ABU PG Courses and Admission Criteria for Faculty of Agriculture

This is a comprehensive guide to the ABU PG Courses and Admission Criteria for the Faculty of Agriculture in the 2020/2021 academic session. This is to address the series of inquiries about specific requirements for various ABU PG Courses and Admission Criteria.

Overview of the Faculty of Agriculture, ABU Zaria

The Faculty of Agriculture was established in October 1962 as one of the six pioneer Faculties of Ahmadu Bello University. Initially, the Faculty functioned as a single unit, with no sub-division into Departments. However, in 1965/66 Session, four Departments, Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Animal Science, Plant Science, and Soil Science were created.

In 1968, the Department of Crop Protection was carved out of Plant Science while in 1970 the Department of Agronomy was created in 1975, the Department of Agricultural Engineering took off.

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Thus, the Faculty had seven (7) Departments, but in 1976, the Department of Agricultural Engineering was transferred to the Faculty of Engineering to enable its graduates to qualify to be registered as engineers in Nigeria. In spite of this change, the Department of Agricultural Engineering has maintained its link with the Faculty of Agriculture.

2.1 DEPARTMENT OF AGRIC. ECONOMICS AND RURAL SOCIOLOGY

Postgraduate Diploma in Farm Management and Extension (PGDFME)

Admission Requirements: In order to qualify for admission into Postgraduate Diploma in Farm Management and Extension, candidates must (a) possess HND of not less than lower credit, and/or (b) B.Sc Degree in the relevant field.

M.Sc Programmes (Agric. Economics and Agric. Extension)

The requirement for Admission:

(A) M.Sc Agricultural Economics: B (Agric) or B.Sc (Economics) or B (Agric. Tech) with a minimum of a second class, lower division. Candidates with 3rd Class pass and an additional relevant post-graduation qualification could be admitted.

(B) M.Sc Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology: B (Agric) or B.Sc (Sociology) or B (Agric Tech) with a minimum of a second class, lower division or B.Ed (Agric) 2.1 from ABU. Candidates with a 3rd Class pass and an additional relevant post-graduation qualification could be admitted.

PhD Programmes (Agricultural Economics and Agric. Extension):

(I) Ph.D. Agricultural Economics:
M.Sc Agricultural Economics based on course work and a research thesis.
(II) Ph.D. Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology: M.Sc Rural Sociology, or M.Sc Agricultural Extension based on course work and a research thesis.

2.2 DEPARTMENTOF AGRONMY

General Requirements: A prospective candidate for PGD should have a credit in English, Mathematics, Chemistry, plus any two science subject from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, Agricultural Science, etc. All candidates coming for postgraduate programs in the Department must satisfy the Faculty of Agriculture /Ahmadu Bello University 0Level entry requirement of a minimum of five credits in Biology or Agricultural Science, Chemistry, Physic, Mathematics, and English.

A) Postgraduate Diploma in Crop Production and Management (PGDCPM)

Admission Requirements: Candidates seeking admission for postgraduate Diploma in Crop Production and must have any of the following qualifications from recognized institutions:
A) Higher National Diploma in Agriculture with a minimum of lower credit.
B) Minimum of 3rd class Degree at Bachelor’s level in Agriculture
C) Minimum of pass Degree at Bachelor’s level in Agriculture plus a minimum of five years of cognate experience.
D) Degrees in related disciplines in sciences (B.Sc. Agric. Ed., B.Sc. in Biology or Botany science) with a minimum of 2nd class lower.

B) Masters in Agronomy (M. Agronomy)

Admission Requirements: Candidates seeking admission for any of the above Master degrees must have any of the following qualifications from recognized institutions:
A) Postgraduate Diploma in Agronomy/crop production and related disciplines (B.Sc. Agric. Ed., B.Sc. in Biology or Botany science).
B) Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture with a minimum of 2nd class lower.

C) M.Sc Agronomy

With Specialization In Field Crop Production, Crop Physiology, Horticulture, Weed Science, Irrigation Agronomy, Farming Systems;

Admission Requirements: Candidates seeking admission for the Academic Masters Degree in any of these fields must have any of the following qualifications from recognized institutions.
A) Bachelor degree in Agriculture or related discipline (Agronomy/crop production/pasture agronomy/ horticulture etc) with a minimum of 2nd class lower division.
B) HND Upper Credit plus PGD at Distinction in addition to satisfying University matriculation \requirements.
C) Bachelor degree in Agriculture or related discipline (Agronomy/crop production/pasture agronomy/horticulture etc) with a minimum of 3rd class plus PGD in Agronomy/crop production/horticulture.

D) M. Phil Agronomy

Admission Requirements:
a) A Ph.D. applicant who’s Masters lacked a Thesis component
b) Ph.D. applicants changing their field of study to a related field/program
c) Ph.D. students unable to conclude their study within the stipulated time but have earned a minimum of 40 credit units of course work (excluding Seminar and Research credits) and have conducted enough research work for a Project/Thesis.
d) M.Phil/Ph.D. candidates will automatically progress with the Ph.D. provided he/she attained the Departmental requirement of 3.5. Such a candidate does not require admission again but must be up to date with his/her registration.

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M.Phil students who had a Master’s degree with a Thesis component shall only be required to defend a Project report at the end of their M.Phil program. Such cases with clear recommendation shall be communicated to SPGS for the;
a) Upgrade of the students’ status to PhD
b) Award an M.Phil to the candidate or
c) Terminated the students’ program

E) PhD Agronomy

With Specialization: Field Crop Production, Crop Physiology, Horticulture, Weed Science, Irrigation Agronomy and Farming Systems

Admission Requirement: Candidate seeking admission for Doctor of Philosophy degree in any of these fields must have an academic Master’s Degree in any of these fields of Agriculture or related discipline with a minimum CGPA 3.5 from recognized institutions. The candidate most fulfills the University requirements for conversion from the M.Sc program to the Ph.D. program

2.3 DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE

Postgraduate Diploma in Animal Science

Admission Requirements: To be eligible for admission into the programme, a candidate must satisfy at least one of the following requirements.
i. A minimum of three credits in relevant science subjects at the “0” level plus credit passes in English and Mathematics, respectively.
ii. Not less than a credit grade in HND Agric.
iii. B.Sc. Agric. or B.Sc. Zoology or any other relevant degree with a pass or third class

iv. At least two years Postgraduate field experience.

M.Sc. Animal Science

Admission Requirements:
i. A Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture or Animal Science with first or second class honors from a recognized university.
ii. A Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline, with first or second class honors; A candidate with this qualification will be required to complete satisfactorily certain remedial courses specified by the Department. This should be monitored by the student’s supervisory committee and compliance reported to the Faculty Board.
iii. Any other requirements as specified by the Faculty Board of Agriculture or the Postgraduate School

Ph.D. Animal Science

Admission Requirements:
i. A good Master’s degree in Animal Science from a recognized University.
ii. Any other entry requirements as specified by the Faculty Board of Agriculture or the Postgraduate School.

2.4 DEPARTMENT OF CROP PROTECTION

Post-graduate Diploma in Crop Protection (PGDCP), Master of Science (M.Sc.), Ph.D Crop Protection

To be eligible for admission into the PG programs of the Department the general Faculty of Agriculture and Postgraduate School requirements shall apply.

2.5 DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SCIENCE

Postgraduate Diploma in Seed Production Technology.

Admission Requirement: B.Sc in Agriculture, Botany or Biochemistry or HND in Agriculture at least at lower credit level

M.Sc and Ph.D Crop Physiology,

Admission Requirement
M.Sc. Crop Physiology
A good University degree in Agriculture, Botany or any related field at least at the second class lower Division level.

Ph.D Crop Physiology

An M.Sc degree in Plant/ Crop Physiology, Agronomy, Botany or any related subject.

M.Sc and Ph.D Crop Breeding

Admission Requirement
M.Sc. Crop Breeding
A good University degree in Agriculture, Botany or any related field at least at the second class lower Division level.

Ph.D Crop Breeding

An M.Sc degree in Plant/ Crop Breeding, Genetics or Botany from a recognized university

2.6 DEPARTMENT OF SOIL SCIENCE

M.Sc. Soil Science

Admission Requirements:
i. First or Second Class Degree in Agriculture (or Agricultural Science).
ii. Candidates with First or Second Class Degrees in other Biological or Physical Sciences may also be considered.
iii. Candidates with 3rd Class degree in Agriculture or the Physical Sciences may be offered admission provided they have spent a minimum of five years after graduation.

PhD. Soil Science

Admission Requirements
i. A candidate seeking admission to a Ph.D. program in Soil Science should normally possess a good Masters Degree in the relevant area of Agricultural Science or a related discipline from a recognized University.
ii. An M.Sc. Degree earned through course-work and research is normally preferred.
iii. Candidates with other relevant qualifications which are deemed equivalent to the above by the Department, the Faculty Board, and the Senate may also be considered.