Organic Agriculture Management

1.1      Philosophy; Importance

          Aim to produce graduates equipped with knowledge, ability and skills. Therefore, utilize those interdisciplinary knowledges in the management of organic agriculture. Make it accepted and spread it out at the international level.

1.2      Objectives

1. To produce graduate that can apply acquired knowledge in organic agriculture to create skills in organizing integrated agriculture and sustainability in the community, society, country and international level through research works.
2. To produce graduates with the skills of giving up-to-date advice and consultation in terms of standardization and management of organic agriculture.
3. To produce knowledgeable graduates with production skills, produce graduates that can sell their products, filled with proper morals and ethics and graduates that shows community, society and environmental responsibility.
4. To produce graduates who possess the ability to use English in presenting or publishing in internationally recognized journals.
5. To produce graduates who can effectively choose to use information technology for communication and development of organic agriculture.

1.3      Educational System

The Educational system in Maejo University International Colleges, Maejo University uses a binary education system, 1 academic year is divided into 2 regular semesters, 1 regular semester has a study period of not less than 15 weeks.

1.4      Structure of the Curriculum (Divided into 3 types)

1. Plan A Type 1.1
2. Thesis 36       credits
3. Non-credit courses 7        credits

total credits throughout the curriculum    36      credits

2. Plan A Type 1.2
3. Major Core Courses 9        credits
4. Major Elective Courses 15      credits
5. Thesis 12      credits
6. Non-credit courses 7        credits

total credits throughout the curriculum    36      credits

3. Plan B
4. Major Core Courses 9        credits
5. Major Elective Courses 21      credits
6. Independent studies 6        credits
7. Non-credit courses 7        credits

total credits throughout the curriculum    36      credits

1) Plan A, Type A1

2)  Plan A, Type A 2

 Year 1 / Semester 1

Year 1 / Semester 2

3)  Plan B

 Year 1 / Semester 1 

Year 1 / Semester 2

Thesis Preparation Plan

1.     Submit the thesis topic within the 3rd semester of October 2024.

2.     Examination of thesis proposal within the 3rd semester of October 2024

3.     The thesis defense examination is scheduled for the 4th semester of March 2024.

*** Note: The said date and time shall be following Maejo University's announcement regarding the Graduate Studies Calendar.

Course Descriptions

                   3.1.5.1 Required Non-credit Courses

21601501 Research Methodology for Interdisciplinary Organic Agriculture Management   3 (2-3-5)

          Prerequisite:   As approved by program committee

          The concepts of interdisciplinary organic agriculture management research, experimental designs, and steps in interdisciplinary organic agriculture management research, data processing, analysis and interpretation of research results, and writing and presenting a research report.

                   (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 3 hours, Self-Study 5 hours/week)    

21601591    Seminar 1                                                                       1 (0-2-1)

          Prerequisite: None

Presentation and discussion of topics of interest in the general area of organic agriculture management for master's degree students.

                    (Lecture 0 hour, Practice 2 hours, Self-Study 1 hour/week)       

21601592    Seminar 2                                                                      1 (0-2-1)

          Prerequisite:  None        

          Presentation and discussion of topics of interest in the specialized area of organic agriculture management related to master thesis.

                    (Lecture 0 hour, Practice 2 hours, Self-Study 1 hour/week)       

21601593    Seminar 3                                                                       1 (0-2-1)

          Prerequisite: None

          Presentation and discussion of topics of interest in the specialized area of organic agriculture management related to master thesis.

                    (Lecture 0 hour, Practice 2 hours, Self-Study 1 hour/week)       

21601594    Seminar 4                                                                       1 (0-2-1)

          Prerequisite: None

Presentation and discussion of topics of interest in the specialized area of organic agriculture management related to master thesis.

                    (Lecture 0 hour, Practice 2 hours, Self-Study 1 hour/week)       

3.1.5.2 Required Major Courses

21601502    Organic Entrepreneurship                                               3 (2-3-5)

          Prerequisite:   None       

           Compare the overview of the industries related to organic agriculture both domestically and internationally. A process that can increase competitiveness, Commercial Value-Added Approach Business concepts and principles, Seeking funding to support product development and start a business, Developing business plans, marketing plans, financial and accounting plans, production plans, and personnel management plans. case studies and have a study visit outside the place

                    (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 3 hours, Self-Study 5 hours/week)    

21601503    Bio-circular Green Economy and Technological Innovations3 (2-3-5)

          Prerequisite: None

Sustainable Agricultural Technologies, Agricultural Production and Food Safety, Algal Production System, Agro-Industry, Biological Natural Resource Engineering, Bioprocess, biosystems, biocatalysis; nanocatalysis and nanotechnology, Lignocellulosic biomass, bio-based materials research, organic dye, Energy crops for fiber compounds, gums, polymers, fatty acids, oils, essential oils, Chemicals derived from oilseed crops, biologically active compounds, nanoparticles linked with crops, Valorization and metabolite extraction of waste streams and antioxidant activity, Biochemical Engineering, Product Engineering in the Bio Industries, Bio-Circular Green Economy, Agrotourism.

                    (Lecture 3 hours, Practice 0 hours, Self-Study 6 hours/week)    

          3.1.5.3 Elective Major Course

21601511    Cannabis Science                                                 3 (2-2-5)

          Prerequisite: None

              Botany of Cannabis, culture, bioactive compound, extraction and analytical techniques for bioactive compounds, processing, marketing, and the application of Cannabis in the medicine, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

                    (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 2 hours, Self-Study 5 hours/week)    

21601513    Organic Livestock Production and Organic Aquaculture Farming        3 (2-2-5)

          Prerequisite: None

              Principles and animal production in organic farming systems, organic livestock farming management, organic livestock feed production, principles and practices of organic aquaculture farming, ecological system in aquaculture farm, organic aquatic animal feed and organic aquaculture farming management, processing and management of livestock and aquatic animals products in organic systems. Biotechnology for Livestock, Pests and Aquaculture, Aquaculture and Biosystems Research, Aquatic Resources and Fishery Technology.

                    (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 2 hours, Self-Study 5 hours/week)    

21601515   Advanced Technology and SMART Farm in Modern Agriculture         3 (2-2-5)

          Prerequisite: None

              Applications of advanced agricultural technologies, automated and precision systems, application of the Geographic Information System (GIS), modern tools and machinery, application of the remote sensor for the precision farm management, and development directions corresponding with global situations.

                    (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 2 hours, Self-Study 5 hours/week)    

Business and Entrepreneur Courses

21601516    Crop production systems in Northern Thailand                3 (2-3-5)

          Prerequisite:   None       

           Principles and cropping systems, biophysical and socio-cultural diversity, topography and limiting factors of agriculture, history and identity of ethnic agriculture, and the impact of the current situation on crop production systems in Northern Thailand, case studies, and visit farms.

21601517    Computer-based tools to assess crop productivity and the sustainability of land use systems                                                                                       3 (2-3-5)

          Prerequisite:   None       

           Basic concepts of systemic models, model types, crop modelling, Tree-soil-crop interaction modelling, computer model exercises, case study work and student group seminars

                   (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 3 hours, Self Study 5 hours/week)

21601518    Ecology and Agroecosystems                                         3 (2-3-5)

          Prerequisite:   None       

           Principles of regulation within natural and agricultural ecosystem, the interconnections between natural landscape and agricultural production, design and mange agroecosystems with respect to improvement of long-term reliability in agricultural production

                   (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 3 hours, Self Study 5 hours/week)

21601519   Advancing Biostimulant Production and Technologies                         3 (2-2-5)

          Prerequisite: None

              Classification of biostimulation, Primary source and raw materials, Technologies of production, Bioactive components and methods of quality control, Function and effects on whole plants, Modes of action, Economic aspects, Case studies, Visit to factories

                   (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 2 hours, Self Study 5 hours/week)    

21601520   Organic food processing and preservation                         3 (2-2-5)

          Prerequisite: None

              Principles of organic food processing, food preservation, nutrition, and food chemistry; fundamental and applied research relating to food processing and preservation, benefit the research, commercial, and industrial communities. The safe preservation and successful consumer acceptance of unique, innovative, organic, and non-traditional international or domestic foods. In addition, current economic and regulatory policies and their effects on the safety and quality processing and preservation of a wide array of foods.

                   (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 2 hours, Self Study 5 hours/week)    

21601521   Sustainable Organic Farming Management                                 3 (2-2-5)

          Prerequisite: None

              Patterns of organic farming systems, factors affecting farming system management, research, and development on cropping patterns, sustainable management in production, land conservation and utilization, integrated pest management in farming systems, planning and farm budget, analysis and evaluation of organic farming systems, marketing and price of the product.

                    (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 2 hours, Self-Study 5 hours/week)

21601522   Accounting and Financial Management for Organic Agribusiness                   3 (2-2-5)

          Prerequisite: None

              Roles of accounting and finance in organic agribusiness management, concepts of financial management in organic agribusiness, cost analysis, financial performance analysis, risk and return in organic agribusiness, short and long-term financing and budgeting, and financial budgeting for organic agribusiness.

                    (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 2 hours, Self-Study 5 hours/week)    

21601523    Strategies for Organic Agribusiness Development            3 (2-2-5)

          Prerequisite: None

              Concept of strategies for organic agribusiness, related problems about organization management in organic agribusiness, the direction of business management and administration, business development, production and marketing of input, agricultural outputs and products under globalization, organic agribusiness organization development

                    (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 2 hours, Self-Study 5 hours/week)    

21601524    Entrepreneurship in Organic Agriculture                         3 (2-2-5)

          Prerequisite: None

          Characteristics of entrepreneurship in organic agriculture business; Inspirational encouragement; Entrepreneurial development; Laws for new business establishments; Sources of funding; Marketing research creation of business plan; a Marketing plan; Production plan; Organizational and operational plan; Business plan evaluation; Guidelines for business operations.

                    (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 2 hours, Self-Study 5 hours/week)

21601525    Business Plan for Entrepreneur in Organic Agribusiness  3 (2-2-5)

          Prerequisite: None

              Concept, significance, and use of business plan, the principles of writing a business plan, business background, industry competitive analysis, determination of vision, mission and goals, business strategy, operation plan, backup plan, and solutions.

                    (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 2 hours, Self-Study 5 hours/week)

21601526  Supply Chain and Logistics Management for Entrepreneurship in Organic Agribusiness         3 (2-2-5)

          Prerequisite:   None       

               Impacts of logistics operations on business organizations, logistics service providers, international logistics, logistics costs analysis for business decision making, measuring logistics performance, organizing for effective logistics, and supply chain management.

                    (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 2 hours, Self-Study 5 hours/week)    

21601527    Safe agriculture and organic agriculture innovation development         3 (2-3-5)

          Prerequisite:   None       

           Safe agriculture and organic agriculture development through science, technology, innovation, research for potential increasing of production process, processing, and value. Assessment and control of the quality of agricultural produce, including agricultural innovation products to meet standards

                   (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 3 hours, Self Study 5 hours/week)

21601528    Food innovations of the future                                        3 (2-3-5)

          Prerequisite:   None       

           Types of future foods, basic food, functional food, medical food, food chemistry, functional food, Biological active substances in food, Shelf life and packaging management, Laws and Standards for Food and Supplements, Health food business and marketing

                   (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 3 hours, Self Study 5 hours/week)

21601529    Science Technology and Innovation for Agricultural Economic Development                                                                                                          3 (2-3-5)

          Prerequisite:   None       

           Economic and business development through science, technology, innovation, research and development. Digital development strategy for economic and business, driving the economic and business, developing manpower to be ready for the digital economy and society under the changing. Analysis and evaluation of science, technology, and innovation development for the economic and business.

                   (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 3 hours, Self Study 5 hours/week)

21601530    Innovative for World Agricultural Administration           3 (2-3-5)

          Prerequisite:   None       

           The approach of understanding the concept, technique and method of world and Thailand 4.0 agricultural administration, depending on analytical and synthesis thinking processes by using case studies on innovative management in both domestic and foreign countries. Students are able to have ways to integrated create managerial culture of innovation processes in agricultural sector with information technology based holistically on agricultural administration. Moreover, the students can investigate best practices for agricultural sectors, virtue ethics of organizations in agricultural administration in both public and private sectors, and even create innovation by new theory for effective agricultural administration processes.

                   (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 3 hours, Self Study 5 hours/week)

21601531    Plasma Technology for Agriculture                                 3 (2-3-5)

          Prerequisite:   None       

           Introduction to plasma, Non-thermal plasma, plasma chemistry, plasma functionalization and polymerization, plasma parameters characterization, plasma activated media, plasma application for seed germination, plasma sterilization and microbe inhibition, plasma application for plant extraction, plasma application for nanoparticle synthesis, plasma application for porous materials

                   (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 3 hours, Self Study 5 hours/week)

21601532    Plasma Technology for Agriculture                                 3 (2-3-5)

          Prerequisite:   None       

           General concepts of nanotechnology, Basic theory of nanoscience and nanotechnology, Types of nanomaterials, Creation and Characterization of nanomaterials, Application of nanotechnology in agriculture, food and environment.

                   (Lecture 2 hours, Practice 3 hours, Self Study 5 hours/week)

21601533    Irrigation and water management in organic agriculture   3 (2-3-5)

          Prerequisite:   None       

           Students know what the limitations and sensitivities of water and soil resources are. They are acquainted with methods for protecting these resources in agriculture. Apart from fundamental knowledge about water and soil, the diverse interactions in the soil-water-plant system are imparted and the economical and ecological aspects discussed. The students learn various methods of soil and water conservation. They are able to choose the most appropriate method among different solutions and to employ it efficiently, taking the social context into account.

21601691    Thesis 1                                                                6 (0-18-0)

          Prerequisite:   None       

              Review the literature related to the master thesis, conceptional framework, experimental design, and thesis planning, and emphasize the discussion with an advisory committee to select a research topic and propose a proposal.

                    (Lecture 0 hour, Practice 18 hours, Self-Study 0 hour/week)     

21601692    Thesis 6                                                                (0-18-0)

          Prerequisite:   OM 691 Thesis 1 or Approved by the program committee

              Plan A Type A 1: Research conduction with creativeness, theory and analysis techniques with instruments, data collection and interpretation, discussion with an advisory committee, and solving research problems.

              Plan A Type A 2: Research conduction with creativeness, theory and analysis techniques with instruments, data collection, and interpretation, development of independent thinking and expression of opinion, integration of research knowledge for research publication, academic presentation, and thesis writing clearly and concisely; thesis preparation must be done according to Maejo University guidelines.

                    (Lecture 0 hour, Practice 18 hours, Self-Study 0 hour/week)     

21601693    Thesis 3                                                                12 (0-36-0)

          Prerequisite:  OM 693 Thesis 2 or approved by the program committee

              Research data collection and interpretation, independent thinking and personal development, integration of research knowledge for research publication, and academic presentation.

          (Lecture 0 hour, Practice 36 hours, Self-Study 0 hour/week)     

21601694    Thesis 4                                                                12 (0-36-0)

          Prerequisite:  OM 693 Thesis 3 or approved by the program committee

              The development of independent thinking and expression of opinion, creating and integrating knowledge that reflects research gained for thesis writing clearly and concisely; thesis preparation must be done according to Maejo University guidelines.

                    (Lecture 0 hour, Practice 36 hours, Self-Study 0 hour/week)     

21601690    Independent Study                                                 6 (0-18-0)

          Prerequisite: None or approved by the program committee       

              Independent study at the master’s level is characterized by analysis and study of data related to major courses and writing reports, under the supervision and recommendation of the student advisor.

                    (Lecture 0 hour, Practice 18 hours, Self-Study 0 hour/week)     

8. Graduation Conditions:

For the students studying in Plan A, Type A 1

1.     Pass a foreign language examination according to the regulations and conditions set by the university.

2.     Present their theses in English and pass a final oral examination conducted by a committee appointed by the university (a higher education institution) in a system open to interested parties to attend. This must consist of professors in charge of the program and experts from outside the university.

3.     At least one paper stemmed from their theses or part of them must be published or at least accepted for publication in a national journal in a foreign language or an international journal. Both journals must be qualified according to the Announcement of the Commission on Higher Education on Criteria for Considering Academic Journals for Dissemination of Academic Output. 

4.     Meet the criteria for graduation under the Announcement of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation on Standard Criteria for Graduate Programs B.E. 2558.

For the students studying in Plan A, Type A 2

1.     Complete all the courses as specified in the program. They must obtain a grade point average of not less than 3.00 from a 4-level system or equivalent and have no course received I and/or Op.

2.     Pass a foreign language exam according to the regulations and conditions set by the university.

3.     Present their theses in English and pass a final oral examination conducted by a committee appointed by the university (a higher education institution) in a system open to interested parties to attend. This must consist of professors in charge of the program and experts from outside the university.

4.     At least one paper stemmed from their theses or part of them must be published or at least accepted for publication in a national journal in a foreign language or an international journal. Both journals must be qualified according to the Announcement of the Commission on Higher Education on Criteria for Considering Academic Journals for Dissemination of Academic Output. Alternatively, a full paper stemming from their theses can be presented at an international conference and published in the proceedings.

5.     Meet the criteria for graduation under the Announcement of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation on Standard Criteria for Graduate Programs B.E. 2558.

For the students studying in Plan B

1.     Complete all the courses as specified in the program. They must obtain a grade point average of not less than 3.00 from a 4-level system or equivalent and have no course received I and or Op.

2.     Pass a foreign language exam according to the regulations and conditions set by the university.

3.     Pass a comprehensive examination.

4.     Present their independent studies in English and pass the final oral exam conducted by a committee appointed by the higher education institution in a system open to interested parties to attend.

5.     At least one full paper stemmed from their independent studies or part of them must be presented at an international conference and then published in the proceedings.

6.     Meet the criteria for graduation under the Announcement of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation on Standard Criteria for Graduate Programs B.E. 2558.

9. Applicant Qualifications

1.        Graduated with a bachelor's degree in all disciplines or equivalent from a higher education institution certified by the Ministry of Education or the Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC) or the Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC) both domestically and internationally or at the discretion of the instructor in charge of the program.

2.        Having qualifications according to Maejo University regulations on graduate studies and other relevant announcements being in force at that time.

3.        International students who want to be admitted to study must be approved by the instructor in charge of the program.

Application documents

1.     Two copies of the completed application form.

2.     Two copies of a certificate according to the form of the Graduate Studies Department

3.     A letter of recommendation from the supervisor.

4. Two 1-inch photographs shot of a straight face, not wearing a hat or black sunglasses.

5. Two copies of evidence of name-surname changed or 2 copies of a marriage certificate. (In the case of name and/or surname does not match any other application evidence.)

6. Two copies of study transcript reports at undergraduate and master's degree levels.

7. Two copies of educational report certificates for a higher vocational certificate, a technical vocational certificate, or an equivalent diploma (except for those who graduated with a 4-year bachelor's degree program).

8. Two copies of a certificate of being a student in the last semester of a program.

9. Guidelines for conducting a research study.

10. Application fee of 500 baht (in case of applying via the Internet)