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

Competence field 3: Knowledge competency

Have qualitative and quantitative insight into plant and animal production and reproduction processes, their mutual interaction and the interactions with the biotic and abiotic environment
Identify the organisms that cause yield loss in crops and apply the methods for their integrated control
Have insight into the design of agricultural structures, with an emphasis on the interaction with plants and animals (e.g. through climate control)
Have insight into sensors and monitoring systems with applications in crop production and livestock farming, including processing and interpretation of data
Have insight into nutrient cycles and nutrient management and apply them to agriculture and the environment, both in human-managed and natural ecosystems
Have knowledge of foods, their intake and conversion by humans; know and apply quality management systems in food production
Have knowledge and apply molecular techniques for studying and identifying living organisms and for genetically modifying plants
Have insight into national and international policy mechanisms related to agriculture, the food sector and the rural environment
Develop experimental design and methods to investigate, evaluate and control agricultural processes and systems

Competence field 4: Scientific competency

Identify and analyze problems in agriculture and formulate clear research questions with a view to achieving effective and potentially applicable solutions
Consult and critically interpret professional literature according to scientific standards
Select, adapt or, if necessary, develop the appropriate analysis methods and process techniques
Extract yseful information from excessive, incomplete, or conflicting data
Plan, monitor and adjust scientific research
Accurately collect, scientifically process, critically analyze and interpret data in accordance with the principles of scientific integrity
Identify new or remaining bottlenecks and research questions based on knowledge, insight and experience

Competence field 5: Intellectual competency

Use one's own knowledge creatively, purposefully and innovatively in research, design and production
Argument scientifically in a multidisciplinary context
Demonstrate openness to new scientific developments and their applications in a broad scientific, economic and social context
Adopt an active and honest attitude towards permanent knowledge development, lifelong learning and independently steer one's own learning process

Competence field 6: Competency in collaborating and communicating

Have the required social and communication skills to work in a team
Collaborate and display early leadership in a multidisciplinary environment
Communicate clearly in writing and orally about one's own discipline in Dutch and English

Competence field 7: Social competency

Act ethically, professionally and socially responsible, also in an international or intercultural environment
Function autonomously within a short period of time in scientific research, in industrial functions, at consultancy firms, NGOs and government institutions
Consider sustainability aspects and social preconditions when developing a high-quality system, product, service or process
In professional actions, situate the social, ecological and socio-economic role of agriculture and the ethical aspects in the international context

Competence field 8: Engineering competency

Design, plan and execute an engineering project at the level of a starting professional in an independent and result-oriented manner
Understand the complexity of a problem/system using quantitative methods
Assess the risks and technical feasibility of a project
Integrate biological, physico-chemical, technological, economic and ecological aspects into research, production, quality management, management or policy