Agricultural sciences – many think of fields and pigsties. However, the Agricultural Science degree is a complex subject that opens up many exciting career opportunities for graduates .
The subject of agricultural sciences
In fact, studying this subject is primarily about the production of food and raw materials, as well as animal husbandry . But that doesn’t mean studying how a farm works. Rather, agricultural scientists have to deal with topics such as sustainability, environmental protection and economics . For example, they deal with the following questions:
- How are renewable raw materials or energies produced?
- Which cultivation methods are efficient and sustainable?
- How can you keep animals as species-appropriate as possible?
- How can agricultural products best be marketed?
Bachelor degree
The study of agricultural sciences is very complex. There are many very different subjects on the curriculum for students in the bachelor’s program :
- The basics of natural sciences are taught at the beginning of the course in subjects such as biology , chemistry or physics .
- Business administration , economics and mathematics convey economic content to the students.
- In subjects such as zoology , agricultural engineering or plant production , students are introduced to special subject areas.
In the further course of studies it is usually possible to specialize in a sub-area of the subject . Depending on the university, you can concentrate on different topics. Animal sciences, economics and organic farming are some of them.
Master’s degree
After completing their bachelor’s degree, graduates can either go straight to work or join a master’s degree . In the master’s degree in agricultural sciences, students have the opportunity to specialize even further . Focal points can be, for example, agricultural engineering or special topics such as agricultural science in the tropics and subtropics.
Study sub-areas
According to localcollegeexplorer, agricultural sciences are offered at only a few universities in Germany. In addition to general courses of study, there are also courses that specialize in a sub-area of agricultural sciences right from the start . These include, for example, agriculture or organic farming.
For all courses of study, students should have a keen interest in natural sciences , as these are the focus at the beginning of the course. In addition, today’s agricultural scientists should also be interested in technical devices and systems , topics such as environmental protection and sustainability, and economic relationships.
Advantages of studying abroad
Today’s agronomists have to think globally . Especially when it comes to topics such as sustainability and environmental protection. But also under the economic aspects of globalization, national borders hardly play a role anymore. One or more semesters abroad prepare students in this subject optimally for the demands that are placed on them in professional life. Because while studying abroad , students not only expand their specialist knowledge , for example in relation to other cultivation and production methods. They also have the opportunity to improve their foreign language skills and to build up a network of international contacts .
Occupational fields
The career opportunities for its graduates are just as extensive as the subject.
Agriculture professions
You can indeed work “on the farm”. In many cases, they manage their own farms or those of others . Some also provide advice to the managers of such companies. In addition, professions in the individual branches of agriculture are also possible. Graduates, for example, breed new plant varieties or animal breeds. They also develop new agricultural equipment and implements, carry out quality controls on farms, or sell agricultural products.
Professions in other areas
Agronomists, however, are not restricted to industrial agriculture and related industries. You also work for public administrations, environmental and agricultural associations or specialist media . Among other things, they check compliance with environmental standards or work as specialist journalists . Master’s graduates in particular have the opportunity to pursue an academic career and, for example, go into university research and teaching. There are opportunities for a career abroad , for example, with internationally operating NGOs or in the field of development cooperation .
