Stellenbosch University Faculty of AgriSciences Courses Offered
Faculty of AgriSciences
The Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University (SU) is held in high esteem at national and international levels for the quality of its training and research and also as consultant in the agricultural and forestry industry. Students enrolled in the Faculty’s under- and postgraduate programmes are expertly trained to become leaders and managers in the various sectors of the industry. Throughout the RSA – and abroad – alumni of the Faculty can be found in top positions.
When SU was officially established in 1918, Agriculture was one of the first four faculties and right from the outset it made an indelible contribution to agricultural education and research in South Africa. In 2006 the Faculties of Agriculture and Forestry merged to become the Faculty of AgriSciences as it is today. The Faculty has 1271 undergraduate and 461 postgraduate students.
Department of Agricultural Economics
Agricultural Economics
The profession of Agricultural Economics was born out of the attempts of early pioneers in the United States to address two fundamental questions, namely (1) “What is the (reciprocal) relationship between the agricultural sector and the rest of the economy?” and (2) “How can farms be managed more efficiently?”
Agronomy
Agronomy is the study and science of crop production and the production systems used. This includes the extensive open field cultivation of plant species for human food supply, livestock and poultry feed, fibers, oils and certain industrial products.
Animal Sciences
The Department of Animal Science commemorated its 75th anniversary in 1996, which makes us one of the oldest established departments of Animal Sciences in the country.
Conservation Ecology
One of the greatest challenges facing humankind is the conservation of biodiversity, especially in nature reserves, farmland, cities, mining and forestry areas. The increasing population growth in developing countries is another challenge.
Food Science
Food Science deals with the processing of raw agricultural produce into food products that are acceptable for human consumption.
Forest and Wood Science
South Africa has beautiful forests. Some of the tree species are used for timber that compares favourably with the best in the world.
Genetics
Genetics deals with the molecular structure and function of genes, gene behaviour in the context of a cell or organism (e.g. dominance and epigenetics), patterns of inheritance from parent to offspring, and gene distribution, variation and change in populations, such as through Genome-Wide Association Studies.
Horticultural Sciences
Horticulture is the science, technology and business involved in intensive plant cultivation for human use – from a garden to the activities of a multinational corporation.
Plant Pathology
Plant Pathology is defined as the study of the organisms and environmental conditions that cause diseases in plants, the mechanisms by which this occurs, the interactions between these causal agents and the plant (effects on plant growth, yield and quality), and the methods of managing or controlling plant disease.
Soil Science
Soil is the extremely thin but precious skin covering our planet that sustains all terrestrial life forms and contributes nutrients and filters contaminants to aquatic environments. Soil Science focuses on the importance of soils as a very slowly renewable natural resource.
Viticulture & Oenology
Oenology is the science and study of all aspects of wine and winemaking, and viticulture entails vine-growing and grape-harvesting.