Overview
BSc Agriculture at Tribhuvan University: Course and Curriculum
BSc Agriculture at Tribhuvan University (TU) is a four-year undergraduate degree offered academically through the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS). The official Revised 2020 Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (B.Sc.Ag.) curriculum is organized into eight semesters with 167 credit hours: 106 theory credits and 61 practical credits.
The curriculum covers crop production, horticulture, soil science and agricultural engineering, agricultural economics, extension, plant breeding, plant pathology, entomology, livestock-related subjects, aquaculture and fisheries, statistics, enterprise learning, and undergraduate research. Classroom instruction is combined with laboratory work, fieldwork, practical exercises, and study visits as specified in the curriculum.
This page is based on the IAAS B.Sc.Ag. Curriculum Revised 2020. Course codes, course titles, semester placement, and credit figures follow that curriculum rather than older BSc Agriculture structures found in other sources.
Answer Summary: BSc Agriculture under Tribhuvan University is a four-year, eight-semester degree administered academically through IAAS. The Revised 2020 curriculum contains 167 credits, divided into 106 theory and 61 practical credits. It combines agricultural science, economics, extension, engineering, animal-related study, enterprise learning, and research.
Key Takeaways:
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BSc Agriculture at TU runs for four years.
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The program contains eight semesters.
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The Revised 2020 curriculum has 167 credits.
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The credit split is 106 theory and 61 practical.
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Agri-enterprise Learning Program appears in semesters four, five, and six.
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The eighth semester includes a four-credit Research, Practices and Seminar course.
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This page does not reproduce admission-cycle information that can change separately from the curriculum.
What is BSc Agriculture at Tribhuvan University?
BSc Agriculture is the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree described in the Tribhuvan University IAAS curriculum. The program runs across eight semesters over four years and combines courses from biological, technical, economic, and social areas of agriculture.
The official curriculum states that classroom teaching, field and laboratory work, and study visits form parts of the academic program. Its subject structure includes both foundational courses and later courses with stronger practical, applied, enterprise, and research components.
The degree should be distinguished from other agriculture-related undergraduate programs. This page refers specifically to B.Sc.Ag. under Tribhuvan University and does not combine its curriculum with BSc Horticulture, veterinary programs, or agriculture degrees from other universities.
Readers seeking information about the parent university can also refer to the Tribhuvan University profile on Collegenp.
How are Tribhuvan University and IAAS related?
Tribhuvan University is the university named in the degree curriculum, while the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science is the TU institute responsible for the B.Sc.Ag.
The official curriculum identifies the program as “Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (B.Sc.Ag.), Tribhuvan University, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science.” It also states that curriculum content is handled through IAAS academic structures and is implemented after approval through Tribhuvan University's academic process.
For readers, the distinction is simple: TU is the university and IAAS is the institute through which this agriculture curriculum is organized.
BSc Agriculture TU quick facts
The main academic facts are stated directly in the Revised 2020 B.Sc.Ag. curriculum.
| Item | Curriculum Detail |
|---|---|
| Degree | Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (B.Sc.Ag.) |
| University | Tribhuvan University |
| Institute | Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS) |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Academic structure | 8 semesters |
| Total credits | 167 |
| Theory credits | 106 |
| Practical credits | 61 |
| Curriculum basis | Revised 2020 |
| Language stated in the curriculum | English |
| Enterprise component | Agri-enterprise Learning Program I, II, and III |
| Final-semester research component | RPS 421 |
How are the 167 credits distributed?
The 167-credit curriculum is divided between 106 theory credits and 61 practical credits. The semester load ranges from 10 credits in the eighth semester to 24 credits in the third semester.
| Semester | Theory Credits | Practical Credits | Total Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | 16 | 7 | 23 |
| Second | 14 | 8 | 22 |
| Third | 16 | 8 | 24 |
| Fourth | 13 | 8 | 21 |
| Fifth | 13 | 9 | 22 |
| Sixth | 15 | 8 | 23 |
| Seventh | 14 | 8 | 22 |
| Eighth | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| Total | 106 | 61 | 167 |
The distribution shows that practical credits are present throughout the degree rather than being reserved for the final semester. The eighth semester has a smaller total credit load and includes the four-credit research component.
Semester-wise BSc Agriculture curriculum
The semester structure below follows the course codes, titles, and credit allocations given in the IAAS Revised 2020 curriculum. A credit written as “2+1,” for example, means two theory credits and one practical credit.
First semester
The first semester contains 23 credits: 16 theory and 7 practical. It introduces economics, agronomy, horticulture, soil science, biochemistry, animal science, genetics, and rural sociology.
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AEC111 | Principles of Economics | 2+0 |
| AGR111 | Principles of Agronomy | 2+1 |
| HRT111 | Introductory Horticulture | 2+1 |
| SSC111 | Fundamentals of Soil Science | 2+1 |
| ABE111 | General Biochemistry | 2+1 |
| LPM111 | Introductory Animal Science | 2+1 |
| PLB111 | Principles of Genetics | 2+1 |
| EXT111 | Fundamentals of Rural Sociology and Educational Psychology | 2+1 |
Semester total: 16+7 = 23 credits.
Second semester
The second semester contains 22 credits: 14 theory and 8 practical. The courses move into farm management, cereal crops, plant health, ornamental horticulture, soil properties, crop physiology, and fodder production.
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AEC121 | Farm Management and Production Economics | 2+1 |
| AGR121 | Agronomy of Cereal Crops | 2+1 |
| ENT121 | Introductory Entomology | 2+1 |
| PLP121 | Introduction to Plant Pathology | 2+1 |
| HRT121 | Ornamental Horticulture | 2+1 |
| SSC121 | Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification | 1+1 |
| ABE121 | Introductory Crop Physiology | 2+1 |
| ANU121 | Fodder Production and Pasture Management | 1+1 |
Semester total: 14+8 = 22 credits.
Third semester
The third semester contains 24 credits: 16 theory and 8 practical. It includes natural resource economics, crop production, plant breeding, insect-pest management, crop disease management, horticulture, soil fertility, microbiology, and ruminant production.
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AEC211 | Natural Resource Economics | 2+0 |
| AGR211 | Agronomy of Grain-Legumes and Oilseed Crops | 2+1 |
| PLB211 | Principles and Practices of Plant Breeding | 2+1 |
| ENT211 | Principles and Practices of Insect-Pest Management | 2+1 |
| PLP211 | Crop Diseases and Management | 2+1 |
| HRT211 | Vegetable and Spice Crop Production | 2+1 |
| SSC211 | Soil Fertility Management | 2+1 |
| ABE211 | Agricultural Microbiology | 1+1 |
| LPM211 | Ruminant Production | 1+1 |
Semester total: 16+8 = 24 credits.
Fourth semester
The fourth semester contains 21 credits: 13 theory and 8 practical. Agricultural statistics, machinery, fruit production, livestock production, fisheries, and the first Agri-enterprise Learning Program course appear at this stage.
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AEC221 | Nepalese Agriculture Planning and Policies | 2+0 |
| AGR221 | Agronomy of Commercial Crops | 1+1 |
| AST221 | Agricultural Statistics | 2+1 |
| HRT221 | Fruit and Plantation Crop Production | 2+1 |
| AEN221 | Farm Power and Machinery | 2+1 |
| ENT221 | Economic Entomology | 2+1 |
| LPM221 | Pig and Poultry Production | 1+1 |
| ELP221 | Agri-enterprise Learning Program-I | 0+1 |
| AQF221 | Introductory Ichthyology | 1+1 |
Semester total: 13+8 = 21 credits.
Fifth semester
The fifth semester contains 22 credits: 13 theory and 9 practical. It combines agricultural marketing, extension, weed management, protected horticulture, agro-meteorology, soil conservation, medicinal and aromatic plants, animal nutrition, aquaculture, and the second enterprise-learning course.
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AEC311 | Agriculture Marketing, Cooperatives and International Trade | 2+1 |
| EXT311 | Fundamentals of Agricultural Extension | 2+1 |
| AGR311 | Principles and Practices of Weed Management | 1+1 |
| ELP311 | Agri-enterprise Learning Program-II | 0+1 |
| HRT311 | Protected and Precision Horticulture | 2+1 |
| AEN311 | Introductory Agro-meteorology | 1+1 |
| SSC311 | Introductory Soil Conservation and Watershed Management | 2+0 |
| ABE311 | Medicinal and Aromatic Plants | 1+1 |
| ANU311 | Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices | 1+1 |
| AQF311 | Principles of Aquaculture | 1+1 |
Semester total: 13+9 = 22 credits.
Sixth semester
The sixth semester contains 23 credits: 15 theory and 8 practical. Courses include project planning, communication, seed science, agroforestry, molecular genetics, biodiversity, animal breeding, pesticide pollution, fisheries, and the third enterprise-learning course.
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AEC321 | Agriculture Project Planning and Management | 2+1 |
| EXT321 | Agricultural Communication | 2+1 |
| AGR321 | Seed Science and Technology | 2+1 |
| HRT321 | Agroforestry | 1+1 |
| PLB321 | Molecular Genetics and Bioinformatics | 2+0 |
| ABE321 | Agro-biodiversity and Ecology | 2+1 |
| ANB321 | Principles and Practices of Animal Breeding | 2+1 |
| ENT321 | Pesticide Pollution and Environment Protection | 1+0 |
| AQF321 | Inland Fisheries and Limnology | 1+1 |
| ELP321 | Agri-enterprise Learning Program-III | 0+1 |
Semester total: 15+8 = 23 credits.
Seventh semester
The seventh semester contains 22 credits: 14 theory and 8 practical. Its courses cover agribusiness, community development, farming systems, dairy science, seed pathology, mushroom cultivation, post-harvest horticulture, irrigation management, and animal welfare.
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AEC411 | Agribusiness Management and Financing | 2+1 |
| EXT411 | Social Mobilization and Community Development | 2+1 |
| AGR411 | Farming System and Advances in Agriculture | 2+0 |
| LPM411 | Dairy Science and Technology | 2+1 |
| PLP411 | Seed Pathology | 1+1 |
| PLP412 | Mushroom Cultivation | 0+1 |
| HRT411 | Post-harvest Horticulture | 2+1 |
| AEN411 | Principles and Practices of Irrigation Management | 2+1 |
| LPM412 | Animal Ethics and Welfare | 1+1 |
Semester total: 14+8 = 22 credits.
Eighth semester
The eighth semester contains 10 credits: 5 theory and 5 practical. It includes organic farming, farm structure and surveying, plant breeding and biotechnology, and the final research course.
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AGR421 | Organic Farming and Sustainable Agriculture | 1+1 |
| AEN421 | Farm Structure and Surveying | 1+1 |
| PLB421 | Modern Plant Breeding and Biotechnology | 2+0 |
| RPS421 | Fundamental of Research, Practices and Seminar | 1+3 |
Semester total: 5+5 = 10 credits.
Which subject areas carry the most credits?
The curriculum distributes its 167 credits across agricultural disciplines and interdepartmental courses. Agronomy, horticulture, and soil science with agricultural engineering each account for 20 credits, while agricultural economics accounts for 18 credits.
| Subject Area | Theory | Practical | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture Botany and Ecology | 8 | 5 | 13 |
| Agricultural Economics | 14 | 4 | 18 |
| Agronomy | 13 | 7 | 20 |
| Entomology | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| Agricultural Extension | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| Horticulture | 13 | 7 | 20 |
| Plant Breeding | 8 | 2 | 10 |
| Plant Pathology | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| Soil Science and Agri-Engineering | 13 | 7 | 20 |
| Livestock Production and Management | 7 | 5 | 12 |
| Animal Breeding | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Animal Nutrition and Fodder Production | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Aquaculture and Fisheries | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Agricultural Statistics | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Enterprise Learning Program I, II and III | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Research, Practices and Seminar | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Total | 106 | 61 | 167 |
The table shows why BSc Agriculture should not be understood as a crop-production degree alone. Its credit structure includes economics, social and extension studies, animal-related courses, fisheries, engineering, statistics, enterprise learning, and research alongside plant and soil sciences.
What is the Agri-enterprise Learning Program?
The Agri-enterprise Learning Program (ELP) is a three-credit practical sequence spread across the fourth, fifth, and sixth semesters. Each ELP course carries one practical credit and no separate theory credit.
The sequence is:
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ELP221: Agri-enterprise Learning Program-I — fourth semester
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ELP311: Agri-enterprise Learning Program-II — fifth semester
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ELP321: Agri-enterprise Learning Program-III — sixth semester
The Revised 2020 curriculum identifies ELP as a distinct practical component intended to develop enterprise-related learning within the undergraduate program. Across all three courses, ELP contributes three practical credits to the 167-credit degree.
What is RPS in the eighth semester?
RPS is the final-semester Research, Practices and Seminar component of the Revised 2020 curriculum. RPS421 carries four credits, divided into one theory credit and three practical credits.
The official semester table names the course “Fundamental of Research, Practices and Seminar.” The curriculum places it in the eighth semester alongside Organic Farming and Sustainable Agriculture, Farm Structure and Surveying, and Modern Plant Breeding and Biotechnology.
The curriculum material for RPS includes undergraduate research and reporting requirements. Its supporting guidelines refer to research work, presentation, and an undergraduate thesis submitted as part of the RPS course.
This research component is one reason the eighth semester has fewer total credits but an equal split of five theory and five practical credits.
How do theory and practical credits work?
The Revised 2020 curriculum defines one theory credit as one hour of lecture per week and one practical credit as two to three hours of practical work per week.
This distinction helps explain course notation such as:
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2+0: two theory credits and no practical credit
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2+1: two theory credits and one practical credit
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1+1: one theory credit and one practical credit
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0+1: one practical credit with no separate theory credit
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1+3: one theory credit and three practical credits
Practical credits appear in all eight semesters. The curriculum also identifies classroom teaching, laboratory work, fieldwork, and study visits as parts of B.Sc.Ag. study.
How does the curriculum develop across four years?
The curriculum begins with introductory and foundational subjects and moves toward applied, management-oriented, enterprise, and research work in later semesters. IAAS states this progression directly in its curriculum design section.
In the first year, students encounter subjects such as agronomy, horticulture, soil science, biochemistry, genetics, economics, animal science, entomology, plant pathology, crop physiology, and farm management.
The middle semesters add plant breeding, crop protection, agricultural statistics, machinery, fisheries, marketing, extension, agro-meteorology, soil conservation, aquaculture, project planning, communication, molecular genetics, animal breeding, and enterprise learning.
The final year includes agribusiness, community development, farming systems, dairy science, post-harvest horticulture, irrigation management, animal welfare, organic farming, biotechnology, surveying, and undergraduate research.
The progression is tied to the official course sequence rather than a separate specialization track. The B.Sc.Ag. curriculum remains multidisciplinary across the full eight semesters.
What information is intentionally outside this curriculum page?
Admission eligibility, entrance procedures, application dates, fees, seats, quotas, scholarships, and institution-specific intake details are not treated as evergreen curriculum facts on this page.
The Revised 2020 bulletin itself distinguishes the academic curriculum from admission policies and states that admission-related criteria and practices may be set through separate processes. Reproducing those details inside a curriculum page would create a risk of mixing a stable syllabus with information that can change independently.
For that reason, this page is limited to information tied directly to the B.Sc.Ag. curriculum: degree structure, semester sequence, course titles, codes, credits, subject distribution, practical learning, enterprise learning, and research.
This separation also means that a change to an admission rule does not require rewriting the curriculum page. The course content should be revised when Tribhuvan University or IAAS issues a revised B.Sc.Ag. curriculum that changes the academic structure presented here.
Related Collegenp resources
Readers comparing agriculture with another natural-resource degree can refer to BSc Agriculture vs BSc Forestry Nepal.
For a broader look at academic fields within agriculture, see Agriculture Course Specializations Career Prospects and Outlook.
Readers researching postgraduate agriculture study can also refer to the MSc Agriculture Course.
