Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences (Bachelor of Science)

The Bachelor’s in Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences deals with the regional and global challenges of our time – climate change, food security, and environmental and resource protection. It is a systemically structured study program and combines natural sciences, ecology, technology, economics and social sciences. So if you are interested in a wide range of subjects as well as in networked thinking, you have come to the right place. You will learn and conduct research at our university on the sustainable production of high-quality food and animal feed as well as renewable raw materials for industry and energy recovery. The latest scientific findings, innovative technologies and state-of-the-art production engineering are naturally also incorporated.

In addition to the theoretical lectures in the lecture hall, you will also attend practical courses. Sometimes you will go out into the field, sometimes into the laboratory, and you will work on sensor-supported precision plant cultivation, observe computer-controlled processes in animal husbandry, learn how to decode the genome of plants and animals, investigate interactions between plants and fungi or learn about physiological processes in our farm animals. In any case, it will always be exciting!

There is probably hardly any other study program with such a wide range of career opportunities. This is due to its systematic structure, which makes it possible for each graduate to pursue their individual career wishes and ideas. Of course, the path to science and research is open to you. However, there are also fields in agricultural production that offer many different career options: From the agrochemical, agricultural, or feed engineering industries to industrial research and development, marketing or consulting. You will also be in demand in plant breeding and animal husbandry or as a consultant, for example for growers' associations. There are also good opportunities for you in the food industry, in the marketing of agricultural products, in the public sector, and in banks or insurance companies. If you prefer to work with new technologies, agricultural software companies are a good place to start. If you discover your passion for writing about agriculture, then journalism is open to you.

In addition, you qualify for the advanced Master's programs in Agricultural Biosciences and Agricultural Systems Science.

At the beginning of your studies, the focus is on scientific and economic fundamentals, supplemented by specialized modules from the fields of applied technology and plant, animal and environmental sciences. In order to focus on a discipline-specific orientation, you will choose between agricultural science and horticultural science in the first semester. Modules such as Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics, and Economics will be followed by a systematic agricultural or horticultural education. Modules such as Agroecosystems, Soil Science, and Plant Production Systems give you an insight into the complex interactions of agricultural production systems. The module Farming and Production Systems enables you to apply the knowledge you have acquired to specific projects. Your acquired knowledge from modules such as Plant Cultivation, Plant Nutrition, Phytopathology, Plant Breeding, Technological Principles of Horticultural Production, Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Agricultural and Horticultural Economics, and others will also help you in this.

Starting in the fourth semester, a wide range of elective modules will complement your individual profile development. To successfully complete your studies, you will work on a scientific topic in your Bachelor's thesis and will then have your first university degree in your pocket.

In addition, you have the opportunity to gain insights into future professional fields during your internship in the lecture-free period or during a semester of leave.

Interested? Just take a look at an exemplary curriculum!

With a Bachelor’s in Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, you will be able to solve problems related to the production and marketing of high-quality plant- and animal-based food and non-food products in a focused manner. Your specialized knowledge as well as your interdisciplinary knowledge of methods acquired during your studies will help you in this process.

You will be able to use your experience from the project-oriented modules together with your theoretical knowledge to solve concrete technical problems and transfer them into practice. Your methodological understanding and in-depth knowledge of molecular genetics and biotechnology, the analysis of material and energy flows in agricultural and horticultural ecosystems as well as operational and market analysis will serve as a basis for this. Your specialized knowledge in the field of agricultural or horticultural sciences completes your profile.

You will be able to meet society’s demands of the industry in a responsible and competent manner, identifying and resolving conflicts of interest at an early stage. An understanding of biological, ecological, economic and business management contexts will help you in this.

Along the entire value-added chain from primary production to processing and product, you will be able to assess the related significance of climate and environment, as well as social and political influencing factors, and develop proposals for solutions.

Here at the university you will receive a well-rounded bundle of knowledge that will make you fit for your future.

During the application period you can easily apply for a place in the winter semester via the application portal TUMonline. You can upload your documents for the admission to the Agricultural and Horticultural Science program directly to the portal.

Prerequisite for the course is the general qualification for university entrance, or the subject-related higher education entrance qualification in the field of agricultural economics, or a comparable qualification. There are no other admission restrictions; the degree programme is free of admission.

If you are subsequently admitted, you must submit a few certified hard copies for enrollment.

A pre-study internship prior to commencement of studies is not required for admission.

• Curriculum
  The degree chart gives you an overview and recommendation, which modules you should take in which semester according to academic and examination regulations (FPSO).
   
• Timetable (TUM ID required for login):
  This timetable is intended to give you an overview of the planned compulsory and elective modules of a semester. It is for orientation purposes only and will not be updated during the semester! 
  
  Via TUMonline you can have a timetable created for each semester according to FSPO.
  
  You can also create your own individual timetable, which can contain not only the dates of the selected courses, but also your personal appointments.
  
  First steps with TUMonline

• General Academic and Examination Regulations at TUM (APSO)
• Academic and Examination Regulations (FPSO)
  • Academic and Examination Regulations 2019 (from start of degree program WS 19/20)
• Examination dates & registration via TUMonline
  In TUMonline you can register for the module examinations that accompany your studies. 

  Important: You can only take most of the exams if you have actively registered yourself via TUMonline within the registration period. The registration and deregistration period will be displayed at the exam date.

• Further examination matters
  • Academic progress check
  • Examinations
  • Recognitions
  • Theses

• Board of Examination
  The board of examination is a committee consisting of university professors and lecturers of the degree program. The chairperson of the board of examination of your degree program is Prof. Dr. agr. habil. Kurt-Jürgen Hülsbergen. Applications to the board of examination are received by the secretary and submitted to the board of examination for decision. You can reach the secretary by sending an email to examination.co@ls.tum.de.

A pre-study internship before the start of the course is not required for admission.

During your Bachelor's degree you must complete an internship of at least twelve weeks. The internship usually takes place during the lecture-free period and is composed as follows:

Agricultural Economics Internship

In the module "Agricultural Economics Internship" for the Agricultural Sciences profile, the following practical courses are organized at external educational institutions:

• 1-week internship course: Agricultural Engineering 1
• 1-week internship course: Agricultural Engineering 2
• 2-week internship course: Animal Husbandry with different focuses

Horticulture Internship

In the module "Horticulture Internship" for the horticultural science profile, the following practical courses are organized in our research institutes and in some cases at external educational institutions:

• 1-week internship course: Plant Propagation in Horticulture
• 1-week internship course: Horticultural Technology
• 1-week internship course: Greenhouse Technology
• 1-week internship course: Plant Protection, Biological Plant Protection, Measurement Technology

Vocational Field Orientation

For the practical module "Vocational Field Orientation" the following internship sections have to be completed:

• At least 4 weeks’ internship in the related area
• At least 4 weeks either in upstream or downstream sectors, or in the producing sector of the agricultural or horticultural sector.

You must also provide evidence of four excursion days for this module.

These can include visits to trade fairs (e.g. Agritechnica or Eurotier in Hanover) as well as half-day, one-day, or multi-day excursions organized by our chairs, each with subject-related objectives. In addition to research institutions, the upstream and downstream sectors, the processing industry and even government departments  or administration are also target areas.

Excursion trips

The excursion trips of several days within Germany or abroad are particularly interesting. Most recently, excursions were offered to Switzerland, Russia, South Tyrol, Ecuador, and Paraguay.

Interested? Tips and information about excursions can be found by contacting the chairs directly or we can send you them by email.

The internships of the Vocational Field Orientation module can be completed in Germany or abroad. There are numerous support possibilities for the stay abroad. Just ask at our International Center.

The Weihenstephan Internship Office can offer further information and support in your search for internship companies.
 

More information about

• Internships
• Excursions