About the Department
Department of Plant Science is the pioneer department that has laid the foundation of teaching and research in crop science at Samara University and It was established in the College of Dry Land Agriculture in 2011. Initially the department was offering an undergraduate program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in Plant Science with special focus on sugarcane agronomy. At that time the department was established to meet the needs for highly skilled sugarcane agronomist in the country. Samara University is a pioneer in launching such a new program in the history of a country. In the wake of its establishment, it began training for BSc degrees in plant science with special focus on sugarcane agronomy as a regular program and also extension program as pure plant science at Dubti and Werer areas of the region. Later the Department has revised its curriculum and has been offering an undergraduate program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in Plant Science from 2016. The program is regularly reviewed and including the changes and improvements that are happening in the discipline to incorporate emerging scientific and technological issues, particularly, in the agricultural production and management via producing competent graduates and conducting problem solving researches and delivering demand driven community services with particular emphasis in the areas of crop science.
Mission
The department of plant science is dedicated to produce competent, highly qualified plant scientists through quality theoretical and practical teaching, who will envious work to tackle the poverty of rural population in particular and the nation at large, and to develop and disseminate problem solving crop production technologies through conducting demand- driven research.
Vision
To be a leading department in teaching, research and community service in enhancing crop production and managements through efficient utilization of available resources in pastoral and agro-pastoral community.
Department Facilities
The Department of Plant science offers courses in comfortable classrooms that it shares with other departments of the College of Dry Land Agriculture. Furthermore, the Department has a well-equipped laboratory for practical courses.
Department Administration
The Department Head is selected from among the teaching staff of the department on the basis of merit and interest as soon as the college announces the vacancy for the post. The term of office of the Department Head is two years. Currently, Mr. Lelisa Endalu Tura is serving as Head of the Department.
Contact Address
- endalulelisa@yahoo.com / endalulelisa2017@gmail.com
- +251-917-135-687 / 0913570230
- P.O. Box: 132, Semera, Ethiopia
Bachelor Program
Program Objectives
The ultimate aim of the program is to improve crop production and productivity and ensure sustainable use of natural resources in the country, thereby contributing to improvement of the livelihood of the nation. Such a program seeks to produce competent professionals who are equipped with both academic and practical knowledge and skills in managing all phases of the crop production and management; and conducting various research and extension activities which can contribute to the development of the country and ensuring food security and self-sufficiency.
The specific objectives of the program are:
- To produce adequate and well-trained manpower that will regionally, nationally and internationally contribute to generation, dissemination and adoption of improved plant production and protection technologies;
- To provide students with basic and applied knowledge of natural resources (soils, agricultural waters and forestry); and field, horticultural and industrial crops production and protection;
- To enable the students, understand and comprehend problems in crop production and seek solutions through exposure to research, extension and management;
- To enable the students, gain the skill and knowledge of proper management and conservation of natural resources and protecting the environment;
- To provide the students with the knowledge of handling plants and their products;
- To integrate training-research-extension to increase the efficiency of plant technology generation, dissemination and adoption by end-users and, thereby, contribute to the intended regional and national development;
- To enable students to conduct relevant research in plant science in problems that affect the region and the nations; and
- To provide professional services to the community and policy makers at
Graduate Profiles
Graduates of the department of plant sciences program are well equipped with knowledge, skills and attitude needed to:
- Promote and disseminate agricultural technology through training of farmers and extension worker;
- Identify and analyse problems related to plant sciences and devise appropriate solutions;
- Plan, implement, monitor and evaluate programs/projects related to plant production, protection and management in sustainable base;
- Involve in research undertakings in the areas of plant production, plant protection, and natural resources;
- Design and conduct trainings for specialized skill and knowledge in areas of plant sciences;
- Assist policy makers and development practitioners on appropriate plant sciences and natural resources management techniques;
- Generate self-employment, establish and mange private enterprises related to their profession and related fields; and
- Involve in consultancy and advisory services in the field of plant sciences.
Admission Requirements
Successful candidates as per the rules and regulations of the Ministry of Education and the hosting university can be admitted.
Duration of Study
- 4 years for regular undergraduate
Graduation Requirements
- Minimum total credit hours for graduation are 148 (there are four elective courses in the program; a student must register for 50% of the elective courses).
- 0 or higher cumulative grade point average (CGPA) overall courses and No ‘F’, NG (no grade) or ‘I’ (incomplete) grade in any course (s) taken.
- Completion of all required courses in the
Degree Nomenclature
The undergraduate Plant Science major program leads to a certification referred in English as:
Bachelor of Science Degree in Plant Sciences.
In Amharic: የባችለር ሳይንስ ዲግሪ በእፅዋት ሳይንስ
Course Break up Semester wise-Bachelor Program
| Year I | Semester I | ||||
| S.No | Course Title | Course Code | Cr.Hr | ECTS | |
| 1 | Communicative English Skills I | FLEn1011 | 3 | 5 | |
| 2 | General Physics | Phys1011 | 3 | 5 | |
| 3 | General Psychology | Psch1011 | 3 | 5 | |
| 4 | Math for Natural/Social Sciences | Math1011 | 3 | 5 | |
| 5 | Critical Thinking | LoTC1011 | 2 | 3 | |
| 6 | Physical Fitness** | ScSc1011 | (P/F) | ||
| 7 | Geography of Ethiopia and the Horn | GeES1011 | 3 | 5 | |
| Total | 17 | 28 | |||
| Semester II | |||||
| 1 | Communicative English Language Skills II | FLEn1012 | 3 | 5 | |
| 2 | Social Anthropology | Anth1012 | 3 | 5 | |
| 3 | General Biology | Biol1012 | 3 | 5 | |
| 4 | Introduction to Economics | AgEc1012 | 2 | 3 | |
| 5 | Introduction to Emerging Technologies | EmTe1012 | 3 | 5 | |
| 6 | Moral and Civic Education | MCiE1012 | 2 | 3 | |
| 7 | General Chemistry | Chem1012 | 3 | 5 | |
| Total | 19 | 31 | |||
| Year II | Semester I | |||||
| S.No | Course Title | Course Code | Cr.Hr | ECTS | ||
| 1 | Plant Biochemistry | PlSc211 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 2 | Plant Morphology and Anatomy | PlSc221 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 3 | Agricultural Microbiology | PlSc231 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 4 | Introduction to Computer and its application | CoSc241 | 2 | 3 | ||
| 5 | Climatology and Agro meteorology | NaRM251 | 2 | 3 | ||
| 6 | Introduction to Forestry and Agro-forestry | NaRM261 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 7 | Introductory Soils | NaRM271 | 3 | 5 | ||
| Total | 19 | 31 | ||||
| Semester II | ||||||
| 1 | Principles of Genetics | PlSc212 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 2 | Plant Taxonomy | PlSc222 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 3 | Plant Ecology | PlSc232 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 4 | Introduction to Statistics | Stat242 | 2 | 3 | ||
| 5 | GIS and Remote Sensing (E) | NaRM252 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 6 | Introduction to Animal sciences (E) | AnSc262 | 2 | 3 | ||
| 7 | Farm Machinery and Implements | AgEn272 | 2 | 3 | ||
| 8 | Inclusiveness | SNIE282 | 2 | 3 | ||
| Total | 20 | 32 | ||||
| Year III | Semester I | |||
| S.No | Course Title | Course Code | Cr.Hr | ECTS |
| 1 | Plant Breeding | PlSc311 | 3 | 5 |
| 2 | Plant Physiology | PlSc321 | 3 | 5 |
| 3 | Agricultural Entomology | PlSc331 | 3 | 5 |
| 4 | Plant Pathology | PlSc341 | 3 | 5 |
| 5 | Principles, Design and Analysis of Agricultural Experiments | PlSc351 | 3 | 5 |
| 6 | Soil and Water Conservation | NaRM361 | 2 | 3 |
| 7 | Global Trends | IRGI371 | 2 | 3 |
| Total | 19 | 31 | ||
| Semester II | ||||
| 1 | Research Methods in Plant Sciences | PlSc312 | 2 | 3 |
| 2 | Fruit Crops Production and Processing | PlSc322 | 3 | 5 |
| 3 | Weeds and Their Management | PlSc332 | 3 | 5 |
| 4 | Seed Science and Technology | PlSc342 | 2 | 3 |
| 5 | Floriculture and Landscaping | PlSc352 | 2 | 3 |
| 6 | Introduction to Plant Biotechnology | PlSc362 | 2 | 3 |
| 7 | Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition | PlSc372 | 3 | 5 |
| 8 | Rural Sociology and Agricultural Extension | RDAE382 | 2 | 3 |
| 9 | Practical Plant Sciences | PlSc392 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 20 | 32 | ||
| Year IV | Semester I | |||
| S.No | Course Title | Course Code | Cr.Hr. | ECTS |
| 1 | Coffee and Tea Production and Processing | PlSc411 | 2 | 3 |
| 2 | Spices, Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Production and
Processing | PlSc421 | 2 | 3 |
| 3 | Vegetable Crops Production and Management | PlSc431 | 3 | 5 |
| 4 | Industrial Crops Production and Processing | PlSc441 | 2 | 3 |
| 5 | Field Crops Production and Management | PlSc451 | 3 | 5 |
| 6 | Principles and Practices of Irrigation | PlSc461 | 2 | 3 |
| 7 | Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management | AgEc471 | 2 | 3 |
| 8 | Practical Attachment in Plant Sciences | PlSc481 | 1 | 2 |
| 9 | Senior Research Proposal | PlSc491 | 1 | 2 |
| 10 | Senior Seminar | PlSc4101 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 19 | 31 | ||
| Semester II | ||||
| 1 | Post-harvest Handling and Value Addition of Grain
Crops | PlSc412 | 2 | 3 |
| 2 | Post-Harvest Physiology and Handling of Horticultural
Crops | PlSc422 | 2 | 3 |
| 3 | Agro-chemicals and Their Application (E) | PlSc432 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture | PlSc442 | 3 | 5 |
| 6 | Management of Crop Diseases and Insect Pests of
Economic Importance | PlSc452 | 3 | 5 |
| 8 | Dryland Agriculture (E) | PlSc462 | 2 | 3 |
| 5 | Farm Management | AgEc472 | 2 | 3 |
| 7 | Agricultural Project Planning, Evaluation and Analysis | AgEc482 | 2 | 3 |
| 8 | Senior Research Report | PlSc492 | 2 | 3 |
| Total | 20 | 31 | ||