Nova Scotia Agricultural College

P.O. Box 550, Station Main
Truro, Nova Scotia B2N 5E3
Telephone: (902) 893-6600
Web site: www.nsac.ns.ca
Principal: Dr. Garth Coffin

Our university profile

The Nova Scotia Agricultural College takes a leading role in providing education, research and public service in the agriculture and food industries and related disciplines. It has 90 years of service and is still growing in both human and scientific resources. It responds to modern needs for education and research and is particularly focused on the broad mix of agriculture and food industries based in the Atlantic provinces.
University degree courses and technical diploma courses are based on science, technology, business and engineering, and combine academic and applied knowledge. The specialized labs and services of the provincial department of agriculture are located on campus.
The beautiful 265-hectare campus is located in Bible Hill, two kilometres from the centre of Truro. Its 20 buildings are situated among well-landscaped gardens and open areas with interesting botanical collections. The farm lands, crop research fields and the interval along the Salmon River all complement the learning environment.

History
Year of foundation: 1905.
Former names of the institution: The School of Agriculture (1885-1905) in Truro and The School of Horticulture (1893-1905) in Wolfville were merged into the new Nova Scotia Agricultural College located on the provincial Demonstration Farm in Bible Hill.

Enrolment and fees*

*For general science programs

Enrolments, 1997-98
Undergraduates (full-time) 856 Undergraduates (part-time) 45
Graduates (full-time) 20
Graduates (part-time) 20

Canadian student fees, 1998-99
Undergraduate tuition fees $350 per course
Graduate tuition fees $1,270-$4,600
Ancillary fees $206

International student fees, 1998-99
Undergraduate tuition fees $670 per course
Graduate tuition fees $4,105-$7,300
Ancillary fees $206

Programs and degrees

Note: The College comprises the departments of agricultural engineering, animal science, biology, chemistry and soil science, economics and business, humanities, mathematics and physics, and plant science.

Technician diplomas (2 years) in agricultural business, bio-resources engineering, animal science, and plant science (agronomy, horticulture).
Diploma of technology (2 or 3 years) in animal health technology, chemistry laboratory technology, food quality technology, landscape horticulture technology, agricultural technology, and farming technology. Please note that agricultural technology, and farming technology must be entered from technician program.
Diplomas (2 years) in engineering. These diplomas give access to the BEng programs at DalTech. The Faculty of Agricultural Engineering at DalTech offers an environmental engineering option.
Pre-veterinary medicine (program). 2-year preparatory program leading to DVM at University of Prince Edward Island.
Technology: BT (4-year), requires at least 2 years of post-secondary studies.
BSc (Agr) 4 year program with majors in agribiology: environmental biology; agribiology: pest management; agricultural business, agricultural chemistry; agricultural economics; agricultural mechanization; animal science; plant science; soil science; aquaculture. Please note that this program offered in association with Dalhousie University.
MSc in agriculture with concentrations in agribiology, agricultural chemistry, animal science, plant science, and soil science.

Academic year

First semester September - December
Second semester January - April
For all programs, it is recommended that students start their studies in September. It is possible to begin studies in January, but the sequence of courses may limit the choices available.

Grading and credit systems

Highest grade on scale 100%
Pass/fail level 50%
Lowest on scale 0
A semester course is one credit. Standard annual course load for full-time undergraduates: 10 courses per year (five each semester) is recommended.
Student facilities and services

Housing
On campus: 350 students can be accommodated in three residences. Of these, 175 are in private rooms and the balance are two people per room. A large percentage of new students from beyond the Truro area can obtain residence accommodation if they request it within the time specified in the letter of acceptance. Annual cost room and board:
$4,224-$5,128.
Off-campus: Cottage style accomodation for grad/fourth-year students at Atlantic Agri-Tech Park. Rooms range in price from $250 (private) to $350 (shared) monthly. Other Off-campus housing is available at reasonable rates. Price range for single and double apartments: $350-$500/month (utilities included).

First-year student programs
Orientation; academic advisers assigned; workshops on academic computing, peer education and lifestyle programs.

Academic and campus services
Career services, daycare, health services, services for students with disabilities.

Information technology
Labs are found at seven different locations on campus. The campus is connected through a fibre-optic network. Students have lab access from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week. A limited number of workstations are available 24 hours a day. The student-workstation ratio is 6:1.
All students receive an account on the Novell Academic Network without cost. Full access to the Internet is provided. Accounts on Unix or VMS systems are available if required. Library collections are accessible on-line. Residences are currently being wired to provide Internet connectivity.

Undergraduate student assistance
In September 1997, 21.3% of the total student body were awarded scholarships and bursaries from private organizations, businesses or provincial departments of agriculture.

International

Exchange programs
International linkages and exchanges with nine institutions in Asia, Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, Iceland and the U.K..

International liaison officer
Mr. Bill Radford
Director, International Centre
Telephone: (902) 893-6905
Fax: (902) 893-4939
E-mail: wradford@cadmin.nsac.ns.ca

Research centres and institutes

Agri-Tech Park
Atlantic Poultry Research Institute
Bio Environmental Engineering Centre (BEEC)
Blueberry Institute (affiliated)
Crop Development Institute
Dairy Research Institure
Fur Institute (affiliated)
Office of Research and Graduate Studies
Rural Research Centre