Degree Programme in Agriculture and Rural Industries

Degree: Bachelor of Natural Resources, Agronomist
Extent: 240 ECTS credits, 4 years
First-preference applicants/intake 2012: 56 / 35
Intake 2013: 35

In the Degree Programme in Agriculture and Rural Industries you will learn to develop rural areas and their livelihoods according to the principles of sustainable development. During your studies you will gain good skills for working in the field either as self-employed or in expert positions.

In your studies you will focus on the multiple aspects of crop husbandry, animal farming and forestry. You will also learn about rural entrepreneurship, management and rural development as well as gain a basic understanding of environmental issues, bio-energy and production technology.

The degree programme is flexible. You can build your degree based on your personal interests by making a combination of the following studies or by concentrating on one of them:

• bio-energy
• rural services
• production technology
• environmental care

In the studies of bio-energy you will focus on the production of bio-fuels and bio-energy as part of rural industries.

The studies of rural services will teach you to produce, innovate and market client-oriented rural services, such as tourism, equestrian services, forestry, farmers’ substitute services and care services.

The studies of production technology will teach you about the production systems and new technologies of crop and animal husbandry.

The studies of environmental care focus on the expertise related to the environmental issues of rural activities. You will learn to plan and implement environmental projects and apply environmental management policies in rural enterprises.

Practically Oriented Studies

The studies include lectures, learning tasks, exams, group assignments, company visits and online studies. A part of the practical studies is done in the fields and forests. One of the learning environments is a modern cow-house with a milking robot. You create important contacts with companies by doing learning assignments and participating in the projects that they have commissioned.

Your studies also include two practical training periods both of which have the extent of 15 ECTS credits. The first period is done in a rural business enterprise. The second one will be based on your personal career plan and it can be done either in Finland or abroad. If you complete your practical training abroad, you can choose to extend it by nine credits. The thesis can also be based on a commission by a rural business enterprise.

You can study as an exchange student in one of our three partner institutions in Hungary, Holland or Poland. You can also participate in the international research and development projects of the Institute of Natural Resources.

Interest in Nature, Animals and Rural Entrepreneurship

Studies in the Degree Programme in Agriculture and Rural Industries require an interest in the development of the countryside and rural livelihoods. You are interested in animals and nature and rural entrepreneurship. You also want to advance the sustainable use of natural resources and work for the benefit of rural areas.

Agronomists Have Good Employment Prospects

As a graduate from the Degree Programme in Agriculture and Rural Industries you can find challenging and inspiring duties in the field of rural development. For example, you can work as a rural entrepreneur or find yourself working in the rural administration either at the municipal or the national level. Moreover, employment opportunities can be found in rural development and consultancy organizations and other organizations of the field, as well as in trade and marketing.

Your future professional title can be, for example, farming entrepreneur, consultant, EU inspector, project manager, product manager, agricultural retailer or an expert working in a financial, insurance or pension institution.

The graduates of the programme have been quite successful in finding employment. About 75 per cent of the graduates had a job at the time of their graduation in 2007.

Admission Criteria and Applying

You can apply for admission if you have completed general upper secondary education, the matriculation examination or if you have a vocational qualification. If you will graduate during the spring in which you are submitting your application, please refer to your latest school certificate in your application.

Further information on applying and on the admission criteria is available in the Applicant's Guides and in the Admissions Office.

Eligibility for Further Studies

After your graduation you can continue your studies at a university of applied sciences. You can undertake professional specialization studies or continuing education that can be completed while working. With three years of work experience you can apply for admission to a Master’s degree programme at a university of applied sciences.

Further Information

Pekka Äänismaa, Head of Department, +358 400 279 057
Jukka Nikkilä, Education Coordinator, +358 400 279 591
firstname.lastname@jamk.fi
JAMK University of Applied Sciences, School of Technology, Institute of Natural Resources

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