027 Biokemi 2 – 7.5 credits
240028 Molecular Plant Biochemistry and Physiology – 7.5 credits
240029 Molecular Plant Breeding – 15 credits
240066 Genetik - 7.5 credits

250004 Applied Plant Nutrition – 7.5 credits
250026 Pesticide Use, Mode of Action and Ecotoxicology – 7.5 credits
250028 Plant Breeding – 7.5 credits
250030 Plant Ecophysiology – 7.5 credits
250031 Plant Infection and Disease Management – 7.5 credits
250037 Plants in Populations, Communities and Ecosystems – 7.5 credits
250041 Seed Science and Technology – 7.5 credits

250043 Tropical Botany A - 7.5 credits

250044 Tropical Botany B - 7.5 credits
250045 Vand og jord i planteproduktionen – 7.5 credits
250059 Climate Management in Horticultural Production - 7.5 credits

250062 Quality and Postharvest Biology of Plant Products - 7.5 credits

250074 Fruit and Berry Phisiology and Quality - 7.5 credits
250075 From Plants to Bioenergy – 7.5 credits
250079 Biological Control of Pests - 7.5 credits
250080 Climate Change – Effects on Food and Feed – 7.5 credits

250086 Crop Production in a Farming System Perspective - 7.5 credits

310037 Applied Ethnobotany - 7.5 credits

2.3.3 The specialisation in Crop Production and Management
Depending on the size of the thesis, compulsory courses and core courses within disciplinary and applied areas must comprise a minimum of either 45 if thesis is 45 credits or 60 credits if thesis is 30 credits.

 

The thesis must be in the subject area of the core courses of the specialisation.

 

Compulsory courses (7.5 credits):

Either 250086 Crop Production in a Farming System Perspective - 7.5 credits
or 310050 Land Use, Element Balances and Environmental Impact - 7.5 credits

 

Core course within disciplinary areas (a minimum of 15 credits must be chosen):
210006 Statistisk dataanalyse 2 or 210001 Applied Statistics - 7.5 credits
220003 Climate, Weather and Plants - 7.5 credits
250004 Applied Plant Nutrition - 7.5 credits
250026 Pesticide Use, Mode of Action and Ecotoxicology - 7.5 credits
250028 Plant Breeding - 7.5 credits
250031 Plant Infection and Disease Management - 7.5 credits
250041 Seed Science and Technology - 7.5 credits
250043 Tropical Botany A - 7.5 credits

250044 Tropical Botany B - 7.5 credits
250045 Vand og jord i planteproduktionen - 7.5 credits

250056 Insects in Agricultural and Horticultural Crops - 7.5 credits
250059 Climate Management in Horticultural Production - 7.5 credits 
250062 Quality and Postharvest Biology of Plants Products -7.5 credits

250064 Plant Diseases – 7.5 credits

250074 Fruit and Berry Phisiology and Quality - 7.5 credits

250080 Climate Change - Effects on Feed and Food - 7.5 credits

250081 Horticultural Production Chains - 7.5 credits

250087 Weed Biology and Management - 7.5 credits
 

Core course within applied areas (a minimum of 15 credits must be chosen):
240070 Plant pathology in a changing world – 5 credits
250009 Cool Climate Viticulture and Enology – 7.5 credits
250069 Organic Food Systems - 15 credits
250075 From Plants to Bioenergy – 7.5 credits
250079 Biological Control of pests – 7.5 credits

250082 Tropical Crop Production - 7.5 credits
290019 Forvaltningsret - 7.5 credits
290057 Miljø- og planlovgivning - natur og vand – 7.5 credits
400017 Rådgivning - 7.5 credits
400023 Conflict Management – 7.5 credits
400040 Erhvervsprojekt/Project in Practice  - 15 credits 

 

If more than 7,5 credits are chosen within the group of compulsory courses, the minimum of core courses are proportionally reduced.

 

2.3.4 The specialisation in Systems and Sustainability
Depending on the size of the thesis, compulsory courses and core courses within methodologies and applied areas must comprise a minimum of either 45 if thesis is 45 credits or 60 credits if thesis is 30 credits.

 

The thesis must be in the subject area of the core courses of the specialisation.

 

Compulsory courses (15 credits):
310043 Environmental Management in Europe - 15 credits
 

Core course within methodologies (a minimum of 15 credits must be chosen):
280003 Geographical Information Systems - 7.5 credits
280008 Natural Ressource Sampling and Modelling - 7.5 credits
280014 Environmental and Ecotechnology - 7.5 credits
290013 Environmental and Natural Resource Economics – 7.5 credits
290021 International Economics - 7.5 credits

290074 Technology Assessment – 7,5 credits
310010 Environmental Impact Assessment - 7.5 credits
310044 Life Cycle Assessment within Biological Production Systems
400022 Qualitative Methods in Agricultural Development - 7.5 credits
400023 Conflict Management - 7.5 credits
400039 Sociologiske metoder i biovidenskab – 7.5 credits
 

Core course within applied areas (a minimum of 7.5 credits must be chosen):
240026 Landscape Ecology – 7.5 credits
250002 Agroforestry – 7,5 credits
250069 Organic Food Systems – 15 credits
250080 Climate Change – Effects on Food and Feed – 7.5 credits

250081 Horticultural Production Chains - 7.5 credits

250086 Crop Production in a Farming System Perspective - 7.5 credits
280012 Environmental Technology for Treatment and Management of Biowaste - 5 credits
310028 Urban Ecosystems: Structures, Functions and Designs – 7.5 credits
310050 Land Use, Element Balances and Environmental Impact - 7.5 credits
310074 Rural Landscapes: Methods and Approaches in Policy Making - 7.5 credits

310080 Restoration of European Ecosystems and Freshwaters: In Intensively Cultivated Landscapes – 7.5 credits

   

Chapter 3. Admission requirements and admission 

3.1 Admission requirements

 

The LIFE BSc Programme in Natural Resources (naturressourcer) with the core modul Plant Science (plantevidenskab) qualifies graduates directly for admission to the MSc Programme in Agriculture.

Students holding one of the following BSc degrees are admitted without further prerequisites:

BSc in Natural Resources (naturressourcer) with the core module Environmental Science (miljøvidenskab)

BSc in Natural Resources (naturressourcer) with the core module Nature Management (naturforvaltning)

 

Students holding one of the following BSc degrees are admitted provided that their examination includes specified courses or equivalent qualifications:

BSc in Natural Resources (naturressourcer) with the core module Environmental Economics (miljøøkonomi):

    250021 Soil Water-Plant Relations (Jord, vand og planter), or

• 230009 Environmental Chemistry (Miljøkemi i biologiske systemer) (7.5 credits) 

BSc in Biology-Biotechnology (biologi-bioteknologi)

BSc in Veterinary Medicine (veterinærmedicin):

• 250021 Soil Water Plant Relations (Jord, vand og planter), or
• 230009 Environmental Chemistry (Miljøkemi i biologiske systemer) (7.5 credits)
• At least 7.5 credits within asic economics
• At least 7.5 credits within general ecology

    BSc in Biology (biologi) from the Faculty of Science:

• 250021 Soil Water Plant Relations (Jord, vand og planter), or 
• 230009 Environmental Chemistry (Miljøkemi i biologiske systemer) (7.5 credits)
• 210005 Statistical Data Analyses 1 (Statistik dataanalyse 1) (7.5 credits)
• At least 7.5 credits within basic economics 

    BSc in Geography (geografi) from the Faculty of Science:

• 240071 Plant Physiology (Grundlæggende plantefysiologi), or
• 230009 Environmental Chemistry (Miljøkemi i biologiske systemer) (7.5 credits)  
• 210005 Statistical Data Analyses 1 (Statistisk dataanalyse1 ) (7.5 credits)
• At least 7.5 credits within basic economics
• At least 7.5 credits within organism diversity and systematics, botany/zoology

Applicants with a BSc in one of the above disciplines or similar from the University of Aarhus, Aalborg University, Roskilde University or University of Southern Denmark are qualified for admission on the basis of the same criteria.

 

Bachelors from other faculties under University of Copenhagen or from other national and international universities must have equivalent qualifications and their admission will be assessed on an individual basis.

 

3.2 Admission
Students from University of Copenhagen are admitted to the MSc in Agriculture twice a year (1 September and 1 February). Other students are admitted once a year (in September).

 

Transfer Agreement 2007-2008

Students admitted before 1 September 2007 must follow their old specialisation. If they want to change to another, they must apply Study and Students' Affairs for an exemption.

Depending on the size of the thesis (30 or 45 credits) core courses must consist of 30 or 45 credits. Core courses and thematic courses passed before 1 September 2008 can be a part of the group of core courses.

Furthermore, for the above mentioned students it is optional to write the thesis in either Danish or English.