MSc Programme in Agricultural Development
The programme is organised in accordance with 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 under the Natural Science Study Board.
Graduation in the programme confers the degree Master of Science (MSc) in Agricultural Development.
In Danish: Cand.scient. (candidatus/candidata scientiarum) i naturressourcer og udvikling.
Chapter 1. The programme’s objective and competence profile
1.1 The programme’s objective
As graduates will face a great variety of situations in their professional lives, the general aim of the MSc programme in Agricultural Development is to enable students to identify the critical aspects of professional situations within natural resource management within food, fibre, feed and fuel production in developing and transitional countries and to be able to describe the patterns characterising these situations.
The aim is to give participants the scientific knowledge and skills required to implement and manage research or advisory activities related to agricultural production, economics, environment, and human nutrition and food science in a development context. Students are encouraged through interdisciplinary, multicultural real life experiences to see the whole context of the systems encountered.
1.2 The programme’s general profile
The MSc programme in Agricultural Development encompasses all critical aspects of agriculturally related development activities, from soil fertility management to rural livelihood strategies. The learning approach is a combination of field-related experiences, teaching in traditions and methods related to data collection in complex real life situations, and discipline-based specialisations.
The Agricultural Development programme is a combination of:
- An interdisciplinary field-oriented common part which includes training in techniques for gathering data under a variety of field conditions combined with training in the research process
- A selective part which facilitates specialisation, and
- The thesis, which includes fieldwork in the setting of a developing country.
1.3. The programme’s employment prospects
The programme qualifies the graduate to a diverse international sector that holds many opportunities for professional jobs. Sectors of particular relevance are 1) universities and research institutions where graduates are involved in research or 2) development agencies with national and international scope where graduates are involved in implementing, managing and monitoring development activities or 3) government bodies where graduates are involved in policy related activities, and 4) private companies, consultancies and industries dealing with third world products or issues.
1.4. The programme’s competence profile
During the master’s programme in Agricultural Development students must obtain the knowledge, skills and competences described below. These qualifications are obtained partly through participation in core modules partly through the participation in elective courses and the preparation of a master’s thesis.
After completing the MSc programme in Agricultural Development the graduate should be able to:
1.4.1 Knowledge
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Provide an overview of agricultural development theories
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Give a detailed account of and critically evaluate current research and advanced theories in relation to sustainable use and management of natural resources in developing countries
- Summarise the theoretical basis of qualitative and quantitative data collection methodology, including interviews, questionnaires, surveys, and rapid appraisal techniques
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Reflect on the critical aspects of professional situations within natural resource management in relation to agricultural activities and describe the patterns characterising these situations on the basis of field work experience from rural areas in developing countries
- Show familiarity with interdisciplinary and intercultural work
1.4.2 Skills
1.4.3 Competences
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Participate in public discussions on an academic level regarding natural resource management in a global context in the role of researcher, advisor, policymaker or programme employee or manager
- Display independence, integrity and develop new relevant knowledge and skills when working in complex field settings on an individual basis, in teams as well as in cross-disciplinary and intercultural environments
- Use interdisciplinary, multicultural real life experiences to analyse the whole context of the systems encountered
-
Display awareness of ethical and moral questions related to the management of different natural resources and take these into account when working in different cultural settings
- Manage research, advisory or management activities related to the area of sustainable use and management of natural resources in developing countries within Tropical Forestry, Animal Science, Crop Production and Protection, Development Economics, or Human Nutrition and Food Science, depending on the student’s choice of core and elective courses
- Carry out research-, adviser- or policy-related activities within agricultural development in government bodies, non-governmental organisations, research institutions, development agencies or international industry bodies
Chapter 2. Degree programme content
|
Year 2 |
Block 1 |
|
|
| Block 2 |
Thesis (45 credits) |
| Block 3 |
| Block 4 |
Thesis, compulsory courses and core courses must comprise at least 90 credits.
| |
Compulsory courses and 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 |
2.1 Content
The duration of the programme is two years – 120 credits. To fulfil the objectives of the programme the student must complete the following compulsory courses:
| LFKK10258 |
Qualitative Methods in Agricultural Development |
7.5 credits |
| LFKK10246 |
Thematic Course: Interdisciplinary Land Use
and Natural Resource Management |
15 credits |
| LOJF10211 |
Development Economics |
7.5 credits |
The programme concludes with a thesis of 45 credits within its subject area. The thesis must be based on at least three months of fieldwork in a developing country. The data for the thesis are expected to be collected during this period. The fieldwork may be combined with an internship at international organisations, NGOs, universities or similar. Students will obtain financial support in connection with thesis fieldwork under reservation of fulfilment of compulsory courses.
At least 15 credits must be chosen within the following core courses:
Economics Courses:
| LOJK10240 |
Trade and International Cooperation |
7.5 credits |
| LOJA10279 |
Industrial Organization |
7.5 credits |
| LOJA10280 |
Contracts and Cooperatives |
7.5 credits |
| LOJK10265 |
Studies in Development Economics |
7.5 credits |
Forestry Courses:
| LPLK10287 |
Agroforestry |
7.5 credits |
| LPLK10370 |
Tropical Tree Seed |
7.5 credits |
| LTEK10157 |
Natural Resource Sampling and Modelling |
7.5 credits |
| LNAK10017 |
Participatory Forest Management |
7.5 credits |
| LNAK10037 |
Applied Ethnobotany |
7.5 credits |
| LNAK10083 |
Rural Livelihoods and Natural Resources Governance |
7.5 credits |
| LNAA10093 |
Tropical Forests, People and Policies |
7.5 credits |
Courses in Plant Production and Protection:
| LPLK10365 |
Climate Change - Effects on Food and Feed |
7.5 credits |
| LPLK10367 |
Tropical Crop Production |
7.5 credits |
| LNAK10075 |
Land and Water Management -
a Developing Country Perspective |
7.5 credits |
Courses in Human Nutrition and Food Science:
| LLEF10172 |
Chemical Food Safety |
7.5 credits |
| LLEF10232 |
International Food Legislation and Quality Management |
7.5 credits |
| LLEK10251 |
International Nutrition and Health (Food and Nutrition Security) |
7.5 credits |
| LLEK10252 |
Nutrition, Growth and Development |
7.5 credits |
Courses in Animal Science:
| LHUA10150 |
Experimental Animal Nutrition and Physiology - Theoretical |
7.5 credits |
| LHUA10153 |
Animals and Sustainability |
7.5 credits |
Other Courses:
| LPLF10329 |
Tropical Botany A |
15 credits |
| LPLF10330 |
Tropical Botany B |
7.5 credits |
| LNAK10010 |
Environmental Impact Assessment |
7.5 credits |
The compulsory courses, core courses and the thesis comprise the core subjects (90 credits). There are 30 credits for elective courses and other elective study activities.
The programme may include LFKK10387 Erhvervsprojekt/LFKK10387E Project in Practice.
2.1.1 Erasmus Mundus
Based on the Agricultural Development programme, the Faculty of Life Sciences participates in two Erasmus Mundus master programmes, namely AGRIS MUNDUS – Sustainable Development in Agriculture, and SUTROFOR – Sustainable Tropical Forestry. Students enrolled in either one of these international programmes will spend either the first or the second year of their study at the Faculty of Life Sciences and will follow the Agricultural Development programme. For further information see www.agrismundus.eu/ and www.sutrofor.net.
Chapter 3. Admission requirements and admission
3.1 Admission requirements
The BSc Programmes in:
Agricultural Economics (Jordbrugsøkonomi)
Food Sciences (Fødevarevidenskab)
Forestry and Landscape Engineering (Skov- og landskabsingeniør)
Landscape Architecture (Landskabsarkitektur)
Natural Resources (Naturressourcer) (all core modules)
qualify graduates directly for admission to the MSc Programme in Agricultural Development
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 are admitted to the MSc in Agricultural Development once a year (1 September).
Transfer agreement 2011-12
LLEA10280 Fermented Food and Bevereages replaces the course LLEK10210 Food Quality and Processing Technologies
Camilla Volden Van, - siden er sidst opdateret d.3. februar 2012