Master of Science in Bioscience Engineering: Agricultural Sciences

The Bioscience Engineering: Agricultural Sciences programme aims to train engineers who contribute to the development of sustainable agricultural systems to feed a growing world population, and to cultivate plants and crops for non-food applications.

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Master's Programme

2 year 120 credits

Faculty of Bioscience Engineering

Dutch

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About the programme

Programme summary

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Off to a good start

After graduation

Study programme content subject to change

First year

(version 15 )

1 General Courses

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Animal Physiology	1	sem 1	nl	Veerle Fievez	4

Plant Husbandry	1	sem 1	nl	Benny De Cauwer	5

Monitoring Systems in Agriculture	1	sem 1	nl	Wouter Maes	5

Agroecology	1	sem 1	en	Eduardo de la Pena	5

Management of Plant Diseases, Pests and Weeds	1	sem 1	nl	Patrick De Clercq	5

Plant Breeding	1	sem 1	en	Steven Maenhout	5

Agricultural Constructions	1	sem 2	nl	Jan Pieters	5

Nutrient Management	1	sem 2	en	Stefaan De Neve	5

Experimental Design	1	sem 2	en	Stijn Luca	3

2 Elective Courses

Subscribe to 29 credit units from 2 modules from the following list, of which at least 14 credit units from module 2.1. and at least 5 credit unitis from module 2.2.

2.1 Discipline-Specific Courses

Subscribe to no less than 14 credit units from the following list.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Biological and Biotechnological Control of Plant Pests and Diseases	sem 1	en	Patrick De Clercq	5

Sustainable and Innovative Weed Management	sem 1	nl	Benny De Cauwer	3

Climate-Resilient Cultivation Systems	sem 2	nl	Emmy Dhooghe	4

Precision Agriculture: Applications for Plant and Animal	sem 1	nl	Jeroen Degroote	3

Crop Protection Chemistry	sem 2	nl	Pieter Spanoghe	3

Ecofysiology	sem 1	nl	Kathy Steppe	5

Quality Management and Risk Analysis	sem 2	nl	Liesbeth Jacxsens	5

Planning for Multifunctional Landscapes	sem 2	nl	Kris Verheyen	5

Technology of Animal Products	sem 2	nl	Frank Devlieghere	5

Tropical Crop Production	sem 2	en	Eduardo de la Pena	4

Sociological Perspectives on Rural Development	sem 1	en	Joost Dessein	5

2.2 Cross-Disciplinary Elective Courses

Subscribe to no less than 5 and no more than 15 credit units from no less than 1 and no more than 2 module(s) from the following list.
A minimum of 5 credit units is required from module 3.1.1 "Cross-Disciplinary Elective Set for Bioscience Engineers".

Courses for which the final competencies are already (largely) achieved by another course in the curriculum cannot be included as part of the elective set.
Subject to approval by the faculty.

2.2.1 Elective Set

2.2.1.1 Cross-Disciplinary Elective Set for Bioscience Engineers
Elective Set

Subscribe to course units from the following list, with no more than 10 credit units with reference A.

Course	Ref	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Machine Learning for Life Sciences		sem 1	en	Willem Waegeman	4

Computer Vision for Life Sciences		sem 2	en	Jan Verwaeren	5

Advanced Biosystems Modelling		sem 1	en	Paul Van Liedekerke	5

Experimental Design		sem 2	en	Stijn Luca	3

Management for Engineers		sem 1	en	Jeroen Buysse	4

Economics and Management of Natural Resources		sem 2	en	Stijn Speelman	4

Isotopes in Biosciences		sem 1	en	Pascal Boeckx	5

Biodiversity and Nature Conservation		sem 1	nl	Lander Baeten	4

Multidisciplinary Analysis of Climate Change		sem 2	en	Pascal Boeckx	3

Human Nutrition and Health		sem 1	en	John Van Camp	5

Food Marketing and Consumer Behaviour		sem 1	en	Wim Verbeke	5

Bioethics		sem 1	en	Michiel De Proost	3

Internship	A	year	nl,en	Peter Ragaert	5

International Internship	A	year	nl,en	Peter Ragaert	5

Extended Internship	A	year	nl,en	Peter Ragaert	10

Extended International Internship	A	year	nl,en	Peter Ragaert	10

2.2.2 Open Choice

Subscribe to course units from courses offered at Ghent University, including the Ghent University Elective Courses.
Maximum 8 credit units language courses are allowed within this master programme.

Second year

(version 15 )

1 General Courses

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Agricultural and Rural Policy, EU Perspective	2	sem 1	en	Jeroen Buysse	5

Animal Nutrition	2	sem 2	nl	Veerle Fievez	5

Integrated Project Agricultural Sciences	2	year	nl	Stefaan De Smet	5

Management for Engineers	2	sem 1	en	Jeroen Buysse	4

2 Elective Courses

Subscribe to 29 credit units from 2 modules from the following list, of which at least 14 credit units from module 2.1. and at least 5 credit unitis from module 2.2.

2.1 Discipline-Specific Courses

Subscribe to no less than 14 credit units from the following list.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Biological and Biotechnological Control of Plant Pests and Diseases	sem 1	en	Patrick De Clercq	5

Sustainable and Innovative Weed Management	sem 1	nl	Benny De Cauwer	3

Climate-Resilient Cultivation Systems	sem 2	nl	Emmy Dhooghe	4

Precision Agriculture: Applications for Plant and Animal	sem 1	nl	Jeroen Degroote	3

Crop Protection Chemistry	sem 2	nl	Pieter Spanoghe	3

Ecofysiology	sem 1	nl	Kathy Steppe	5

Quality Management and Risk Analysis	sem 2	nl	Liesbeth Jacxsens	5

Planning for Multifunctional Landscapes	sem 2	nl	Kris Verheyen	5

Technology of Animal Products	sem 2	nl	Frank Devlieghere	5

Tropical Crop Production	sem 2	en	Eduardo de la Pena	4

Sociological Perspectives on Rural Development	sem 1	en	Joost Dessein	5

2.2 Cross-Disciplinary Elective Courses

2.2.1 Elective Set

2.2.1.1 Cross-Disciplinary Elective Set for Bioscience Engineers
Elective Set

Subscribe to course units from the following list, with no more than 10 credit units with reference A.

Course	Ref	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Machine Learning for Life Sciences		sem 1	en	Willem Waegeman	4

Computer Vision for Life Sciences		sem 2	en	Jan Verwaeren	5

Advanced Biosystems Modelling		sem 1	en	Paul Van Liedekerke	5

Experimental Design		sem 2	en	Stijn Luca	3

Management for Engineers		sem 1	en	Jeroen Buysse	4

Economics and Management of Natural Resources		sem 2	en	Stijn Speelman	4

Isotopes in Biosciences		sem 1	en	Pascal Boeckx	5

Biodiversity and Nature Conservation		sem 1	nl	Lander Baeten	4

Multidisciplinary Analysis of Climate Change		sem 2	en	Pascal Boeckx	3

Human Nutrition and Health		sem 1	en	John Van Camp	5

Food Marketing and Consumer Behaviour		sem 1	en	Wim Verbeke	5

Bioethics		sem 1	en	Michiel De Proost	3

Internship	A	year	nl,en	Peter Ragaert	5

International Internship	A	year	nl,en	Peter Ragaert	5

Extended Internship	A	year	nl,en	Peter Ragaert	10

Extended International Internship	A	year	nl,en	Peter Ragaert	10

2.2.2 Open Choice

Subscribe to course units from courses offered at Ghent University, including the Ghent University Elective Courses.
Maximum 8 credit units language courses are allowed within this master programme.

3 Master's Dissertation

Course	Ref	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Master's Dissertation		2	year	nl	Stefaan De Smet	30

Full programme

(version 15 )

Print

1 General Courses 61

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Animal Physiology	1	sem 1	nl	Veerle Fievez	4

Plant Husbandry	1	sem 1	nl	Benny De Cauwer	5

Monitoring Systems in Agriculture	1	sem 1	nl	Wouter Maes	5

Agroecology	1	sem 1	en	Eduardo de la Pena	5

Management of Plant Diseases, Pests and Weeds	1	sem 1	nl	Patrick De Clercq	5

Plant Breeding	1	sem 1	en	Steven Maenhout	5

Agricultural Constructions	1	sem 2	nl	Jan Pieters	5

Nutrient Management	1	sem 2	en	Stefaan De Neve	5

Experimental Design	1	sem 2	en	Stijn Luca	3

Agricultural and Rural Policy, EU Perspective	2	sem 1	en	Jeroen Buysse	5

Animal Nutrition	2	sem 2	nl	Veerle Fievez	5

Integrated Project Agricultural Sciences	2	year	nl	Stefaan De Smet	5

Management for Engineers	2	sem 1	en	Jeroen Buysse	4

2 Elective Courses 29

Subscribe to 29 credit units from 2 modules from the following list, of which at least 14 credit units from module 2.1. and at least 5 credit unitis from module 2.2.

2.1 Discipline-Specific Courses

Subscribe to no less than 14 credit units from the following list.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Biological and Biotechnological Control of Plant Pests and Diseases	sem 1	en	Patrick De Clercq	5

Sustainable and Innovative Weed Management	sem 1	nl	Benny De Cauwer	3

Climate-Resilient Cultivation Systems	sem 2	nl	Emmy Dhooghe	4

Precision Agriculture: Applications for Plant and Animal	sem 1	nl	Jeroen Degroote	3

Crop Protection Chemistry	sem 2	nl	Pieter Spanoghe	3

Ecofysiology	sem 1	nl	Kathy Steppe	5

Quality Management and Risk Analysis	sem 2	nl	Liesbeth Jacxsens	5

Planning for Multifunctional Landscapes	sem 2	nl	Kris Verheyen	5

Technology of Animal Products	sem 2	nl	Frank Devlieghere	5

Tropical Crop Production	sem 2	en	Eduardo de la Pena	4

Sociological Perspectives on Rural Development	sem 1	en	Joost Dessein	5

2.2 Cross-Disciplinary Elective Courses

2.2.1 Elective Set

2.2.1.1 Cross-Disciplinary Elective Set for Bioscience Engineers
Elective Set

Subscribe to course units from the following list, with no more than 10 credit units with reference A.

Course	Ref	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Machine Learning for Life Sciences		sem 1	en	Willem Waegeman	4

Computer Vision for Life Sciences		sem 2	en	Jan Verwaeren	5

Advanced Biosystems Modelling		sem 1	en	Paul Van Liedekerke	5

Experimental Design		sem 2	en	Stijn Luca	3

Management for Engineers		sem 1	en	Jeroen Buysse	4

Economics and Management of Natural Resources		sem 2	en	Stijn Speelman	4

Isotopes in Biosciences		sem 1	en	Pascal Boeckx	5

Biodiversity and Nature Conservation		sem 1	nl	Lander Baeten	4

Multidisciplinary Analysis of Climate Change		sem 2	en	Pascal Boeckx	3

Human Nutrition and Health		sem 1	en	John Van Camp	5

Food Marketing and Consumer Behaviour		sem 1	en	Wim Verbeke	5

Bioethics		sem 1	en	Michiel De Proost	3

Internship	A	year	nl,en	Peter Ragaert	5

International Internship	A	year	nl,en	Peter Ragaert	5

Extended Internship	A	year	nl,en	Peter Ragaert	10

Extended International Internship	A	year	nl,en	Peter Ragaert	10

2.2.2 Open Choice

Subscribe to course units from courses offered at Ghent University, including the Ghent University Elective Courses.
Maximum 8 credit units language courses are allowed within this master programme.

3 Master's Dissertation 30

Course	Ref	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Master's Dissertation		2	year	nl	Stefaan De Smet	30

Learning outcomes

To analyse the components and processes of plant and animal production systems, as well as their interactions with each other and with the biotic and abiotic environment.

To apply and evaluate strategies for nutrient management, plant breeding, crop protection and animal nutrition in order to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of plant and animal production systems.

To design innovative and sustainable agricultural systems, products or services using a data-driven approach.

To interpret and apply national and international policy frameworks related to the agri-food chain and the rural environment.

To identify and analytically solve complex issues in agriculture using scientific methodology, including interpreting scientific literature and accurately collecting and processing data.

To argue with integrity and sound reasoning on topics related to agriculture in a multidisciplinary context, demonstrating an open and proactive attitude towards new scientific and societal developments and cross-disciplinary thinking.

To function in an open, constructive and autonomous manner within an (intercultural/international) team and to take on the role of a beginning team leader.

To present and communicate clearly and correctly, both in writing and orally, about topics within the field.

To evaluate ecological, economic, societal and ethical aspects of agriculture within a (inter)national context.

To understand a complex problem or system through an integrated analysis using quantitative and qualitative methods, and to formulate and evaluate effective solutions based on this analysis.

To independently and result-orientedly conceive, plan and execute an engineering project within agricultural processes and systems, including assessing the risks and feasibility of the project.