Course structure

(First Year Examinations Courses)

This category comprises the courses covered by the first-year examinations (51 CP) and further basic courses (6 CP) studied in the first year. These courses focus on the basics of mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences and agricultural sciences. The further basic courses are com-pulsory but not part of the first-year examination. The subjects from the Basic Subjects I category, which are tested during the first-year examinations, must be completed within two years.

The second year of study focuses on further basic mathematical and scientific knowledge, as well as basic agricultural knowledge and skills, which are essential for all areas of agricultural sciences. The basic agricultural science subjects impart a background that is relevant for every discipline within agricultural sciences (economics, animals, plants). A selection of relevant subjects is tested in a single block after the third semester.

The second and third year of study introduce students to specialist areas within agricultural sciences. They serve to expand and deepen students’ understanding across the three subject areas that make up agricultural sciences (agricultural economics, plant sciences and animal sciences), providing ideal preparation for the Master’s programme. A total of 17 or 19 credits are earned from each of the areas. In the second year, all the courses are compulsory, while in the third year, students can choose from a wide range of courses.

• Agricultural Basic Courses (6 CP)
• Agricultural Fields (49 CP)
  • Agricultural Economics (15 CP)
  • Plant Sciences (19 CP)
  • Animal Sciences (15 CP)

During excursions, students apply the information acquired in lectures and self-study to practice and research. 

They analyse various issues, expand and deepen topics learned in lectures and discuss their results and findings with their fellow students, teachers and excursion partners. Excursions are offered in the second, fourth and sixth semesters.

More detailed information on the excursions in the World Food System (2nd semester), the agricultural science excursions I (4th semester) and agricultural science excursions II (6th semester) can be found in the course catalog and in the corresponding Moodle course.

During the fourth and fifth semesters, these courses provide the basics for applying statistical calculation methods, which promotes an understanding of scientific methodology and laboratory methods. Students acquire the necessary skills for their Bachelor's and Master's theses as well as for their future careers.

Scientific methodology comprises the following courses:

• Scientific work I and II
• Agricultural science laboratory and methods intern
• Scientific Analysis and Presentation of Data

In the third year of study, electives can be selected from the entire range of courses offered by ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich (*Attention registration for UZH modules: external page www.uzh.ch/de/studies/application/chmobilityin.html). They provide opportunities for individual continued development and specialised studies to suit students’ interests. Subjects related to education studies for the Teaching Certificate (EW1 and EW2) can both be chosen as electives and counted towards the Teaching Certificate (dual allocation).

The obligatory agricultural internship provides a connection to agricultural practice in Switzerland and complements the theoretical and methodological principles taught in the course units. The agricultural internship encourages system-oriented thinking and action. During the agricultural internship, students combine the expertise they have acquired during their studies with agricul-tural practice in Switzerland. The agricultural internship includes preparation for the internship and the ten-week internship itself in the lecture-free period after the 4th semester, as well as post-internship work.

The completion of the agricultural internship is mandatory for the transition to the Master’s programme. All the details can be found online at: http://www.usys.ethz.ch/studium/agrarwissenschaften/bachelor/agrar-praktikum

The Bachelor's thesis is the final part of the Bachelor's programme. The Bachelor’s thesis is an independently written academic paper. It is supervised by a lecturer (supervisor) who teaches in the field of agricultural sciences. The supervisor of the thesis determines the topic in consultation with the student from the beginning of the fifth semester at the earliest and grades the thesis together with a co-supervisor. Students must register their Bachelor's thesis with the Student Administration Office before beginning. Further conditions and registration information are available online at: www.usys.ethz.ch/studium/agrarwissenschaften/bachelor/arbeit