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Department of Crop Science |
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Academic Programmes
B.SC. CROP SCIENCE OPTION
300 LEVEL COURSES
First Semester
AGR 312-3 Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture
CPS 315-5 Crop Protection-Diseases and Pests Control
CPS 316-3 Research Methods
CPS 317-3 Principles and Methods of Plant Breeding
SSR 311-3 Introduction to Soil and Water Conservation
Must take at least TWO of The Elective Courses
ANS 312-4 Principles of Animal Husbandry and Health
SSR 312-3 Introduction to Land Management
AEC 322-3 Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives
Sub-total 23/24 Credit Hours
Second Semester
CPS 327-3 Plant Biotechnology
CPS 328-3 Weed Science
CPS 329-3 Pomology
AEX 323-3 Agricultural Extension and Rural Development
AEC 321-3 Farm Management Applications
ANS 324-3 Range Management I
SSR 323-4 Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition
Sub-Total 22 Credit Hours
Total 23/24 + 22 = 45/46 Credit Hours
400 LEVEL COURSES
First Semester
AGR 400-4AB Agric in Practice
AGR 411-3 Farming Systems
CPS 414-3 Field Experimentation
CPS 415-3 Vegetable Production
CPS 416-3 Introductory Plant Physiology
CPS 444-6AB Crop Science Project
AEC 414-3 Resource Economics
SSR 414-3 Soil and Water Management
Sub-total 23 Credit hours
400 LEVEL COURSES
Second Semester
CPS 422-3 Harvest and Postharvest Technology
CPS 423-4 Seed Production
CPS 424-3 Crop Physiology
CPS 425-3 Integrated
CPS 426-3 Irrigation Agronomy
Sub-total 21 Credit Hours
Total 23 + 21 = 44 Credit Hours
M.Sc. AND Ph.D. PROGRAMMES IN CROP SCIENCE
Departmental Regulations
These regulations should be read in conjunction with the general regulations governing post-graduate studies at the National University of Lesotho, namely, the regulations of the Faculty of Agriculture, and those of the Post-graduate Faculty Board.
1. MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.Sc.) PROGRAMME
CSM 1.0 Minimum admission requirements
1.1 To be considered or admission into the Master’s (M.Sc.) Degree Programme, a candidate must normally hold a First Class or Second Class Honours Degree (or equivalent) in Agriculture or in Biological Sciences from a recognised University/Institution. in addition, the candidate must have achieved a mean equivalent to at least Second Class second Division (60%) in the courses relevant to the area in which the candidate intends to executive his/her M.Sc. Degree Research Project.
1.2 In exceptional cases, a candidate with a Third Class/Pass Honours Degree may be considered for admission into the Master’s programme, provided that, among other things:
a) he/she has earned a mean of not less than the equivalent of a Second Class First Division (B) in the courses relevant to the area in which his/her M.Sc. Degree Research Project is to be executed, and, furthermore,
b) he/she has productively worked for a minimum of three (3) uninterrupted years in a relevant area of Crop Production/Crop Science.
1.3 Candidates with other categories of qualification or/and relevant experience, which are acceptable to the National University of Lesotho, shall also be considered for admission.
1.4 The under-listed categories of candidates, if admitted into the M.Sc. Programme, may need to take remedial courses, the type and number of which shall be determined by the Department.
a) Candidates who earned their B.Sc. Honours (Agriculture) degrees from Universities other than the National University of Lesotho.
b) Candidates whose honours degrees are in biological sciences.
c) Candidates who obtained their B.Sc. Honours degrees more than five (5) years before their admission into the Department.
d) Candidates with other, but acceptable, qualifications as in (c) above.
1.5 Grades scored in remedial courses shall not count towards the calculation of the Overall Weighted Mean (OWM) of the M.Sc. coursework.
CSM 2.00 Programme Structure and Duration
2.1 Execution of the Master’s programme may be either by Coursework with Thesis (Mode I) or by heavy coursework component plus Mini-project (Mode II).
2.2 The M.Sc. Programmes may be executed on full-time, or on part-time basis, except that the coursework component shall be on full time basis only.
2.3 Candidates following the Mode II module programme (Coursework with minor dissertation) shall normally not be eligible for admission into the Ph.D. Programme of the Crop Science Department of the National University of Lesotho.
2.4 Candidates on Mode II Module (Coursework with Thesis)
a) The full-time programme shall normally have a minimum duration of 24, and a maximum duration of 30 calendar months from the date of first registration in the Department. The first year shall be devoted to course work, while the second shall be for research and thesis preparation. However, the Faculty Board of Agriculture, on the recommendation of the Department of Crop Science, may grant an extension of up to, but not more than 12 calendar months. Under special circumstances, a further extension of up to six (6) calendar months may be granted, but only by the Senate of the National University of Lesotho on the recommendation of the Faculty Board of Agriculture and the Post-graduate Faculty Board. No candidate shall normally be permitted to follow a full-time M.Sc. Programme for a period longer than 48 calendar months.
b) The Part-time Programme shall normally have a minimum duration of 30 calendar months. An extension of up to a maximum of 24 calendar months may be granted y the Faculty Board of Agriculture, on the recommendation of Crop Science Department. Where absolutely necessary, an additional extension of no more than six (6) calendar months may be granted, but only by the University Senate on the recommendation of the Faculty Board and the Post-graduate Faculty Board. Not part-time candidate shall normally be allowed to pursue the M.Sc. Programme for a period longer than 60 calendar months.
c) For the duration of the M.Sc. Programme, candidates on Mode II module shall normally be required to take a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 40 coursework Credit Hours of Post-graduate courses in both major and supporting fields, excluding remedial courses credit hours.
d) The Research Component of the M.Sc. Programme shall carry 12 credit hours.
2.5 Candidates on the Mode III Module (Coursework with mini-project).
a) For this category of students the duration of the full-time programme shall normally be a minimum of 18, and a maximum of 24 calendar months. Where deemed necessary, an extension of up to, but not more than six (6) calendar months, may be granted by Senate on the recommendation of the Faculty Board through the Post-graduate Faculty Board. No candidate shall normally be permitted to follow the full-time programme for any period in excess of 30 calendar months.
b) The part-time programme shall normally have a minimum duration of 24, and a maximum duration of 30 calendar months. The Faculty Board may recommend an extension of no more than six (60 calendar months to Senate through the post-graduate Faculty board. No candidate hall normally allowed to follow the part-time programme for longer than 36 calendar months.
c) For both full-time and part-time Mode III students, the first year shall be devoted entirely to coursework, while the first semester of the second year shall be for additional coursework and execution of a mini-project, culminating in submission of a minor dissertation. The mini-project shall be assigned 3 credit hours.
d) Courses for the first semester of the second year shall mostly be offered in the form of self-study, assignments/term papers, and class discussions.
e) For the duration of the M.Sc. programme, Mode III candidates shall normally be required to carry a minimum workload of 30 and a maximum of 48 credit hours in both major and supporting fields, including the mini-project, but excluding remedial course credit hours.
2.6 Irrespective of the Mode being followed, each M.Sc. candidate shall be required to deliver two (2) seminars: One on the candidate’s research proposal, and the other on his/her research findings.
2.7 All M.Sc. candidates in the Crop Science Department shall normally be required to assist in laboratory practical classes for undergraduate teaching, without any remuneration. This activity is regarded as part of the candidate’s training in the Department.
CSM 3.0 Supervision
3.1 Each candidate shall have a supervisory committee of at lest two teaching staff of the rank of Senior Lecturer or above, appointed by the Head of Department, and one who shall serve as the major supervisor and Chairman of the Supervisory Committee. As far as possible, each member of the Supervisory Committee should be the holder of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy or its recognised equivalent. The major supervisor shall be a member of the Crop Science Department, except where circumstances dictate otherwise.
3.2 Functions of the Supervisory Committee shall include the following, inter alias:
a) Approval of the candidate’s programme of courses and research proposal.
b) Review of the candidate’s coursework and research progress, and submitting a report to the Head of Department at the end of each semester.
c) Guiding the candidate during his/her research execution.
d) Reviewing the student’s draft thesis prior to its submission to the external examiner, and ensuring that corrections suggested by the external examiner have been properly executed.
CSM 4.0 Assessment of Candidates
4.1 Coursework assessment shall be based on continuous assessment and end of semester examination. These shall be weighted 30% and 70%, respectively.
4.2 In order to be deemed to have passed a given course, the candidates must ear a minimum grade of a “C” (60%).
4.3 A candidate, who fails in one or more courses, shall be permitted to take as supplementary examination in each of those courses during the following semester, provided that the sum of the credit hours carried by the failed course/courses during any given semester, does note exceed 6 credit hours. Supplementary examinations shall be given six (6) months from the date of the failed course/courses, and the maximum score that can be earned in a supplementary examination, is a “B” grade (70%). No candidate shall be permitted to take a supplementary examination more than once in a given course.
4.4 A candidate, who, for a reason that is acceptable to the University Senate, absents himself/herself from an examination, shall be permitted to “sit” for that examination during the supplementary re-sit examination. The posted grade shall be the actual grade earned at this examination. If the candidate fails any course or courses at this “sit” examination, he/she shall be allowed to supplement the failed course or course, provided that he/she satisfies the Department’s requirements governing supplementation/re-take of failed examinations.
4.5 No candidate shall be permitted to embark on his/her research project until he/she has passed all prescribed courses. This implies scoring an Overall Weighted Mean (OWM) of at least a “B” in the coursework. A candidate, who misses this OWM by no more than 3 marks, may be given a single opportunity to make up for the difference by re-taking examinations in at most two (2) courses that he/she has already passed.
4.6 Each candidate shall prepare a Research Proposal, which must be approved by his/her Advisory Committee, the Faculty Board of Agriculture, and, finally, by the Post-graduate Faculty Board, before the candidate’s research project execution can commence.
4.7 With effect from the date of commencement of his/her research work, each candidate shall submit a written progress report through his/her major supervisor to the Supervisory Committee, at the end of each semester. Such a report shall be assessed as “Satisfactory” (S) or “Not Satisfactory” (NS), and the assessment communicated to the Dean through the Head of Department. The purpose of this assessment is to, where necessary; warn the student that he/she is lagging behind in the research work. However, the thesis shall form the basis for the final assessment of a candidate’s performance in his/her research.
4.8 Conversion from M.Sc. to Ph.D. Registration Status
A candidate, who performs exceptionally well in the course work for two (2) conservative semester, and who demonstrates excellent progress in his/her research after at least 12 calendar months of embarking on the research work, may, on the recommendation of the Department and Faculty board, be recommended to the post-graduate Faculty Board and Senate for conversion of his/her registration status of his/her registration status from that of Master of Science to that of Doctor of Philosophy. The one-year, which the student spent on the M.Sc. research, shall be credited to him/her towards his/her Ph.D. Programme. Nevertheless, such a student can only earn the Ph.D. degree after a minimum of 24 calendar months from the date of change of registration status.
4.9 Thesis Defence
a) Each candidate shall appear before a panel of examiners for an oral examination (viva voce) based on the candidate’s research project and coursework. The panel shall consist of the external examiner, all members of the Supervisory Committee, and the Head of Department. However, any other interested person may attend the oral examination session, but only as an observer.
b) A candidate, whose thesis has been declared unsatisfactory, must have it revised and re-submitted within a maximum of 12 calendar months from the date the decision is communicated to him/her.
c) A candidate, whose performance in the oral examination is unsatisfactory, may be required to present himself/herself for a second examination on a specified date, but not be earlier than three (3) calendar months from the date the decision is communicated to him/her.
CSM 5.0 Lodgement and Distribution of Theses/Dissertations
5.1 Each candidate is required to submit, for examination, for (4) copies of his/her thesis/dissertation in loose-bound form with a suitable cover.
5.2 After the thesis has been examined and amended in compliance with the directive of the Panel of Examiners, the candidate shall submit seven (7) copies of the approved and appropriately bound thesis for signature and distribution to the University Library (Thomas Mofolo Library), the Crop Science Departmental Library, each member of the candidate’s Supervisory Committee, and to the candidate.
CSM 6.0 Withdrawal from the M.Sc. Programme
6.1 On the recommendation of the Department, and subject to approval by the Faculty Board, the Post-graduate Faculty Board, and the Senate, a candidate shall normally be required to withdraw from the M.Sc. Programme for one or more of the following reasons, that is, if he/she
a) fails to maintain an average of at least a “B” grade in the coursework after 2 consecutive semesters.
b) Fails a supplementary examination in any course.
c) Is unable to complete all coursework requirements after 24 calendar months.
d) Has his/her research proposal rejected more than twice by the Faculty Board of Agriculture.
e) Fails to complete all the requirements for the award of an M.Sc. degree after expiration of the maximum period stipulated for the programme in which he/she has been registered.
f) Is compelled by other circumstances to withdraw or be withdrawn from the M.Sc. Programme of the Crop Science Department or from the University.
6.2 Once withdrawn from the M.Sc. Programme of Crop Science Department for whatever reason, the candidate shall normally not be re-admitted.
LIST OF COURSES FOR THE M.Sc. (CROP SCIENCE) PROGRAMME
FIRST Year (For Mode II and Mode III candidates)
First Semester
CPS 611-3 Biometrics
CPS 621-2 Post-harvest Technology of Horticultural Crops
CPS 631-3 Advanced Irrigation Agronomy
CPS 641-3 Advanced Crop Physiology
CPS 651-1 Biotechnology: Its Application in Crop Production
CPS 661-2 Advanced Farming Systems
CPS 671-3 Advances in Agronomy (to include Tillage)
CPS 681-1 Crop Science Student’s Seminar
Sub-Total: 18 Credit Hours
Second Semester
CPS 612-2 Selected Topics in Horticulture
CPS 622-3 Advanced Weed Science
CPS 632-3 Integrated
CPS 642-3 Stress Physiology
CPS 652-3 Special Topics in Crop Improvement
Sub-Total: 14 Credit Hours
Total- 32 Credit Hours
SECOND YEAR (For Mode II Candidates Only)
First and Second Semesters
CPS666-12-M.Sc. Research and Thesis Preparation
Grand total for Mode III Candidates: 44 Credit Hours
SECOND Year (For Mode III Candidates Only)
First Semester
The under-listed courses shall be offered in the form of self-study/home assignments followed by class discussions.
CPS 613-3 Selected Topics in Agronomy
CPS 623-3 Selected Topics in Crop Protection
CPS 633-3 Selected Topic in Plant Science
CPS 643-3 Selected Topics in Weed Science
CPS 660-3 M.Sc. Degree Mini-Project
Sub-Total 15 Credit Hours
Grand Total for Mode III Candidates: 47 Credit Hours
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Ph.D.) PROGRAMME
CSD 1.0 Minimum Admission Requirements
1.1 In order to be considered for admission into the Ph.D. Programme, the prospective candidate must hold a good Master’s degree or its recognised equivalent (with course work and thesis) in the relevant area of Crop Production/Crop Science or Biological Sciences, and earned from the National University of Lesotho or from a university approved by the National University of Lesotho.
1.2 The following categories of candidates shall be required to take remedial courses, the type and number of which shall be determined by the Department.
a) Candidates with Master’s Degrees from other places other than the Crop Science Department of the National University of Lesotho, and who have not met the M.Sc. Coursework requirement of the Department.
b) Candidates who obtained their Master’s Degrees more than 5 years before their admission into the Ph.D. Programme of the Department.
CSD 2.0 Programme Structure and Duration
2.1 Execution of the Ph.D. Programme shall be mostly by research thesis (Mode I), coupled with some postgraduate coursework, as deemed necessary.
2.2 The coursework component shall be mostly in the form of self-study, class discussions, and assignment/term papers on special topics related to the specific area in which a candidate’s Ph.D. Programme is being executed. The Department shall determine the nature of these topics from time to time.
2.3 The maximum load to be carried by the coursework component 10 Credit Hours per semester, excluding the credit hours taken up by remedial courses. The research component shall carry a total of 36 credit hours.
2.4 The Ph. D Programme may be executed on full-time or on part-time basis. However, coursework shall be on full-time basis only.
a) The full-time Programme shall normally have duration of 36 calendar months from the date of first registration in the Department. However, the Faculty Board of Agriculture, on the recommendation of the Crop Science Department, may grant an extension of up to, but not more than 12 calendar months. Further extensions of up to 12 calendar months at a time may be granted, but only by the Senate of the National University of Lesotho, on the recommendation of the Faculty Board and the postgraduate Faculty Board, provided that no full-time candidates shall normally be permitted to follow a Ph. D Programme for a period in excess of 84 calendar months.
b) The part-time Programme shall normally have a minimum duration of 60, and a maximum duration of 120 calendar months.
2.5 Each candidate shall be required to deliver at least two (2) seminars in areas pertinent to the direction of his/her Ph.D. Programme. This is in addition to presenting his/her research proposal and research findings in the form of seminars.
2.6 With effect from the date of commencement of his/her research work, each candidate shall submit a written progress report through his/her major supervisor to the Supervisory Committee, at the end of each semester. Such a report shall be assessed as “Satisfactory (S)” or “Not Satisfactory (NS)”, and the assessment communicated to the Dean through the Head of Department. The purpose of this assessment is to, where necessary; warn the student that he/she is lagging behind in the research work. However, the thesis shall form the basis for the final assessment of a candidate’s performance in his/her research.
2.7 Every Ph.D. candidate in the Crop Science Department shall be required to assist in laboratory practical courses for undergraduate teaching (without any remuneration), as part of his/her training in the Department.
CSD 3.0 Supervision
3.1 Shortly after his/her first registration in the Department, each
candidate shall be assigned a supervisory committee of at least two (2) teaching staff of the rank of Senior Lecturer or above, appointed by the Department, and one of who shall serve as the major supervisor and Chairman of the Supervisory Committee. Each member of the Supervisory Committee must be holder of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy or its recognised equivalent. The major supervisor shall be a member of the Crop Science Department, except where circumstances dictate otherwise.
3.2 Functions of the Supervisory committee shall include the following, inter alias:
a) Approval of the candidate’s programme of study and research proposal.
b) Review of the candidate’s coursework and research progress
c) Guiding the candidate during his/her research execution and thesis preparation.
d) Review and approval of the candidate’s draft thesis prior to its submission to an external examiner for evaluation, the ensuring that corrections suggested by the external examiner have been satisfactorily executed.
CSD 4.0 Assessment of candidates
4.1 In order to qualify for a Ph.D. degree, a candidate must, inter alias, pass all prescribed courses, including seminars. This is achieved by earning a minimum of a “C” grade (60%) in each course. in addition, the candidate must maintain an average of at least a “B” grade (70%) in the coursework. This may necessitate repeating an already passed course, in order to improve the grade.
4.2 A panel of 2 to 3 teaching staff members appointed by the Head of Department shall carry out evaluation of each seminar. The Criteria to be used in arriving at a grade, include the following: Introduction of the subject, quality of presentation, handling of the subject matter, quality of the discussion, response to question, an overall performance.
4.3 A candidate, who fails any course, shall be permitted to take a supplementary examination in that course once only. The posted grade shall be a maximum of a “B” (70%).
4.4 A candidate who, for any reason that is acceptable to the University Senate, absents himself/herself from an examination, shall be permitted to “sit” for that examination as soon as feasible. The posted grade shall be the actual grade earned at this examination.
4.5 Each candidate shall, under the guidance of hi/her supervisory committee, prepare and submit a research proposal within 3 calendar months from the date of his/her first registration. The research proposal must be approved by the student’s Supervisory Committee, the Faculty Board, and, finally, by the Post-graduate Faculty Board, before the student’s research project execution can commence.
4.6 Thesis Defence
a) Each candidate shall appear before a panel of examiners for an oral examination (viva voce) based on his/her research project and coursework. The panel shall consist of the external examiner, all members of the Supervisory Committee, and the Head of Department. The External Examiner must be holder of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy or its recognised equivalent, and must, in addition be of the rank of Senior Lecturer or above.
b) A candidate, whose thesis is unsatisfactory, shall be required to
re-submit a revised version within a maximum of 12 calendar months from the date on which the candidate is informed of the inadequacy of his/her thesis.
CSD 5.0 Lodgement and distribution of Theses/Dissertations
5.3 Each candidate is required to submit, for examination, four (4) copies of his/her thesis/dissertation in loose-bound form within a suitable cover.
5.4 After the thesis has been examined and amended in compliance with the directive of the Panel of Examiners, the candidate shall submit seven (7) copies of the approved and appropriately bound thesis for signature and distribution to the University Library (Thomas Mofolo Library), the Crop Science Departmental Library, each member of the candidate’s Supervisory Committee, and to the candidate.
CSM 6.0 Withdrawal from the M.Sc. Programme
6.1 Subject to approval by the Faculty Board, the Post-graduate Faculty Board, and the Senate, a candidate shall normally be required to withdraw from the Ph.D. Programme for one or more of the following reasons, that is, if he/she
a) Fails to maintain an average of at least a “B” grade in the coursework after 2 consecutive semesters.
b) Fails a supplementary examination in any course.
c) Is unable to submit a research proposal, which is acceptable to the
Faculty Board, within 6 calendar months from the date of his/her first registration in the Department.
d) Fails the Ph. D qualifying examination more than once.
e) Fails to complete all the requirements for the award of a Ph.D.
Degree after expiration of the maximum period stipulated for the programme in which he/she has been registered.
f) Is compelled by other circumstances to withdraw or be withdrawn from the M.Sc. Programme of the Crop Science Department or from the University.
6.2 Once withdrawn from the Ph.D. Programme of the Crop Science Department for whatever reason, the candidate shall normally not be re-admitted.
List of Courses for the Ph.D. Programme
These shall consist of special topics taken from the areas of:
a) Agronomy
b) Plant Pathology (Bacteriology, Mycology, Virology etc.)
c) Agricultural Entomology and Helminthology
d) Vertebrate Pests of Crops
e) Genetics
f) Plant Breeding
g) Crop Physiology
h) Weed Science
The courses shall be offered in the form of self-study, and shall mostly, if not exclusively, be examined via home assignments (term papers). The Department as deemed appropriate shall determine the nature of the topics.