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Academic year 2017/2018
Master's Degree (MSc) on AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES
PLANT PRODUCTIONS

Coordinator Prof. Pietro Columba
Class of Master's Degree (MSc) on Agricultural sciences (LM-69)
2 years
PALERMO
Free access
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Science
Course Code
2059

Course info
The degree Course provides graduates of the class of degree courses L25 a deepening of professional training in the agricultural sector. The course is aimed at improving the technical and scientific expertise for the design, management and control of productive agricultural systems, with traits of sustainability and multi-functionality; the consolidation of the professional and scientific skills in the field of entrepreneurship and agricultural management and development of quality products and processes; the expansion of the expertise in the design and management of parks and gardens and technical, sports and recreation green in urban and suburban environments. Graduates of this Course acquire specific professional training in the following areas: - Propagation, production and protection of plants, shrubs, herbaceous trees, vegetables and flowers, design, management and development of production systems of tree fruit crops, herbaceous crops and vegetables and flowers; - Landscape analysis, design, implementation and management of parks, gardens and public and private green at large, in urban and suburban environments; - Activation of business and supply chain initiatives related to the upgrading of products with specific quality characters, (typical, biological, historical, etc.) and to food security as well as the ability to relate with the socio-economic system through forms of integration and coordination of the productive and organizational activities. The educational programme enable graduates to: - Acquire an adequate cultural background to carry out basic and applied research and experimentation, and to develop and promote scientific and technological innovations; - Acquire skills to plan, design, maintain and enhance agricultural production systems and environmental and natural resources also for recreational and sports purposes; - Acquire command of the scientific methods of investigation in crop production, enabling them to intervene in problem solving on specific systems and processes, through direct field surveys, laboratory determinations, processing and interpretation of data; - Have in-depth expertise to design, build and operate parks, gardens, sports and recreation areas, in relation to technical means, machinery and mechanical equipment; - Pursue the qualitative and quantitative improvement of plant and animal production through the genetic selection, nursery management, design of cropping systems, the defense against biotic and abiotic agents, the adoption of rational and innovative techniques and technologies; - Possess the dialectical skills to argue the technical and scientific aspects in inter-professional relations with specialists of the same or other sectors, and in disseminating to non-specialists farmers their technical convictions; - Acquire skills in the field of international agricultural policy, market and marketing, as well as of the technical and economic aspects of the development of products through the adoption of quality and safety systems, in relation also to the sociological roots of production and consumption behaviors. The educational activities consist of lectures, laboratory and field exercises and mid-term tests. The expected time for obtaining the Degree is two academic years. To achieve the Degree, students must have obtained 120 university credits (CFU). The Degree Course program consists of 11 required courses and one elective course, plus the practical application internship at accredited facilities and the final examination with the preparation and discussion of a thesis on Course-specific issues. The eight elective cretits may be acquired, in accordance with article 10, paragraph 5, letter a) of the Ministerial Decree 270/04, by choosing freely between the disciplines activated by other Degree Courses of the Polytechnic School, or of other schools of the University of Palermo or other Italian and foreign universities. At the end of the course students will be awarded the title of “Dottore Magistrale in Scienze della produzione e delle tecnologie agrarie" and, after passing the national professional qualification exam, they may register in Section A (Senior Agronomist) of the “Albo professionale dell'Ordine dei Dottori Agronomi e Forestali”. . Making judgments: Graduates of this course possess independent judgment ability with respect to: - the design and management in the agricultural sector at higher levels of complexity, and to the critical evaluation of the social and environmental implications and the technical and economic results of the actions undertaken, proposed and implemented. - The efficiency and effectiveness of the technical choices and the effects of the same in terms of quality and safety of processes and products while respecting the environment; - the opportunity to establish relations between operators in the agri-food system and the adherence to forms of co-ordination between activities at different levels of the food system (assessing agreements for the production, supply and disciplinary certification, etc.); - the social and cultural determinants characterizing the agri-food production and consumption systems as well as the social implications of the interventions related to market issues; - the ethical implications of the choices related to the correct communication, quality and wholesomeness of the processes and of agricultural and agro-industrial products. The expected learning outcomes are achieved by developing the student's ability to compare different solutions of the problem being treated, also through the drafting of specific papers. The assessment of the learning outcomes is carried out ascertaining by exams, in-course tests or the final examination, the critical skills of students and their ability to predict the effects of the choices. Communication skills: Graduates of this course, having acquired critical thinking skills, also develop the ability to direct and coordinate the functions of individual workers in the workplace and in particular in the context of multidisciplinary teams, to transfer and disseminate, in written and oral form, with technical-scientific language clear and understandable at all levels of the industry, their analyzes, theses, professional solutions and proposals, as well as the repercussions on the various environmental components including the human communities living, using or owning the territory. The expected learning outcomes are achieved through the student's ability to present, in oral or written form, the acquired knowledge during the examination. The assessment of the learning outcomes is carried out evaluating the ability of presenting the issues using the specific language of the themes of the course, and making it understandable even to a non-competent public. Learning skills: Graduate acquire competences enabling them to continue their studies, deepening and updating their knowledge of technical and scientific issues. The skills acquired enable them to attend seminars and technical and scientific conferences, to tap into the industry specific advanced texts and to dialogue with scientific societies, academies and research institutes in the sector, as well as to access to advanced courses and 2nd level University Master Courses. The expected learning outcomes are achieved by maintaining the logic succession or any prerequisites, provided by the course regulations of the course of study, of the subjects in the course syllabus, with the aim of developing the ability to understand the application and the utilization of research results. The assessment, carried out in the course of examinations, aims at testing students’ ability to use the acquired knowledge to solve new problems, to recognize the need for further information, to use the results of specific research.
Profile: FRUIT TREE CROP TECHNICIAN Functions: Graduate Experts in the design and management of plants for the production of fruit. They may enrol in Section A of the “Albo Professionale dei Dottori Agronomi e Forestali”. Skills: Ability to plan and conduct agronomic production systems typical of the Mediterranean fruit, tropical and subtropical, viticulture, olive and citrus crops. Ability to apply integrated management/defensive or environment-friendly models. Quality control along the supply chain. Management of post-harvest and market positioning. Professional opportunities: Self-employment, research, public and private institutions, farms, technical assistance. Profile: HERBACEOUS AND HORTICULTURAL FIELD SCALE CROPS TECHNICIAN Functions: These graduate technicians are experts in the design and operation of plants for the production of vegetable-flower, cereal, fodder (referring also to livestock systems), medicinal and industrial crops. They may enrol in Section A of the “Albo Professionale dei Dottori Agronomi e Forestali”. Skills: Agronomic planning and management of local productive systems of annual, biennial and perennial open field crops. Ability to apply farming and integrated pest management models. Understanding of agro-meteorological models. Professional opportunities: Self-employment, research, public and private institutions, farms, technical assistance. Profile: GREEN AREA DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT TECHNICIAN Functions: These graduate technicians are experts in the design, construction and redevelopment of green spaces in urban and suburban environments. They may enrol in Section A of the “Albo Professionale dei Dottori Agronomi e Forestali”. Skills: Design, implementation and management of parks, gardens and technical, sports and recreation, public and private green areas at large, in urban and suburban environments. Knowledge of the interaction between urban environment and ornamental plants as environmental hygiene machines. Techniques of restoration and conservation of gardens and parks. Professional opportunities: Self-employment, research, public and private green areas, farms, technical assistance. Profile: LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS TECHNICIAN Functions: The technicians in landscape analysis are graduate experts with technical expertise in agricultural sciences and landscape architecture. They may enrol in Section A of the “Albo Professionale dei Dottori Agronomi e Forestali”. Skills: Understanding of the different scales of the landscape. Application of specific design models, restoration and reconstruction of the plant landscape. Ecological analysis of the urban and suburban plant landscape. Professional opportunities: Self-employment, research, public and private green areas, farms, technical assistance.
The final examination consists of the presentation of a thesis, prepared in an original way, to ascertain the level achieved of scientific, technical and professional competences and the possible discussion of issues proposed by the members of the Board. The final work, which must have characteristics of originality, can be of experimental, theoretical or design type, or be a short essay on a single or multi-disciplinary theme. For particular disciplines of a 2nd cycle Degree, the thesis might also include a multimedia product. The paper can be written in a European language other than Italian, if specified in the Course regulations. The final work, or part of it, can be also carried out at other public and/or private Italian or foreign institutions and companies accredited by the University of Palermo. The supervisor of the thesis must be a teacher, even if not tenured, member of the Board of the Degree Course, or a teacher of an elective subject, chosen by the student. The supervisor may coincide with the university tutor of the practical-application training. The supervisor may use the help of another professor, researcher, adjunct professor or an outside expert who takes on function of co-supervisor, in the teaching activities related to the preparation of the final dissertation.

course outline
Teachings first year
credits Term Val. Area Scientific sector
03437 - FLORICULTURE Details IAPICHINO (PA) 6.0 1 V B AGR/04
15399 - EVERGREEN WOODY PLANTS - INTEGRATED COURSE Details GERMANA' (PO) 12.0 1 V
OLIVE GROWING CARUSO (PO) 6.0 B AGR/03
CITRUS FRUIT GROWING GERMANA' (PO) 6.0 B AGR/03
15477 - POLICY AND MARKETING OF THE AGRO-FOOD SYSTEM Details ALTAMORE (PA) 9.0 1 V B AGR/01
18643 - CAD APPLICATIONS FOR AGRICULTURAL DESIGN Details ORLANDO (PA) 3.0 1 G F
15396 - DECIDUOUS WOODY PLANTS - INTEGRATED COURSE Details DI LORENZO (PO) 12.0 2 V
FRUIT FARMING MARRA (PO) 6.0 B AGR/03
WINE GROWING DI LORENZO (PO) 6.0 B AGR/03
16061 - SEED PRODUCTION AND GENETIC IMPROVEMENT - INTEGRATED COURSE Details AMATO (PO) 9.0 2 V
SEED PRODUCTION AND TECHNOLOGIES AMATO (PO) 6.0 B AGR/02
GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL SPECIES GIAMBALVO (PO) 3.0 C AGR/07
18635 - INDUSTRIAL AND OFFICINAL HERBACEOUS CROPS Details CARRUBBA (PA) 9.0 2 V B AGR/02
Free subjects (suggested) 8.0 D
Teachings second year
credits Term Val. Area Scientific sector
04011 - IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE Details CRESCIMANNO (PO) 6.0 1 V C AGR/08
09783 - ACAROLOGY AND INTEGRATED DEFENCE Details TSOLAKIS (PA) 6.0 1 V B AGR/11
18817 - INTEGRATED PHYTOPATIES CONTROL Details DAVINO (PO) 6.0 1 V C AGR/12
19239 - EXPERIMENTAL METHODOLOGY AND STATISTICS LABORATORY Details LETO (PO) 3.0 1 G F
05917 - FINAL EXAMINATION 8.0 2 G E
07553 - PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 8.0 2 G F
12638 - MACHINES AND EQUIPMENT FOR AGRICULTURE Details COMPARETTI (PA) 6.0 2 V C AGR/09
16062 - HORTICULTURAL SYSTEMS Details D'ANNA (PQ) 9.0 2 V B AGR/04
Elective activities
Free subjects (suggested) credits Term Val. Area Scientific sector
03548 - TROPICAL AND SUB-TROPICAL FRUIT FARMING Details FARINA (PO) 3.0 2 V D AGR/03
13897 - IRRIGATION IN TREE FARMING Details LO BIANCO (PO) 3.0 2 V D AGR/03
18752 - APPLIED AGRO-METEOROLOGY Details LETO (PO) 3.0 2 V D AGR/02
18753 - PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS IN AGROFORESTAND TOWN ENVIRONMENTS Details LO BUE (CU) 3.0 2 V D AGR/11
Explaination
Term Term/Semester
Val. Valutation: V = mark in 30/30, G = note
(*) Teaching attended in english
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