Bachelors Degree

Bachelor of Science in Horticulture

Bachelor of Science in Horticulture is a 4 years Bachelors Degree examined by Commision for University Education.

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Entry requirements for Bachelor of Science in Horticulture

To be eligible for admission into the Bachelor of Science (Horticulture) degree program you need to meet the following minimum admission requirements:

Holders of KCSE with a mean grade of C+ with passes at C or above in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics or Geography, and any one of the following; English, Kiswahili, Physics (if not included above), History and Government, Geography (if not included above), Christian Religious Education, Islamic Religious Education, Hindu Religious Education, Home Science, Art and Design, Agriculture, Aviation Technology, Computer Science, French, Germany, Arabic, Music, Business Studies.
Holders of K.A.C.E. or equivalent with a minimum of 2 principal passes in Biology and Chemistry and at least a subsidiary pass in Mathematics. If Mathematics was not offered at K.A.C.E, then it is accepted at Ordinary Level but with a minimum of a credit pass.
Holders of a Diploma in Biological Sciences or related sciences from a recognized institution with credit or distinction, with KCSE, mean grade of C or above.
Holders of a degree in biological sciences or related sciences from a recognized University

About Bachelor of Science in Horticulture

The Bachelor of Science in Horticulture degree program is an applied science discipline dealing with the conservation, improvement, production, processing, distribution, and utilization of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other ornamental plants. This BSc in Horticulture program trains 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.

Horticulture is a fast-growing and major subsector of the agricultural industry in Kenya. Its contribution towards both small-scale and large-scale farm incomes, employment, foreign exchange earnings, and food production security cannot be overemphasized. However, the full potential of horticulture is yet to be realized, hence the need for a highly qualified workforce to drive the industry. 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.

Competent graduate horticulturists from this program are capable of integrating horticultural components in farming systems; provide technical solutions compatible with the available resources; conversing with large-scale and specialized corporate horticultural production and smallholder horticulture systems, greenhouse production sustainably with local and export marketing skills.

Career Opportunities

The graduates are planners, organizers, managers, and administrators, and entrepreneurs in horticultural production systems like floriculture, viticulture, ornamental, vegetable production, and landscape designing.

After completing your qualification, you will be prepared for a wide range of technical and management positions, in Kenya and Internationally. Some areas of employment include:

horticulture science consultant
orchard and greenhouse production management
crop disease and pest control
technology, innovation, and robotics
post-harvest management
biosecurity
organic production
perishable supply chain management
international trade, access, and marketing
policy, regulation, and advocacy.

Objectives of Bachelor of Science in Horticulture

The horticultural sector has acquired a bigger role in the economy of Kenya in generating self-employment and increasing income for the rural population. There is, therefore, a dire need for highly qualified manpower to provide the necessary skills to sustain and expand production for the local market, raw materials for the processing industry, and fresh exports.

The Bachelor of Science degree program in Horticulture is thus aimed at bringing about the realization of this potential. The broad objective of the program is to train high-level manpower with practical and theoretical skills in general horticulture who will, through research, extension, marketing, and self-employment, be able to improve and increase both the production of horticultural and other crops. At the end of the program the graduates should be able to:

Perceive the importance of horticulture in the national economy with particular reference to the role of vegetables, fruits, and flowers in meeting the family needs for food, clothing, and shelter.
Make use of the acquired knowledge and practical skills to raise production and improve the marketing of horticultural crops and products on both small and large-scale farms.
Set up and run a thriving private horticultural enterprise on vegetables, fruits, or flowers.
Using acquired knowledge and practical skills, be able to relate and integrate the production of horticultural crops with other farm enterprises.
Carry out simple, but meaningful scientific research on various facets of horticultural and other crop enterprises.
Promote environmental conservation by encouraging and effecting practices that minimize soil erosion and pollution from pesticides.

Bachelor of Science in Horticulture - Programme

The Bachelor of Science in Horticulture degree program normally takes four academic years, and the courses are offered in units. A course unit is defined as a 2-hour lecture and a 2-hour tutorial or a 3-hour practical session per week per semester. The professional nature of the program necessitates that in a given academic year the candidates will take a minimum of 16 units and a maximum of 18 units, exclusive of Field Attachment and Research Project. Students will take all the courses offered in each academic year.

Year 1 Units

Communication Skills
General Economics
Introduction to General Agric. and Agrometeorology
Mathematics I
Physics I
General Microbiology
Chemistry I (Inorganic)
Plant Morphology and Anatomy
Development Studies
Mathematics II
Physics II
Chemistry II (Physical)
Chemistry III (Organic)
Taxonomy of Higher Plants
Entomology
Animal Production
HIV/AIDS

Year 2 Units

Farm Records and Accounts
Information Technology I
Technical Drawing and Survey
Statistics
Plant Biochemistry and Physiology
Plant Physiology
Weed Science
Soil Science I
Farm Management
Information Technology II
Principles of Horticulture
Plant Propagation
Genetics and Cytogenetics
Ornamental Horticulture I
Annual and Perennial Crops
Soil Science II
Field Attachment I

Year 3 Units

Agricultural Marketing
Pomology I
Olericulture I
Plant Pathology
Floriculture I
Plant Nutrition
Experimental Design
Agricultural Structures I
Pomology II
Olericulture II
Plant Breeding
Floriculture II
Postharvest Physiology
Soil Fertility and Fertilizers
Introduction to Farm Power and Machinery
Research Project I
Field Attachment II

Year 4 Units

Ecology and Environmental Science
Plant Biotechnology
Crop Protection
Postharvest Technology I (Perishables)
Soil and Water Engineering
Horticultural Seminar
Research Project II (2 Units)
Rural Sociology and Agricultural Extension
Seed Science and Technology
Ornamental Horticulture II
Principles of Food Processing and Preservation
Soil Survey, Classification, Land Evaluation and Planning
Landscape Design and Management
Research Project III (2 Units)