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Introduction

Horticulture is a fast-growing and major sector of agricultural industry in Kenya. Its contribution both towards small-scale and large-scale farm incomes, employment opportunities, foreign-exchange-earning and food production over the last 10-15 years has experienced unprecedented growth. However, the full potential of horticulture in Kenya has not been exploited.

Justification

The major goal of the Bachelor of Science in horticulture is to prepare the graduates to meet challenges faced by the horticultural industry in realizing its full potential.

Objectives

The broad objective is to train advanced level personnel with practical and theoretical skills in general horticulture, who through research, extension, marketing and entrepreneurship, will be able to increase production and use of horticultural and other crops. On completing the programme, graduates will be able to do the following:

• Perceive and appreciate the importance of horticulture in the national economy with particular reference to the roles played by vegetable and fruit crops as well as ornamental plants in meeting the family needs.
• Contribute to improving production of horticultural crops, enhancing marketing of horticultural crop produce and public awareness of aesthetic value of ornamental plants.
• Contribute in the setting up and running of private horticultural enterprises.
• Relate and integrate production of horticultural crops with other farm enterprises.
• Carry out scientific research on various facets of horticultural and other crops.
• Promote domestic, urban and institutional landscapes through design, development and maintenance.
• Promote environmental conservation by encouraging and effecting agricultural practices that minimize soil erosion and pollution.

Admission Requirements

Candidates applying to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in horticulture must satisfy the minimum University entrance requirements in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education. In addition, they must have studied and passed the following subjects with minimum grades as shown below:
(i)     B- in Biology or B in Biological Sciences
(ii)     B- in Chemistry or B in Physical Sciences
(iii)     C+ in Mathematics
Candidates who will have studied and passed agriculture will have an added advantage. However, these requirements may change from time to time.
Alternatively, admission may be granted to candidates with at least a CREDIT, or its equivalent, in Diploma in horticulture or agriculture from a recognized University or College. Diploma holders may qualify for credit transfer from their diploma programmes.

Loading and Duration of Study
The Bachelor of Science degree in horticulture shall normally take a full time student four academic years each with two semesters.
To graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in horticulture, a student should have studied and passed all courses scheduled in (8), which includes the University common core courses approved by the Senate.

The courses are coded as follows:
The abbreviation HORT refers to Horticulture,
The first digit (i.e. 1,2,3,4) represents the year of study. The second digit (i.e. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7) refers to the subject discipline/matter defined as follows:
0 = Introductory Courses
1 = General and Principle Courses
2 = Basic Horticultural Courses
3 = Vegetable Crops
4 = Fruit Crops
5 = Post-harvest Management
6 = Ornamental Horticulture
7 = Experimentation and Research Projects.
The third digit shows the series of courses in a particular field.

Examination
All examinations for this programme will be conducted in accordance with the examination regulations as stipulated in Statute of Egerton University.

Course Coding

YEAR 1SEMESTER 1    
CODE     TITLE
BOTA100     General Botany
SOIL100    Introd. to Soil Science
CHEM102     General Inorganic and Physical Chemistry
MATH100     General Mathematics
AGEN111    Introduction to Engineering Drawing
HORT111     Principles and Practices of Horticulture
ECON100    Introduction to Economics
BOTA102    General Genetics

YEAR 1SEMESTER 2    
AGRO 133     Crop Entomology
BOTA 104     General Microbiology
CHEM103     Organic Chemistry I
COMS 101     Communication Skills
ENSC 100     Introduction to Environmental Science
HORT170    Horticultural Practical Experience
PHYS 103     General Physics
AGEN112    Introduction to Workshop Technology

YEAR 2 SEMESTER 1    
BOTA 201     Taxonomy of Higher Plants
AGRO 291     Statistics for Agriculture
BOTA 202     Plant Physiology I
HORT 212     Plant Identification
HORT 221     Plant Propagation
HORT 214    Organic Production of Horticultural Crops
COMP 101     Introduction to Computer Applications

YEAR 2 SEMESTER 2    
AGRO 222    Plant Breeding
BIOC 204     Basic Biochemistry
AGRO332    Annual Crops
AGRO234     Weed Science
HORT213    Horticultural Crop Protection
AGEN131     Basic Farm Power Source and Utilization
HORT261    Floriculture 1 (Major cut flowers)
HORT222     Biotechnology in Horticulture

YEAR 3 SEMESTER 1    
AGED 348     Technical Reporting and Writing
AGEC 315     Agricultural Economics I
AGEN 331     Introduction to Agricultural Field Machines
SOIL 320     Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition
AGEN352    Soil and Water Mgmt
HORT331     Vegetable Crops I (Exotic)
HORT362     Floriculture II (Summer cut flowers)

YEAR 3 SEMESTER 2    
AGED 334     Extension Education
AGEN 353     Irrigation and Drainage
AGEN 341     Farm Structures
HORT 332     Vegetable Crops II (Indigenous)
HORT 341     Tropical and Sub-tropical Fruits
HORT 351     Post-harvest Physiology and Technology
HORT 371     Agricultural Experimentation
HORT 473     Field Attachment (8 wks)

YEAR 4 SEMESTER 1    
AGEC 416    Agricultural Economics II
BOTA 400     Plant Pathology
HORT 421     Horticultural Seed Production
HORT 423     Plant Nursery Management
HORT 442     Temperate-Zone Fruits
HORT 462     Ornamental Horticulture
HORT472    Field Visits
HORT474     Research Projects I

YEAR 4 SEMESTER 2    
AGBM406     Human and Financial Resources Management
AGEC 452     Agricultural Law
HORT 424    Greenhouse Management
HORT 433    Herbs and Spices
HORT432    Asian Vegetables
HORT443     Beverages, Medicinal and Nut Crops
HORT463     Landscape Design, Construction  and Maintenance
HORT472    Field Visits
HORT475    Research Projects II

Courses offered (in the Soil Science Section) to B.Sc. Programmes    
SOIL100     Introduction to soil science. Y1 S1/S2
SOIL210     Soil physics Y2S1 (PRERE:  SOIL 100).
SOIL211    Soil chemistry Y2S1:  CF 3.0 30/30.  (PREREQUISITE:  SOIL 100).
SOIL212     Soil biology Y2S2:  (PRERE:  SOIL 100)
SOIL213      Soil genesis, classification and mapping Y2S2: CF= 3.0 30/30. (PREREQUISITE:  SOIL 100).
SOIL320     Soil fertility and plant nutrition Y3 S1/S2: CF= 3.0 30/30.  (PREREQUISITE:  SOIL 100).
SOIL321      Soil management Y3S2:  (PREREQUISITE:  SOIL 320).
SOIL430      Research projects Y4S1 & Y4S2   0/120.
SOIL0100      Introductory to soil science