School of Tropical Agriculture and Natural Resources

School of Tropical Agriculture and Natural Resources - STANR

Vision

Train and prepare professionals to be leaders, innovative and productive stewards of Agriculture, Natural Resources, Food Sciences and Nutrition.

Provide opportunities for individuals to achieve excellence in scholastic and research activities.

Promote and contribute to the building and sustainability of food production systems to ensure optimal nutrition and food security.

Provide opportunities to individuals and groups to preserve and intelligibly exploit soil fertility.

Admission Requirements

Before being admitted to any of the degree programmes, a candidate must satisfy the minimum entrance requirements of the university (5 subjects at the GCE Ordinary Level or equivalent including English Language) and must additionally satisfy the special course requirements of the School (a pass in mathematics and physics at GCE Ordinary Level or equivalent). The qualifying subjects must include passes in biology and chemistry at the GCE Advanced Level or equivalent.

Alternatively, admission shall be granted to holders of HND/Diploma from the STANR or from other institutions (e.g. various schools of agriculture etc.) recognized by the University Senate. Such candidates shall enter the programme at the second year of study unless otherwise specified by the STANR.

Specializations in the Undergraduate Program

A Bachelor of Science Degree shall be offered by the School in the following areas of specialization: (currently, only the first four (4) areas are in operation)

Agronomy (Crop Production Science)
Animal Science (Animal Production Science)
Food Sciences and Technology
Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Sociology

Internship and Industrial Experience

A total of 6 months of supervised internship experience in any approved agro-industry or relevant establishments is required from every undergraduate before the date of graduation. Attestations providing details of each internship session (lasting not less than 6 weeks) from a pre-approved relevant organization/institution must be presented to the corresponding Department or Research Officer of the STANR for evaluation. This is in addition to the six months project work to be done during the eighth semester before graduation. Consult your department or the Research Officer of the STANR for confirmation before the start of internship. Previous work experience in a relevant field can be accepted in lieu of such internships.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY

The Department of Crop and Soil Sciences consists of three major programme areas of Crop Sciences, Horticulture and Soil Sciences that share a common mission of education, discovery, and communication to improve the understanding and management of plant and soil systems. At the undergraduate level the department offers majors in Crop Sciences, Horticulture and Soil Sciences.

The undergraduate degree programme in soil sciences is designed to build up knowledge progressively starting from Soil Genesis to Soil Management providing necessary theoretical background in Soil Physics, Soil Chemistry, Soil Mineralogy, Soil Microbiology, Soil Survey and Classification, Plant Nutrition, Soil Fertility and Land Use. Practical applications of all the courses address agronomic and environmental concerns giving equal emphasis on both.

Laboratory and field practical sessions are integral components of all courses. Through these sessions, students develop skills to analyze soil, plant, manure, fertilizers and water and subsequently make judgments on their suitability for food production based on the availability of nutrients, and organic and inorganic contaminants.

Areas Covered

Crop Science
Soil Science
Horticulture

Employment Opportunities

Career opportunities in the crop and soil sciences specialties include:

Agronomists
Plant breeders and genetics
Plant Pathologists and related disciplines
Soil Scientists
Extension and rural sociologists
Agribusiness manager
Food technologists
Farm managers
Pasture managers
Weeds specialists
Plant biotechnologists

Find challenging work with the soil conservation service, the extension service or Private Industry.

Horticulturists (manage a personal business as a retail or wholesale nurseryman, florist, landscape contractor or fruit and vegetable grower) even in relation with firms or companies that sell chemicals, fertilizers, and seed stock.

DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCES

The Department of Animal Science (DANS) is the brain trust of the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources (STANR) in the domain of animal protein.

Qualification Offered: Bachelor of Science (B. Sc.)Degree in Animal Science

Duration of the Program: 4 years (8 semesters)

Vision of the Degree Program

To produce skilled graduates who will be able to apply modern technology to breed and rear animals including fish and other aquatic species at commercial scale, participate in marine fishing and processing, preserve and market fish in large scale for human consumption and other purposes.
To train potential animal scientists, equipping them with knowledge and ability to competently work in all areas of the rapidly expanding animal industry.

Areas of Specialization

Students will specialize in one of the following two areas:

Animal Science
Fisheries

Requirements for Graduation

Students working towards the degree must earn at least 240 credits. A minimum cumulative grade point average of GPA.2.0 is required for graduation.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates may progress into a range of related occupations including farm, agricultural suppliers, animal technicians, welfare officers, animal health officers. Other career opportunities include state agricultural agencies, healthcare facilities, industries and a wide variety of scientific, educational and service enterprises, including new product development, quality assurance, food research, food marketing, education and extension.

DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The Department of Food Science and Technology conducts teaching, and basic and applied research in different aspects of Food Science, Human Nutrition, Biotechnology, and Food Technology. The Department plays an important role as the lead-department in offering the Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Nutrition & Dietetics, Food Science & Technology.

The Department is engaged in teaching for the four years of its undergraduate degree programmes. The Department shall be engaged in scholarly research on relevant topics including food analysis for quality and nutritional characteristics, assessment of food contaminants and adulterants, dietetics/nutrition therapy, studies on food processing and preservation to improve food quality, development of new food processing technologies, studies on aflatoxin detoxification in foods and feedstuffs, microbiological and toxicological studies of smoked meats and fish, modified atmospheric storage of local fruits, and glycemic index of food, amongst others.

Areas Covered

The Department of Food Sciences and Technology offers training covering the following fields of study:

Food science
Biotechnology
Analytical Chemistry
Food Microbiology
Food technology
Dietetics/nutritional sciences and
Postharvest technology

The training is offered at the undergraduate level. The Department, therefore, aims at producing well trained graduates, provided with the knowledge and skills, to meet the manpower requirements of the food industry, healthcare sector, post-harvest handling systems and various nutritional aspects depending on the degree programme.

Further, the Department will carry out both basic and applied research geared particularly towards solving local problems. It shall also contribute to the development of healthcare and food-related sectors in the country and the region through training, extension and consultancy services.

Career Options for Nutritional Sciences Majors

Opportunities for students with a major in Nutrition vary widely depending on one’s primary area of interest. For example, besides self-employment, students can find jobs in research or technical sales/service in a feed or pharmaceutical company. They also may work for a livestock or poultry producer in research and development or production. A nutrition major would benefit those seeking self-employment and positions in the food industry, extension service, as a science or health science educator as well as someone interested in pursuing an advanced degree.

Students interested in a career in human nutrition/dietetics can find positions in hospitals, wellness centres, health departments, school systems, industry, and private practice. An advanced degree in public health would benefit those interested in working on nutrition-related public policy and legislation.

Jobs are available for Nutritionists and Dietitians in hospitals, government agencies, community health services, medical clinics, health maintenance organizations, and long-term care, teaching of nutrition, work in public health and regulatory agencies and food service facilities.

The B.Sc. Food Science and Technology is designed for students who seek employment in industries relating to food processing, manufacturing and quality control of food products, research and development and teaching. Further, this curriculum provides an excellent preparation for those wishing to pursue graduate studies. It is designed for people interested in using the latest in food manufacturing to turn agricultural commodities into products that consumers want to buy.

Course Duration

All the above Bachelor’s degree courses are designed for four years full-time including a six months work placement with accompanying research and report.

Alternatively, admission shall be granted to holders of a Diploma in Food Technology from other institutions recognized by the University Senate. Such candidates shall enter the program at the second year of study unless otherwise specified by STANR.

DEPARTMENT AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, EXTENSION AND
RURAL SOCIOLOGY

The aim of the department is to produce well trained, well-disciplined and fully qualified graduates at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels, who are of international repute in the discipline of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extension, and Rural Sociology, and are capable of successfully facing all the challenges of these disciplines.

Career Opportunities for Agricultural Economics Graduates

Agricultural Economists are more micro-economics oriented and they easily find jobs in the following sectors of the economy.

Accounting
Agriculture
Breweries, distilleries and bottling plants
Cigarette manufacturing
Food processing mills
Governments and NGOs
Information Technology
Pulp and paper industry
Saw/lumber mills and wood products
Textile processing and manufacturing, logistics and supply chains
Leather tanning, foot wear and hand bag production
Cooperatives
Research
Government and parastatal agricultural institutions and programmes
Teaching in universities and rural development training centres

Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology specialists usually serve in the bottom three in the above list. However, first degree graduates of the department can serve in openings in any of the departments listed above.

Specialisation

There is no specialization in the department at the undergraduate level. At the graduate level, specializations are envisaged in the future to be in Agricultural Extension Education, Rural Sociology and Agricultural Economics. Other possible fields of specialization include: Production Economics/Farm Management, Agricultural Marketing, Agricultural Finance, Agribusiness Management, Development economics, and Quantitative Methods.

The Departments of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries; Agricultural Management Systems; Agricultural Biology (including entomology, plant pathology, Nematology, virology, etc.) and Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences are not yet functional.

A total of 6 months of supervised internship experience in any approved agro-industry or relevant establishment is required of every undergraduate before graduation. Previous work experience in a relevant field can be accepted in lieu of such internships.

We offer the following Specializations in STANR

Program	Duration	Start Date
B.Sc. Animal Sciences	4 years (8 Semesters)	October of each year
B.Sc. Food and Nutrition Sciences	4 years (8 Semesters)	October of each year
B.Sc. Agronomy	4 years (8 Semesters)	October of each year
B.Sc. Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Sociology	4 years (8 Semesters)	October of each year
Agricultural Engineering(HND)	2 years (4 Semesters)	October of each year
Animal Production Technology(HND)	2 years(4 Semesters)	October of each year
Crop Production Technology(HND)	2 years (4 Semesters)	October of each year
Agricultural Production Technology (HND)	2 years (4 Semesters)	October of each year
Food technology (HND)	2 years (4 Semesters)	October of each year
Nutrition and Dietetics (HND)	2 years (4 Semesters)	October of each year