Plant Sciences

The requirements of the study program are fulfilled by students’ continuous work on their assignments during the 6 semesters of studies, with a minimum of 15 weeks of lectures per semester. During the studies, students must take modules of at least 180 ECTS credits, with an equivalent of 30 hours of workload for 1 ECTS credit. The program has 73% mandatory ECTS credits (including the final thesis and a professional project), and 27% of elective ECTS credits.

The first year of Plant Sciences study is performed together with the studies of Agroecology and Organic Agriculture.

During the first three semesters of the studies, along with the basic knowledge of natural and biotechnical disciplines, students also learn basics of agronomy, and in the fourth semester, they study the applied discipline of farm production. After the first and/or second year of their studies, students gain practical knowledge through at least 320 hours of practical work, which can be done on the Faculty test field, on farms that have a contract with the Faculty, or abroad.

During the third year of their studies, students expand their knowledge in other areas of agriculture, depending on their choice of elective modules. Also, in the final year of study, teams of 3 to 5 students work on professional projects, which train them for team work and business communication. Undergraduate studies are completed after the successful public defence of the written final thesis.

By attending lectures, exercises, field work and by taking exams, students acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. They are trained for the following activities:

• work in the area of agronomy, especially in selection, evaluation and production of farming cultures, industrial and forage plants,
• management of modern technological processes within the narrow professional area (farming), and similar agricultural areas (gardening, animal husbandry, pomology, etc.), depending on the selection of elective modules,
• sufficient knowledge to continue the graduate studies within the area of biotechnical sciences

The knowledge acquired in this study program enables the Bachelors of Plant Sciences to familiarize themselves with the basics of farm production and production of other agricultural crops, as well as to learn about the new trends in the agricultural production in Croatia and abroad.

Bearers of this qualification are authorized to use the legally protected university degree of Bachelor (baccalaureus) in Engineering of Plant Sciences, and perform professional tasks in the area of qualification. The study is based on the knowledge in natural, biotechnical and agronomy sciences. Bachelors of Plant Sciences are therefore trained to handle tasks of medium complexity in different areas of agriculture and entrepreneurship, and are ready to face the challenges of technological changes and innovations. Employment is not necessarily limited to the area of plant sciences.

After the completion of this undergraduate study program, students have the possibility to enrol into graduate studies of Plant Sciences and other graduate studies at the Faculty of Agriculture, or similar institutions in Croatia and abroad.