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| Agricultural sciences
Non-University Higher Education (Fachhochschulen and Gesamthochschulen) The Fachhochschulen are supposed to give students a practical training and prepare them for work in the professional field, while remaining within the scientific programme set out for higher education establishments. As far as the agricultural training is concerned, the study programmes of the Gesamthochschulen correspond to those in the Fachhochschulen with respect to the structure of courses and the final degree.
or - Fachabitur (specialised university entrance qualification) from a specialised secondary technical school, or - Abitur (general higher education exam) from a general secondary school and - professional training and experience, the extent being different for the various institutions. Length and Structure of Courses Study programmes at the Fachhochschule usually take six semesters (i.e. three years). In some states eight or nine semesters are required, the extra semesters being mostly used for practical training. In the first two semesters mainly the basic subjects are taught, the next two semesters concentrate on the main subjects and fields, whereas in the last two semesters intensification, specialisation and the choice of optional courses are possible. While this structure is quite general, the length of each period may differ between institutions. The first two or three terms with the basic courses are usually
concluded with the Vordiplom examination. The last examination the Diplomprüfung,
may be divided into two phases, one after the second year and one after
the third year.
As a general rule, graduates of a Fachhochschule receive the University entrance qualification (Hochschulreife). If they change over to a university, at least credits for a substantial number of courses can be transferred. Most Fachhochschulen offer additional courses for continuation
and specialisation of studies in specific fields like ecology and environmental
protection.
Fachbereich Landwirtschaft/Ökotrophologie/Landespflege Strenzfelder Allee 28 06406 Bernburg Tel.: 0347/430 Fax: 0347/23847 Fachhochschule Neubrandenburg
Fachhochschule Nürtingen
Fachhochschule Kiel
Fachhochschule Osnabrück
Fachhochschule des Landes Rheinland-Pfalz
Fachhochschule Weihenstephan
Fachhochschule Weihenstephan
Universität - Gesamthochschule Kassel
Gesamthochschule Universität Paderborn
Adresses from former Students´Associations
Vorsitzender Heinz Heber Bachstr. 45 24392 Süderbrarup Tel.: 04641 / 617 Universities Admission Requirements
or - Abitur (general higher education exam, general university entrance qualification) from a general secondary school and - practical training of six or twelve months in some faculties. Length and Structure of Courses By virtue of their structure and content, the agricultural study programmes give a very broad picture of the various facets of agriculture and lead to a great variety of professional activities. They include the natural sciences as well as engineering subjects, economics and sociology, theoretical as well as experimental work. The regular length of studies (Regelstudienzeit) is 9 semesters, 8 semesters for courses and one semester for examinations and the thesis. Due to various reasons, the actual length of studies tends, however, to be more close to 11 or 12 semesters. The study programme is divided into two main sections: the first four semesters, which are called Grundstudium (Basic Studies) and the section of semester five to eight, which is called Hauptstudium (Main Studies). Grundstudium (Basic Studies)
The courses of the second year consist of the introductory agricultural courses , i. e.. introduction to plant production, to animal production and to agricultural economics and rural sociology, as well as of some specific fields such as soil science and agricultural engineering. After the first year and after the second year, the students are examined in these fields. After these examinations the student has achieved the so-called Vordiplom (mid-examination) to finish the Grundstudium. Hauptstudium (Main Studies)
- animal production (animal sciences) and - agricultural economics and rural sociology.
- international agriculture (Humboldt Universität zu Berlin) - natural protection and landscape ecology (Rhein. Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Bonn) - environmental protection and development of rural land resources (Justus-Liebig-Universität, Gießen) - agriculture and environment (Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen) - agricultural engineering (Universität Hohenheim, Stuttgart) - tropical agricultural sciences (Universität Hohenheim, Stuttgart) - landscape development (Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel) - dairy science (Technische Universität München - Weihenstephan) - land utilization and environment (Technische Universität München - Weihenstephan) Practical Training At least six months of practical training in farms or in agricultural industries are required (twelve months for Göttingen and München-Weihenstephan) before the completion of the Diplom. The faculties have different regulations as to when and how many months of practical training have to be demonstrated and certified. In many cases, practical training and experience abroad can be acknowledged at least to a certain extent. For positions in the public agricultural administration, a twelve-months
practical training is a prerequisite. Also for many other positions it
is favourable to have more than the minimum of six months of practical
training. Many students even have completed a full apprenticeship of two
years in an agricultural profession.
The traditional enthusiasm of German students for the European
idea is, of course, also enhanced by the very subject of agricultural study
programmes, the agricultural policy which since quite some time is a European
subject.
There are quite a number of specialist courses (Aufbaustudium) offered usually with lengths from two to four semesters. Most are on ecological topics, agricultural information science, plant protection, tropical agriculture and agricultural management. The objective is to top up the more generalised first degree studies in agricultural sciences. Most courses do not lead to an additional or more advanced academic degree, but only to a certificate for the course programme. However, some faculties do confer a Master degree. The doctoral programme in German universities consists mainly of the research work for the dissertation, there are only very few courses given specifically for doctoral students. It will take between about three and five years for an agricultural engineer to complete his doctoral programme. Usually, the doctoral students are financed on a part time basis, funding is usually provided by different research funds outside of the university on the basis of successful application for the research project. The doctoral student has to submit his dissertation and, if : it is good enough for successfully passing, he will have to pass either an examination in three subjects (Rigorosum) or he has to defend his thesis in a scientific disputation. The doctor degree earned is slightly different for the faculties, but usually something like Doktor der Agrarwissenschaften (Doctor scientiarum agrariarum, Dr. sc. agr.) or Doctor of Agricultural Sciences. For state officers in agriculture a special training course is
mandatory (Referendariat). It takes two years or two years and a half and
leads to the so called second state examination which is a prerequisite
for higher level agricultural officers in public administration, especially
for the official extension service, for agricultural teachers and similar
positions.
A quite extensive study of graduates of Hohenheim University Stuttgart is summarised in the following table. It shows that still quite a number of graduates works in the public administration in various fields. With respect to the shrinking possibilities it has to be stressed and must always be emphasised in the public that agricultural engineers are really the only group of professionals who are trained to manage natural bio-ressources.
* Bischoff, W., 1994: Berufliche Tätigkeiten Hohenheimer Diplom-Agraringenieure
und Diplom-Agrarbiologen. Polycopy. Zentrale Studienberatung der Universität
Hohenheim Stuttgart.
Landwirtschaftlich-Gärtnerische Fakultät Invalidenstr. 42 10115 Berlin Tel.: 030 / 2897 2208 Fax: 030 / 2897 2203 Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
Universität Leipzig
Universität Hohenheim
Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel
Technische Universität München - Weihenstephan
Universität Rostock
Addresses of Former Students´Oganisations
Godesberger Allee 142 - 148 53175 Bonn Tel.: 0228 / 3767 11 Fax: 0228 / 37 32 60 |
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