postgraduate prospectus - The University of the West Indies, St ...

T h e f a C u l T Y o f
Science & Agriculture
message from the dean of the faculty of science & agriculture
Professor Dyer narinesingh,
Dean, faculty of Science & agriculture
page 46 > t h e u n i v e r s i t y o f t h e w e s t i n d i e s – s t . a u g u s t i n e c a m p u s
On behalf of the Faculty of Science & Agriculture (FSA), I thank the readers of this prospectus for
considering the FSA as a potential institution at which they will pursue their postgraduate education.
The Faculty was established in 1996 from the merger of the former Faculties of Agriculture and
Natural Sciences and has a long tradition of higher degree education and research, which dates
back to its forerunner, the former Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture. The Faculty offers single
or multidisciplinary programmes of study in a wide range of disciplines. These programmes of
study lead to a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree, which is awarded on successful completion of
a number of taught courses and a research project, or to a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) or a
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) which are research degrees awarded for successful completion of a
research thesis which makes an original contribution to the field of study.
With the current rapid changes in information technology and globalisation of trade, there is now
more than ever a need for individuals to equip themselves with the modern skills and qualifications,
which enhance employment and career prospects, and for developing countries to have an
appropriately trained work force. The six departments of the FSA are well equipped for carrying out
basic and applied research and offer M.Sc. degrees in, Agricultural Economics, Computer Science, Crop
Protection, Mathematics, Tropical Animal Science and Production, Tropical Commodity Utilisation,
Statistics, as well as in Agricultural and Rural Development, which is delivered by distance teaching.
In 2009, we will launch two new M.Sc. programmes in the Science and Management of Tropical
Biodiversity, and Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health (OESH).
The Faculty has been able to attract significant research funding from The University as well as
from local, regional and international sources. This is a reflection of the quality and relevance of
the research programmes being undertaken.
The Faculty will be monitoring closely the progress of its research students who are expected to meet
at scheduled intervals with their Supervisors and Advisory Committees. We also require graduate
students to attend all seminars and to present Seminars on their own research at regular intervals.
We encourage you to aim to have your findings published in refereed international journals.
The Faculty provides many specialised laboratories in which students can pursue research under
expert supervision. In addition to the above, our attractive campus and easily accessible working
field station are located in a country which is ecologically diverse and which has not only a very
rich culture, but also a very rich fauna and flora, so that although postgraduate study and the
pursuit of excellence can be personally challenging, I am sure that your stay in Trinidad & Tobago
will be a very rewarding one.
We look forward to having you with us, and to the returning students – welcome back.
www.sta.uwi.edu