Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

The Degree Course aims to provide knowledge and skills on agricultural crops and livestock breeding, with the systemic study of the relationships between biological needs, availability of technical means and territorial resources, economic and environmental sustainability. Graduates must be able to carry out the technical-economic management of agricultural enterprises and rural areas, with attention to aspects of environmental protection, risk assessment and asset evaluation, including the first processing of agricultural products.

The teaching system is organized to satisfy the course requirements in Class L-25.

The course is organized into three curricula: Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Biotechnology, and Mediterranean Agricultural Systems (International). The ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) is a unit of measurement used to define the student’s workload within the course. One ECTS corresponds to an average effort of 25 hours, including classes, practical and individual study.

The shared part of the two curricula (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Agricultural Biotechnology) provides the following courses by learning areas:

– basic learning with Mathematics and Elements of Physic, Elements of Chemistry, Botany, Physiology and Principles of Plant Biotechnology, Agricultural Genetics, and English Language.

– Plant and Animal Production, Agronomy, Herbaceous and Arboreal crops, Horticulture and Floriculture, Plant protection, Biology and Animal Breeding.

– Technical-Economic, Basics of Agricultural Economics, Rural Appraisal, Rural Buildings and Topography, Food Technology.

The Agricultural and Environmental Sciences curriculum has specific classes in Hydraulic and Agricultural Engineering (12 ECTS), Farm Economy (6 ECTS) and four profiles as follows:

– Agricultural-environmental, with Agricultural Ecology (6 ECTS), Soil Chemistry (6 ECTS), Energy and Environmental Laboratory (3 ECTS);

– Zootechnical, with Animal Nutrition and Feeding (6 ECTS), Animal Welfare Health and Livestock Environmental impact (6 ECTS) Energy and Environmental Laboratory (3 ECTS);

– Territory, Environment, Landscape with Laboratory of Land Planning (6 ECTS), Laboratory of Landscape Architecture (6 CFU) and GIS Laboratory (3 CFU);

– Quality Certification of Agricultural Products and Processes with Quality and Certification of Plant Processes and Productions (6 ECTS), Quality and Certification of Processes and Animal Production (6 ECTS), Energy and Environmental Laboratory (3 ECTS).

The Agricultural Biotechnology curriculum includes specific classes in Molecular Biology of Agricultural Plants (6 ECTF), Biotechnology of Plant Production (12 ECTF), in Vitro Culture Science and Technology (6 ECTF) and Animal Biotechnology (6 ECTF).

The Mediterranean Agricultural Systems curriculum is carried out closely with the Tunisian National Agronomic Institute (INAT), with which the University has agreements for collaboration and course acknowledgement.

The primary objective of this curriculum is to train a technical agronomist capable of operating in Mediterranean agricultural systems. Most courses are offered in French with contributions from INAT teachers to enhance a broad knowledge of specific area issues.

This curriculum provides the basis for designing and managing Mediterranean agricultural systems. As mentioned earlier, spending a period at the Institute above to perform exams and/or activities related to attaining the internship or the final exam is possible. This curriculum includes specific courses in Economic and Legal-Evaluative disciplines (14 ECTS), Plant Production (35 ECTS) and Protection (14 ECTS), Animal Science (25 ECTS), Agricultural, Forestry Engineering and related Representation (12 ECTS).

The student must acquire 180 ECTS and complete the dissertation to obtain the degree. Students can take 12 ECTS by choosing courses among those available at the Department’s or University’s educational offer.

By the end of their studies, the graduate students have gained all the skills necessary to be successful in the Junior Agronomist profession.

The teaching rules of the three curricula and the relative course timing schedule are presented on the following two pages.

The course of study consists of two semesters.

To enrol in Years II and III, students must have at least 24 ECTS and 60 ECTS, respectively.

The list of teachings with the indication of the Academic disciplines, as well as other information (characterizing, integrative and related activities), are reported in the Student Guide.

The division into three curricula involves different teaching methods, specific objectives, and distinct pedagogical relevance. In particular, the training course includes:

• frontal lessons;
• teaching laboratory activities or exercises;
• training activities aimed at the acquisition of specific professional skills, including experience in external research laboratories, task experience (internships) in public or private institutions, service or production facilities;
• the student selects elective didactic or training activities to complete the training course.

Credits can be acquired for each training activity through a final evaluation. The final findings may consist of:

• profit examinations;
• proof of competence (language, internships).

Preparing and discussing a written paper on one or more topics addressed in the course is required for the final exam, which has a total commitment of 5 ECTS.

The report shall be discussed in the presence of a Commission appointed by the Board of the Study Program (Consiglio di Corso di Studi, CCS). Passing the final test is a requirement for obtaining the degree.

The final degree mark is expressed out of 110. Awarding grant honours (lode) is possible when the maximum grade (110/110) is issued. The Commission gives the grade in accordance with these criteria:

1. weighted mark (expressed in the thirties) average;
2. the excellence of the student’s career (number of honours);
3. studies completed within the established time;
4. participation in international student mobility programmes;
5. quality of the final written and the exposure.

The final grade is based on the Student Guide scores for the five criteria described above.

Click here to download the brochure.

Course director:

Professor Giorgio M. Balestra
Tel. 0761357474; balestra@unitus.it