Specialisations - MSc Plant Sciences
After being admitted to the MSc Plant Sciences, students have to choose a specialisation. The specialisation determines the possible subjects of your thesis research (i.e. at which chair groups the research can be done) and which master's courses you are required to take.
Crop Science
Sound knowledge of crop science is essential for the development of appropriate growing practices to assure reliable supplies of safe, healthy food, while taking biodiversity and nature conservation into account.
A systems approach that integrates disciplinary knowledge is crucial to studying plant production at various integration levels (plant, crop, farm, region). This requires sound understanding of the basic physical, chemical and physiological aspects of crop growth and production. Modelling and simulation are used to analyse yield constraints and improve production efficiency.
Courses
Courses for the specialisation Crop Science are listed in the online Study Handbook.
Thesis
Students in this specialisation can do their major thesis at three different Chair Groups within Wageningen University. Visit their website to find out more about their research and possible thesis subjects:
Greenhouse Horticulture
Greenhouse Horticulture is a unique agro-system and is an important economic sector in The Netherlands. It is the only production method that can significantly control abiotic and biotic factors.
Courses
Courses for the specialisation Crop Science are listed in the online Study Handbook.
Thesis
Students in this specialisation can do their major thesis at two different Chair Groups within Wageningen University. Visit their website to find out more about their research and possible thesis subjects:
Natural Resource Management
The development of sustainable agro-ecosystems requires knowledge and understanding of the complex relationships between soil health, growing practices and nutrient kinetics. Other important aspects related to sustainability are the interactions between agriculture and nature and competing claims on productive land on a worldwide scale.
Natural Resource Management provides knowledge and tools to understand the interactions between the biotic and abiotic factors in agro-systems in order to facilitate the current multitude of agricultural demands: bulk vs. speciality (pharmaceutical) products, food products vs. bio-diesel, conservation of biodiversity, dealing with climate change, eco-tourism.
Courses
Courses for the specialisation Natural Resource Management are listed in the online Study Handbook.
Thesis
Students in this specialisation can do their major thesis at three different Chair Groups within Wageningen University. Visit their website to find out more about their research and possible thesis subjects:
Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources
Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources deals with scales ranging from the molecular level to the population level and requires knowledge of the physiology, ecology and genetics of cultivated plants.
Plant Breeding plays an important role in the development of varieties that meet current demands regarding yield, disease resistance, quality characteristics, salt or drought tolerance and suitability for sustainable plant production systems. The use of various molecular techniques contributes enormously to the rapid identification of genes for natural resistance and is essential for accelerating the selection process by marker-assisted breeding.
Courses
Courses of the specialisation Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources are listed in the online Study Handbook.
Thesis
Students in this specialisation can do their MSc thesis at two different Chair Groups within Wageningen University. Visit their website to find out more about their research and possible thesis subjects:
Plant Pathology and Entomology
The investments made in crop production need to be protected from losses due to biotic stress. Integrated pest management provides such protection by integrating genetic plant resistance, cultural practices and biological control.
This specialisation investigates the population ecology of insects, nematodes and weeds and epidemiology of fungi and viruses, including mechanisms of transmission. Knowledge of plant-insect, plant-pathogen and crop-weed relationships establishes the basis for applied research programmes on integrated pest management, disease agents and weeds.
Courses
Courses of the specialisation Plant Pathology and Entomology are listed in the online Study Handbook.
Thesis
Students in this specialisation can do their MSc thesis at five different Chair Groups within Wageningen University. Visit their website to find out more about their research and possible thesis subjects: