Introduction
Department of Agricultural Sciences (DAS) is making earnest efforts aiming at supplementing, supporting and re-enforcing extension services and offering agriculture related programs at different levels. Agriculture progress in most developing countries has mainly involved an increase in the production of staple crops, the introduction of industrial crops and development of livestock production. One cannot deny the importance of livestock because it produces a huge quantity of food, such as beef, mutton, poultry meat, milk, yogurt and lot of other milk, and animal byproducts. Millions of acres are still being cultivated with the help of farm animals in this mechanized era. At present, higher education in agriculture is imparted by four formal agricultural universities in Pakistan, which are not catering in-service personnel. The AIOU conducted a survey to get an idea about the higher education in Livestock Management Agricultural Extension, Forestry Extension and Rural Development and received a positive response from candidates who could not improve their qualification from formal Agricultural Universities for one or other reason and are now working in different governmental departments and NGOs. DAS has decided to offer MSc (Hons) Rural Development through distance teaching system, especially for those who could not enhance their qualification through formal system.
Eligibility Criteria
Pre-medical & Pre-engineering or diploma holders (3-year Diploma of field assistant or in field of agriculture) from national and international HEC recognized institutions.
Selection Process
Open Merit
Duration
Medium of Instruction
Teaching Methodology
Face to Face Mode
Total Credits Hours Required
|
Name of Subject |
Academic Cluster |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Functional English |
Functional English |
3 (3+0) |
ENGL 3505 |
|
Ideology and Constitution of Pakistan |
Ideology and Constitution |
2 (2+0) |
PKST 3502 |
|
Quantitative Reasoning-I |
Quantitative Reasoning |
3 (3+0) |
MATH 3508 |
|
Islamic Studies / Ethics |
Islamic Studies / Ethics |
2 (2+0) |
ITHC 3501 / HADH 3501 |
|
Pakistani Adab-I |
Arts and Humanities |
2 (2+0) |
URD 3503 |
|
Cell Biology |
Interdisciplinary |
3 (2+1) |
BIO 3507 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
15 |
|
Name of Subject |
Academic Cluster |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Quantitative Reasoning-II |
Quantitative Reasoning-II |
3 (3+0) |
MATH4505 |
|
Applications of Information & Communication Technologies |
ICT |
3 (2+1) |
CS3503 |
|
Expository Writing |
Expository Writing |
3 (3+0) |
ENGL3504 |
|
Civics and Community Engagement |
Civics and Community Engagement |
2 (2+0) |
SOC3503 |
|
Introduction to Sociology |
Social Sciences |
2 (2+0) |
SOC3506 |
|
Introduction to Agriculture Extension |
Major |
3 (3+0) |
AGSI3506 |
|
Pak. Studies |
GE |
2 (2+0) |
PKST3501 |
|
Total |
18 |
|
Name of Subject |
Academic Cluster |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Entrepreneurship |
Entrepreneurship |
2 (2+0) |
MGT3503 |
|
Basics of Environmental Science |
Natural Sciences |
3 (2+1) |
ENVS4501 |
|
Basic Agriculture |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI3501 |
|
Introduction to Plant Breeding and Genetics |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI4507 |
|
Introduction to Animal Husbandry |
Interdisciplinary |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI3502 |
|
Introductory Horticulture |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI4508 |
|
Total |
17 |
|
Name of Subject |
Academic Cluster |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Entrepreneurship |
Entrepreneurship |
2 (2+0) |
MGT3503 |
|
Basics of Environmental Science |
Natural Sciences |
3 (2+1) |
ENVS4501 |
|
Basic Agriculture |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI3501 |
|
Introduction to Plant Breeding and Genetics |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI4507 |
|
Introduction to Animal Husbandry |
Interdisciplinary |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI3502 |
|
Introductory Horticulture |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI4508 |
|
Total |
17 |
Major Horticulture
|
Name of Subject |
Academic Cluster |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Principles of Fruit Production |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5513 |
|
Principles of Vegetable Production |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5514 |
|
Principles of Ornamental Crop Production |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5515 |
|
Propagation and Nursery Management |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5516 |
|
In Vitro Propagation |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5517 |
|
Breeding of Horticultural Crops |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5518 |
|
Fahm-e-Quran, Tajwid Translation and Tafsir |
Compulsory Course |
Non-Credit |
TFSR3501 |
|
Total |
18 |
Major Agronomy
|
Name of Subject |
Academic Cluster |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Plant Nutrients and Growth Regulators |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5525 |
|
Agro-technology of Major Field Crops |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5526 |
|
Irrigation and Agronomy |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5527 |
|
Field Crop Physiology |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5528 |
|
Agro-Ecology |
Major |
3 (3+0) |
AGSI5529 |
|
Arid and Rainfed Agriculture |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5530 |
|
Fahm-e-Quran, Tajwid, Translation and Tafsir |
Compulsory Course |
Non-Credit |
TFSR3501 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
18 Credit Hours |
Major Soil Science
|
Name of Subject |
Academic Cluster |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Trace Elements in Agriculture |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5536 |
|
Physical Properties of Soil |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5537 |
|
Chemical Properties of Soil |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5538 |
|
Instrumentation and Laboratory Techniques |
Major |
3 (1+2) |
AGSI5539 |
|
Soil Genesis and Morphology |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5540 |
|
Municipal and Agro Waste Management |
Major |
3 (3+0) |
AGSI5508 |
|
Fahm-e-Quran, Tajwid, Translation and Tafsir |
Compulsory Course |
Non-Credit |
TFSR3501 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
18 Credit Hours |
Major Horticulture
|
Name of Subject |
Academic Cluster |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tropical and Sub-Tropical Fruits |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5519 |
|
Summer Vegetables |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5520 |
|
Landscape Horticulture |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5521 |
|
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5522 |
|
Post-Harvest Horticulture |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5523 |
|
Mushroom Culture |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5524 |
|
Seerat-e-Tayyaba |
Compulsory Course |
Non-Credit |
SERT3501 |
|
Total |
18 |
Major Agronomy
|
Name of Subject |
Academic Cluster |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Crop Management under Stressful Environments |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5531 |
|
Seed Production Technology |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5532 |
|
Introduction to Weed Science |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5533 |
|
Conservation Agronomy |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5534 |
|
Climate Change and Crop Production |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5535 |
|
Climate Smart Agriculture in Pakistan |
Major |
3 (3+0) |
AGSI5512 |
|
Seerat-e-Tayyaba |
Compulsory Course |
Non-Credit |
SERT3501 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
18 Credit Hours |
Major Soil Science
|
Name of Subject |
Academic Cluster |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Salt-Affected Soils and Water Quality |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5541 |
|
Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Use |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5542 |
|
Soil Survey and Land Evaluation |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5543 |
|
Soil and Water Conservation |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5544 |
|
Plant Resource Utilization |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI5509 |
|
Climate Smart Agriculture in Pakistan |
Major |
3 (3+0) |
AGSI5512 |
|
Seerat-e-Tayyaba |
Compulsory Course |
Non-Credit |
SERT3501 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
18 Credit Hours |
Major Horticulture
|
Name of Subject |
Academic Cluster |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Research and Scientific Writing |
Interdisciplinary |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI6508 |
|
Temperate Fruits |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI6509 |
|
Winter Vegetables |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI6510 |
|
Commercial Flower Production |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI6511 |
|
Vegetable and Flower Seed Production |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI6512 |
|
Agribusiness, Marketing, and Trade |
Interdisciplinary |
3 (3+0) |
AGSI6513 |
|
Total |
18 Credit Hours |
Major Agronomy
|
Name of Subject |
Academic Cluster |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Forage and Fodder Production |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI6516 |
|
Research and Scientific Writing |
Interdisciplinary |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI6517 |
|
Principles of Weed Science |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI6518 |
|
Farming System and Record Management |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI6519 |
|
Agribusiness, Marketing, and Trade |
Interdisciplinary |
3 (3+0) |
AGSI6520 |
|
Organic Farming |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI6521 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
18 Credit Hours |
Major Soil Science
|
Name of Subject |
Academic Cluster |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Soil Microbiology |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI6522 |
|
Research and Scientific Writing |
Interdisciplinary |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI6523 |
|
Soil–Water–Plant Relationship |
Major |
3 (3+0) |
AGSI6524 |
|
Land Degradation and Management |
Major |
3 (3+0) |
AGSI6525 |
|
Agribusiness, Marketing, and Trade |
Interdisciplinary |
3 (3+0) |
AGSI6526 |
|
Carbon Sequestration in Soil |
Major |
3 (2+1) |
AGSI6527 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
18 Credit Hours |
Major Horticulture
|
Name of Subject |
Academic Cluster |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internship |
Major |
3 (0+3) |
AGSI6514 |
|
Capstone Project |
Major |
3 (0+3) |
AGSI6515 |
|
Subtotal |
6 Credit Hours |
||
|
Grand Total |
130 Credit Hours |
Major Agronomy
|
Name of Subject |
Academic Cluster |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internship |
Major |
3 (0+3) |
AGSI6514 |
|
Capstone Project |
Major |
3 (0+3) |
AGSI6515 |
|
Subtotal |
6 Credit Hours |
||
|
Grand Total (Program) |
130 Credit Hours |
Major Soil Science
|
Name of Subject |
Academic Cluster |
Credit Hours |
Course Code |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internship |
Major |
3 (0+3) |
AGSI6514 |
|
Capstone Project |
Major |
3 (0+3) |
AGSI6515 |
|
Total (Semester) |
6 Credit Hours |
||
|
Grand Total (Program) |
130 Credit Hours |
1
2
3
4
5
6
Semesters
Assessment Weightage
| For Theory Courses: | ||||
| S.No. | Components | Total Marks | Weightage | Passing Marks |
| 1 | Assignment | 10 | 20% | 50% (In aggregate) |
| 2 | Assignment 2 | 10 | ||
| 3 | Mid Term | 30 | 30% | |
| 4 | Attendance | 100 | Nil | 70% |
| 5 | Final Exam | 100 | 50% | 50% |
| For Theory-Practical Courses: | ||||
| S.No. | Components | Total Marks | Weightage | Passing Marks |
| 1 | Assignment | 10 | 20% | 50% (In aggregate) |
| 2 | Assignment 2 | 10 | ||
| 3 | Mid Term | 30 | 30% | |
| 4 | Practical | 15 | ||
| 5 | Attendance | 100 | Nil | 70% |
| 6 | Final Exam | 100 | 50% | 50% |
| For Practical/FYP Courses: | ||||
| S.No. | Components | Total Marks | Weightage | Passing Marks |
| 1 | Attendance | 100 | Nil | 70% |
| 2 | Final Exam | 100 | 100% | 50% |
Note: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) reserves the right to amend the fee structure policy, course offering and assessment of courses when required. The existing course(s) will be adopted/adapted as per requirement. The department may change the sequence of the course(s) offering as per availability of course(s).