Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in Agricultural Economics

Purpose

The purpose of the qualification is to train learners in the fields of Economics and Business applied to the Agricultural and Natural Resources sector. A further purpose of this qualification is to prepare learners to be Farm Operators, either as Entrepreneurs or as Professional Managers in an organisation. Qualifying learners will also find many opportunities in Farm Credit and Finance, Appraisal, and Insurance. The qualification also prepare learners in focus areas such as Environmental and Natural Resource Management, International Economic Development, International Trade and Agricultural policy.

Rationale

The qualification aims to produce qualifying learners who understand Economics, Financial and Business Management and who are able to apply their knowledge at farm, Agribusiness and policy levels through their knowledge of such systems. Agricultural development, Marketing and Finance are becoming increasingly important and require learners with broad-based training in Agriculture, Commerce and Social Sciences. This qualification emphasises job mobility. The following careers are open to qualifying learners: commercial banks, National Department of Agriculture, farming and Agribusiness sector.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Learners who do not comply with the minimum admission requirement for this qualification may be considered for admission through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Prior formal, informal and non-formal learning is a platform to provide recognition to the informal learning or learning through work to get equal acceptance as the formal level of education. It aims to appreciate prior learning irrespective of the medium of achieving it.

The learner must submit an official application form, together with a motivation, academic record and a short Curriculum Vitae (CV). The CV should include details of relevant work experience. And, where applicable, any publications. The Head of the department must identify and prescribe modules as set out above.

Learners' prior formal, informal and non-formal learning may be evaluated by the Head of department as being sufficient preparation for qualification or module(s). Based on such evaluation of formal, informal learning, applicants' may be exempted from certain credits that are normally required as part of the qualification and based on such evaluation of formal learning, credits previously completed by the applicants' may be transferred to other qualification.

Entry Requirements

• National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4, granting access to Bachelor's studies with Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences or Agriculture.

Or

• Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 with endorsement, Mathematics and Physical Science, Agricultural Science or Biology.

Or

• National Certificate (Vocational), NQF Level 4, granting access to Bachelor's studies, Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences or Agriculture.

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at Level 5, 6, 7 and 8 totalling 495 Credits

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 129 Credits

• Introduction to Financial Accounting, 12 Credits.
• English Communication Skills, 12 Credits.
• ECS 1541, General Chemistry for Applied Sciences, 12 Credits.
• Mathematics, 12 Credits.
• Physics for Environment and Agricultural Sciences II, 6 Credits.
• Basic Microeconomics, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to Business Accounting, 12 Credits.
• ECS 1645, English Communication Skills, 12 Credits.
• Basic Macroeconomics, 12 Credits.
• Ecology, Adaptation and Evolution, 12 Credits.
• Organic Chemistry, 6 Credits.
• Agriculture and Humankind, 9 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 6, 126 Credits

• Introduction to Animal production, 9 Credits.
• Introduction to Agricultural Economics, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to Plant Production, 9 Credits.
• Introduction to Business Management, 12 Credits.
• Intermediate Microeconomics, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to Soil Sciences, 12 Credits.
• Basic Statistics, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to Agribusiness Management, 12 Credits.
• Functional areas of Business Management, 12 Credits.
• Intermediate Macroeconomics, 12 Credits.
• Basic Statically Inference, 12 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 7, 120 Credits

• Farm Business Management, 12 Credits.
• Agricultural sector planning and project appraisal, 12 Credits.
• Research Methods for Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, 12 Credits.
• International Trade and Finance, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to Rural Sociology, 12 Credits.
• The South African Economy, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to Econometrics, 12 Credits.
• Research Methods for Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, 12 Credits.
• Agribusiness management and applications, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to agricultural extension, 12 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 120 Credits

• Agricultural production economics, 12 Credits.
• Agricultural policy in developing countries, 12 Credits.
• Project and seminar presentation, 30 Credits.
• Work integrated learning, 30 Credits.
• Natural resource and Environmental Economics, 12 Credits.
• Markets price analysis, 12 Credits.
• Entrepreneurship, 12 Credits.

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of fundamental concepts and principles.
2. Communicate economic understanding in writing, orally and using visual, and /or other forms of representation.
3. Identify and solve problems in the area of Agricultural Economics.
4. Demonstrate effective Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills.
5. Work effectively as a member of a team or group in projects or investigation.
6. Manage and evaluate an integrated development (Extension) project that improves the livelihoods of clients.

Associated Assessment Criteria: 1

• Describe and explain the core concepts and principles of the discipline;
• Demonstrate the relationships among the core concepts and principles;
• Apply the core concepts and principles to standard problems;

Associated Assessment Criteria: 2

• Use economic language correctly to produce clear and coherent written documents;
• Present economic information verbally in front of others;
• Use appropriate referencing, avoid plagiarism and respect intellectual property;

Associated Assessment Criteria: 3

• Analyse and solve Concrete problems, in familiar and unfamiliar context;
• Apply the knowledge of theory to real-world contexts;
• Integrated knowledge from various disciplines or mode of enquiry, in solving problems;

Associated Assessment Criteria: 4

• Provide evidence of successful and effective contributions in group work;
• Apply organizational skills in managing group work;
• Communicate the outcomes of group work effectively and with respect for the contributions of each group member;

Associated Assessment Criteria: 5

• Identify economic knowledge that is relevant to current societal issues;
• Identify the socio-economic impact of the interventions in society;
• Apply economic knowledge for the direct benefit of others;

Associated Assessment Criteria: 6

• Evaluate the projects to demonstrate that the livelihood of clients have improved;
• Evaluate instruments and processes are consistent with the principles of evaluation and can realistically measure impact and effectiveness of the project;
• Demonstrate that the management strategies and plans are followed to design management reports;
• Manage development /extension projects to ensure that the aims of the project are realised.

Integrated Assessment

• A combination of continuous assessment and traditional written examinations serve to assess the integration of all/most of the learning outcomes for each module in a qualification.
• All learners in their fourth year have to do a project and seminars. The project is an integrated assessment of the learners' problem-solving abilities in a real world situation while the seminar is a review of literature covering theory and applications of techniques and interpretation of findings. These two assessment methods ensure that learners have simultaneously attained assessment criteria.