Master's in Sustainable Agriculture

The Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Rural Development, and Extension offers a part-time master’s degree programme in Sustainable Agriculture, presented over a course of one year. It promotes the acquisition of advanced analytical and problem-solving skills and conceptual insight that will enhance the capacity of the graduate to assume positions of substantial responsibility in their chosen field.

Today, the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Rural Development, and Extension brings together a programme that rests on the three key spheres of sustainability:

• agricultural and natural systems (ecological);

• agribusiness (economical);

• and the humanities (social).

Through the development of creative and critical perspectives on sustainability, the modules focus on pioneering methods of enhancing agriculture for the medium to long term. Graduates are equipped to provide leadership in policy and decision-making, research and strategic management aspects that is relevant to a wide range of industry contexts.

Prospective students who wish to apply for admission to the one-year master’s programme, should apply online contact the centre directly by sending an email to msa@ufs.ac.za.

NQF level 9 | 180 credits The one-year structured interdisciplinary master’s degree allow for widened access from various cognate fields. The coursework and the mini-dissertation variant of this degree, allow for students to apply both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Graduates will be equipped to provide leadership in policy, research and strategic management that is relevant to a wide range of agribusiness and agricultural contexts. The degree promotes advanced, critical reflection by promoting the acquisition of advanced analytical and problem-solving skills and conceptual insight that will enhance the capacity of the candidates to undertake positions of significant responsibility in their various chosen fields; and encourage excellence in scholarship and/or focused research within the candidate's discipline area. The programme consists of six compulsory modules: Module name Credits Compulsory Research methodology and methods for sustainable agriculture 24 yes Mini-dissertation 60 yes Sustainable agriculture and extension: theory and practice 24 yes Advanced soil and climate assessment for crop production 24 yes Advanced economics for sustainable agriculture 24 yes Advanced livestock production for sustainable agriculture 24 yes

Admission requirements

In terms of General Regulation A80, a student who wishes to enrol for this programme, must be in possession of one of the following qualifications:

• An appropriate four-year degree plus appropriate preparatory experience; and/or
• An appropriate honours degree or honours degree plus appropriate preparatory experience; and/or
• SAQA-validated NQF 8 qualification plus appropriate preparatory experience.

Learning assessment

The Master of Sustainable Agriculture aims to develop graduates who acquired research and problem-solving skills and conceptual insight to act as leaders in their chosen fields; and who are able to conduct research and apply the findings to solve problems or address concerns in the field of sustainable agriculture.

Graduates will be able to integrate knowledge of the dynamics between the economic, human, and natural resource domains of sustainable agriculture; demonstrate the ability to design, select and apply appropriate methods and processes to complex practical and theoretical problems and communicate effectively with farmers, agribusinesses, and the local communities.

Continuous evaluation will form the basis for assessment, including integrated assignments on all themes within the Master’s degree Programme. Evaluation of the research mini-dissertation will be done by the study leader, in collaboration with a multidisciplinary guidance committee.

Application Procedure