Plant pathology is the study of plant diseases. Whereas the medical or veterinary careers focus on human and animal health, the plant pathologist focuses on plant health, which ensures healthy plants and enough food for the increasing global population. The effects of climate change, chemical residues and other toxic substances on plant health and the protection of plants are important aspects in plant pathology. Other important focus areas in modern plant pathology studies are food security and food safety.
Cutting-edge technologies, such as molecular biology, are applied in plant pathological research, for example, to study phytobiomes and the interactions between micro-organisms and plants. Plant pathology is indeed the field of study of the future and integrates various subject disciplines, such as biotechnology, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, plant science and food science.
During the first two years of the BScAgric (Plant Pathology) degree, students are exposed to a range of subjects in agricultural and biological sciences, including more fundamental subjects such as biochemistry, genetics and biotechnology, as well as the more applied subjects in agriculture.
Specialisation occurs in the second year. Students take subjects in plant biotechnology, microbiology, genetics, plant production, entomology and plant pathology. During the third year, students get the opportunity to study plant diseases directly and visit various production systems, businesses and farms where they observe plant protection in action. This takes place during field excursions and holiday work. In the final year of study, students do a research project and a number of theory modules.
For more information, please consult the Faculty webpage.
Graduates could be employed in:
02133433
Applications for this plan have closed.
Important information for all prospective students for 2022
Transferring students
A transferring student is a student who, at the time of application for a degree programme at the University of Pretoria (UP) –
A transferring student will be considered for admission based on
Note: Students who have been dismissed at the previous institution due to poor academic performance, will not be considered for admission to UP.
Returning students
A returning student is a student who, at the time of application for a degree programme –
A returning student will be considered for admission based on
Note: Students who have been excluded/dismissed from a faculty due to poor academic performance may be considered for admission to another programme at UP. The Admissions Committee may consider such students if they were not dismissed more than twice. Only ONE transfer between UP faculties will be allowed, and a maximum of two (2) transfers within a faculty.
Important faculty-specific information on undergraduate programmes for 2022
University of Pretoria website: click here
Minimum requirements | |||
Achievement level | |||
English Home Language or English First Additional Language | Mathematics | Physical Sciences | APS |
NSC/IEB | NSC/IEB | NSC/IEB | |
5 | 5 | 5 | 32 |
Candidates who do not comply with the minimum admission requirements for BScAgric (Plant Pathology), may be considered for admission to the BSc – Extended programme – Biological and Agricultural Sciences, which requires an additional year of study. Students who are placed in the BSc – Extended programme – Biological and Agricultural Sciences will take a minimum of five years to complete the BScAgric (Plant Pathology) programme.
BSc – Extended Programme – Biological and Agricultural Sciences Minimum requirements | |||
Achievement level | |||
English Home Language or English First Additional Language | Mathematics | Physical Sciences | APS |
NSC/IEB | NSC/IEB | NSC/IEB | |
4 | 4 | 4 | 26 |
Note:
*The BSc – Extended programmes are not available for students who meet all the requirements for the corresponding mainstream programme.
*Please note that only students who apply in their final NSC or equivalent qualification year will be considered for admission into any of the BSc – Extended programmes.
4 years, full-time.
The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences is home to more than 6 500 undergraduate and postgraduate students. The Faculty presents degrees in fields ranging from the proverbial A to Z – from actuaries to zoologists, and consists of 13 departments.
All degree programmes are designed to develop problem-solving individuals who can easily adapt to changing circumstances and take the lead in their chosen fields of specialisation. The qualifications awarded are of world-class and provide access to a multitude of career opportunities for dynamic and creative people. According to the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings the University has achieved new world rankings in Physical Sciences, a discipline which features strongly in NAS and also maintains excellent positions on the ISI Web of Science (WOS) field rankings in Plant and Animal Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, and Environment and Ecology Sciences.
In the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, we strive to continuously improve our high impact research and significantly address the national shortage of PhD graduates that respond to global and local challenges.
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