B.Sc. (Agr.) - Plant Science

Program Fast Facts Length: 4 Years Program-Related Facilities: On-campus greenhouses, growth chambers, rhizotrons, tissue and cell culture laboratories, commercial grain and forage production areas, natural woodlot, and physiological and eco-physiological equipment. Diploma awarded upon completion: B.Sc. (Agr.) with a major in Plant Science, conferred by NSAC in association with Dalhousie University Application Deadline: August 1st (Canadian students) - March 1st (International Students) Contact: Department of Plant and Animal Sciences 902.893.6688 recruit@nsac.ca nsac.ca/pas/

Program Overview
Plants add quality, security, colour and wellness to our lives, and more importantly, plants capture the sun's energy and convert it to food, phytochemicals, fibre and oxygen which makes life possible on this planet. Plants, both an essential and renewable resource, must be grown and preserved in an economical and sustainable manner. To secure the future, we must understand plants, how they grow in different situations and how they relate to others for sustainability.

The B. Sc (Agr) in Plant Science is designed to provide an increased understanding of ideas, achievements and methods in biological, physical and behavioural sciences leading to a very sound knowledge of plants accompanied by practical and life-long learning skills. This program builds on the plant-soil-environment and ecosystem relationships to include production, storage and use of plants as food, medicine, nutraceuticals, emerging fibre sources and for ornamental purposes. When you become involved with Plant Science, you will strive to find useful, creative and innovative solutions to real world problems, at home and abroad, in contributing to world food security and safety.

All aspects of plant production and utilization are covered including plants grown in laboratories, greenhouses, nurseries and on farms. The major focus is on food production, an area of plant science with environmental, economic and ethical challenges for the future of humanity. Contemporary issues in environment and food quality, biotechnology, plant breeding, and responding to changing consumer demands are also addressed.

Course Work
This curriculum is designed to give you an appropriate balance of skills, knowledge, work experience and reasoning to foster the practical art of research and investigation into problems associated with food security and quality, and wellness. Contemporary issues in environmental integrity, food security and quality, biotechnology, plant breeding, sustainable crop production practices and the changing consumer demands are addressed. In addition to the core science courses like Calculus, Chemistry, Physics and Biology, some of the courses you will take include:

• Botany
• Plant Physiology
• Plant Pathology
• Crop Adaptation
• Horticulture
• Weed Science
• Entomology
• Soil Science
  

Plus, numerous electives grant you the opportunity to take courses in your area of interest. These electives may include vegetable or fruit production, plant biotechnology or genetics, greenhouse crop production or management, or organic agriculture. It’s your degree, make it want you want it to be!