The programme equips graduate students with the experience and skills needed to make them successful in scientific endeavors.  The multidisciplinary approaches used enable students to learn about a broad range of disciplines including molecular genetics, biochemistry, botany, and disease diagnosis. Graduates may find themselves working for large agribusiness firms developing new fungicides, biotechnology firms creating disease-resistant plants through genetic engineering, universities developing tomorrow's agricultural technology or studying how microorganisms cause diseases, or at governmental agencies or private organizations providing practical advice on controlling disease. The overall objective of the programme is to create a critical mass of well versed and competent researchers/scientists equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude to promote plant pathology as a key discipline to achieve sustainable development and food security.

 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. Candidates must satisfy the minimum requirements laid down in the University Common regulations for Masters Degrees as spelled out in the School of Graduate Studies common Regulations
2. In addition, candidates should normally have a minimum of a B.Sc. Second Class, Lower division degree or its equivalent in Botany or related Plant Sciences from a recognized university.

 

PROGRAMME DURATION

The duration of M.Sc. degree shall normally be two academic years.

 

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

(i) The Masters Degree programme in Plant Pathology shall, normally, consist of coursework, examination and thesis/project, normally extending over a period of two academic years distributed over four semesters of full time/part-time attendance provided that part-time attendance shall not exceed a period of four calendar years from the date of registration. 

(ii) The Masters degree in Plant Pathology shall consist of a minimum of 14 units, and a maximum of 19 units of coursework, examination and thesis distributed over four semesters

(iii) Courses are structured in units, where a unit is defined as a three-hour lecture or two hours of tutorials, or three hours of practical and 1 hour lecture session per week per semester. A semester is defined as fourteen teaching weeks, plus another two weeks of university examinations.

(iv) The candidate shall submit a research proposal to the DPGSC within 2 weeks of the third semester.

(v) The processing of the submitted research proposal from the DPGSC to School of Graduate Studies shall take a maximum of four (4) weeks.

(vi) In the second year, the student shall undertake a supervised research project in accordance with the School of Graduate Studies Rules and Regulations and the Department of Botany requirements.

1. Students found deficient in certain core courses shall be required to audit and pass examinations in the pertinent courses.

Programme Courses

 

FIRST YEAR FIRST SEMESTER

SBT 801 Methods and Techniques in Botany

SBT 802 Biometry, Experimentation and Methodology

SBT 803 Herbarium Practice

SBT 804 Applied Ecology

SBT 805 Special Topics

SBT 846 Plant Pathology

SBT 847 Plant Nematology

 

Second semester

SBT 837 Biotechnology

SBT 848  Plant Virology

SBT 849  Plant Bacterial Diseases

SBT 850 Advanced Mycology

SBT 851 Applied Mycology

SBT 852  Seed Pathology

SBT 853  Biological Control

SBT 845  Taxonomy of fungi

SBT 862 Research Methodology and Proposal writing

SECOND YEAR FIRST SEMESTER

SBT 899 Research Project (Data collection)

SECOND YEAR SECOND SEMESTER 

SBT 899 Research Project (Data analysis and thesis writing)