The Degree course in agricultural engineering provides core competences in the field of agricultural production, of agricultural land surveying techniques, as well as of the main analysis, implementation and management techniques for agricultural businesses.
Graduates of this course should acquire basic knowledge in propaedeutic subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, plant animal biology, needed to understand the basics of specific professional subjects. This knowledge enables graduate to achieve professional competences including the principles of agronomics, cartography and land survey, rural buildings and animal productions.
Graduates will also acquire the competences they need to solve some applicative issues of the agricultural sector, enabling them to carry out technical assistance activities. Graduates will also acquire the knowledge and operational skills needed to carry out land valuation and design of business plants and works. Graduates will, in particular, be able to design small irrigation networks and drainage works at the service of the farm.
The profile requires the dialectics needed to disseminate and argue his/her technical ideas with specialists and non-specialists, as well as the command of English language or of another European language needed to read and understand technical texts, needed to carry out professional exchanges and basic dissemination activities.
The acquired competences enable graduates to face and solve, as junior professionals, the following issues:
• First-level consultancy and design activities relating to the manufactures of farms, irrigation and drainage systems, greenhouses, stables, rural buildings and roads;
• Choice of machines and plants for the production chains of agricultural products;
• Drafting of projects aimed at the provision of contributions for landscaping works on farms;
• Implementation of the programs offered by the European Union for the use of Community economic resources for rural areas.
The duration of this course is three academic years.
To obtain the degree, students should have acquired 180 credits, including the ones related to the knowledge of an European language, besides Italian subject to the special rules for the protection of linguistic minorities.. The educational programme entails19 mandatory examinations (8 credits each), a language test, a practice period in associated facilities and the final examination on course-specific issues.
The course is completed with 12 credits freely chosen by the student, provided that they are consistent with the educational plan, which can be acquired, in accordance with art.10, paragraph 5, letter a) of D.M. 270/04, choosing between the activities and subjects programmed by other degree courses at the University of Palermo or other Italian and Foreign Universities. Students must also acquire up to 3 CFUs for professionalising activities, employment opportunities (art.10, paragraph 10, letter d) of D.M. 270/04)
At the end of the course, students obtain the title of “Dottore in Agroingegneria” and, after passing the professional qualification examination, they may register in Section B (Dottore Agronomo Junior) of the professional register.