Faculty of Engineering
Introduction
The demand for food and other agricultural products has been increasing tremendously in the recent past worldwide. This trend is likely to continue in future given the already high population growth rates in many countries and especially in Kenya. Concurrently, agricultural land is diminishing rapidly as demand for land increases due to urbanization and other infrastructure necessary for development. The resulting intensification in the utilization of the land resources has led to their deterioration. This problem has been aggravated by lack of highly trained manpower for effective utilization of land and other related resources. In addition, there is lack of appropriate agricultural power and machinery for sustainable agriculture.
Consequently this Master?s degree programmes are tailored to meet the demand for highly trained manpower in the following fields of specialization:
(i) Soil and Water Conservation Engineering
(ii) Farm Power and Machinery
(iii) Agricultural Structures and Processing
(iv) Environmental Engineering
(v) Renewable Energy Engineering
It is expected that the degree programmes shall provide highly trained manpower needed for analysis, design, and development of improved technologies for sustainable agricultural production. The graduate shall find employment in institutions of higher learning, research institutions, private sector, municipal councils, development authorities, non-governmental organizations, and international bodies.
Vision
The vision is to produce high level trained manpower for enhanced agricultural production, food security, and poverty alleviation in Kenya by the year 2016 and make Kenya industrialized by the year 2030.
Mission
The mission of the Department of Agricultural Engineering is to train Agricultural Engineers in the various areas of specialization: Farm Power & Machinery; Soil & Water Engineering and Management; Agricultural Processing, Structures and Environment; and Renewable Energy Resources.
Objectives
The broad objective of the programmes is to provide a thorough grounding in the principles and application of agricultural engineering in order to meet the challenges of increasing the quality and quantity of food, feed, and fibre. The specific objectives are:
(i) To prepare candidates for teaching, research, and consultancy careers at universities and other institutions of higher learning.
(ii) To impart on candidates advanced scientific knowledge and skills in the design, selection, construction, and management of structures, machines, and processes for increased production in agriculture and agro-industry.
(iii) To facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and skills necessary for effective use and conservation of the environment.
(iv) To enable the candidates acquire the necessary knowledge and skills for the identification, use, and management of renewable energy sources.
(v) To increase the competitiveness of candidates on the job market as well as for self employment.
University Rules and Regulations for the Master?s Degree Programmes
The common University rules and regulations for the Master?s degree programmes specified in the Egerton University Statutes shall be applicable.
Administration
Admission shall be offered to holders of a first degree in Agricultural Engineering or any other related discipline, with at least upper second class honours or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.
Candidates who meet the minimum admissions requirements specified above may be required to appear for an oral interview by the department, to determine their suitability for enrolment into the Master?s degree programme.
Under special circumstances, admission may be offered to holders of a first degree with a lower second class honours and relevant experience in research or teaching at an institution of higher learning recognized by the Senate.
Provisional status of admissions shall be granted to applicants who have upper second class honours or equivalent but lack undergraduate courses considered essential for graduate study in the major field.
Provisional status shall not qualify the applicant to be eligible for appointment to an assistantship or award of a fellowship by the university.
Full graduate standing shall be granted to provisional status applicant when the deficiencies responsible for the provisional status are corrected, within the first semester of their Master?s academic year or before, provided the student has maintained satisfactory
Duration of Study
Full-time candidates for the Master?s degree in Agricultural Engineering shall be registered for a minimum of eighteen (18) months and a maximum of thirty six (36) months, and register for a minimum of nine (9) credit factors (CF) per semester.
 Part-time candidates for Master?s degree in Agricultural engineering shall be registered for a maximum of four (4) academic years, and they must register for a minimum of six (6) credit factors per semester.
Full-time candidates for a Master?s degree in Agricultural Engineering shall be required to spend the first twelve (12) consecutive months of study in residence at the University.
Master?s Degree Options
There shall be two options for a Master?s degree programme in Agricultural Engineering.
Master?s Degree by Course work, Examinations and Thesis (M.Sc. Agricultural Engineering)
Candidates taking this option shall be required to successfully complete thirty (30) credit factors of course work, and in addition successfully complete a thesis worth fifteen (15) credit factors to qualify for an award of the Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Agricultural Engineering.
Master?s Degree by Course work, Examinations and Project (M. Agric. Eng.)
Candidates taking this option shall be required to successfully complete forty (40) credit factors of course work of prescribed courses and take examinations. In addition, they shall be required to conduct a special project worth five (5) credit factors and present a satisfactory dissertation at the end of the study period.
Examination
All courses registered in each semester shall be examined at the end of that semester.
All examinations shall be subject to internal (departmental) and external moderation.
Course work assessment shall consist of:
i) End of semester written examinations constituting 60% of the total marks for each course.
ii) Continuous assessment based on assignments, laboratory practicals and such other tests as the regulations of the department may stipulate, constituting 40% of the total marks for each course.
iii) Courses which are purely of practical nature and/or seminars shall be assessed entirely by continuous assessment.
Marks obtained in examinations shall be converted into grades as follows:
A - 70% and above Very good
B - 60% to 69% Good
C - 50% to 59% Average
F - 49% and Below Fail
I - Incomplete
K - Course in Progress
CT - Credit Transfer
AU - Audit
P - Pass
The passing grade shall be C in all courses attempted by a candidate. However, the candidate must obtain a minimum average grade of ?B? to continue with the programme.
A candidate who scores an ?F? grade in a course shall be required to repeat the course once only when it is next offered.
The examination results shall be processed through the Faculty Board and reported to the Senate through the Board of Graduate School.
Submission and examination of thesis. The submission and examination of the thesis shall be conducted according to the common university rules and regulations as stipulated by the Board of Graduate School.
Course Coding
All courses offered by the department of Agricultural Engineering shall be coded AGEN. This shall be followed by a course number consisting of three digits. The first digit (6 or 7) shall represent the first or second year of graduate study; the second digit the area of specialization; and the last digit the sequence of the course in the area of specialization. Areas of specialization shall be indicated as follows:
Basic Courses 1
Farm Power and Machinery 2
Agricultural Structures and Processing 3
Soil and Water Engineering 4
Environmental Engineering 5
Renewable Energy Engineering 6
Individual Studies 7
Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Agricultural Engineering (By Coursework, Examinations and Thesis)
Candidates registered for M. Sc. degree in Agricultural Engineering shall be required to take all compulsory courses listed below. In addition, they shall select and take at least four (4) courses from their respective areas of specialization listed below. The total number of credit factors (CF) for course work shall be at least thirty (30). To make for the 30 CF, the candidate shall select additional courses from either the general courses or any area of specialization with the advice of the department.
