Bachelor of Science Degree Program

Contact: John Gerber
Office: 308 Bowditch
Phone: 413-545-5301
Email: jgerber@umass.edu

Sustainable Food and Farming allows students who are interested in the social, political, and scientific issues of sustainable agriculture and food systems to seek a broad exposure to this discipline in the liberal arts tradition. Students are exposed to a range of courses including the biophysical aspects of agriculture, economic aspects of food production and distribution, as well as the social elements affecting food policy and access issues. The curriculum combines a solid foundation in horticulture and pest management, and then allows customizing by the student in areas such as business administration, nonprofit organization, sociology, political science, community outreach, and education, among others. By combining crop production training with skills in communication, education, grant writing, nutrition, resource economics, land-use planning, cultural sensitivity, community organizing, and/or policy development, students gain a broader understanding of the many socioeconomic aspects surrounding food production, access, and distribution. Students can tailor their individual programs to prepare for careers in policy, advocacy, community outreach, and education on topics related to crop production, food access, and hunger issues, and many other fields. Graduates are uniquely qualified to compete successfully for a wide array of emerging careers in the growing field of food systems.

Core Requirements (Total: 23-29 credits).

Biological Science (8 credits)
STOCKSCH 105 Soils
STOCKSCH 108 Introductory Botany

Chemistry (4 credits)
CHEM 110 or CHEM 111

Ecosystems Studies - one of the following (3-4 credits):
BIOLOGY 287 Introductory Ecology
ENVIRSCI 101 Introductory Environmental Biology
ENVIRSCI 214 Ecosystems, Biodiversity and Global Change
NRC 100 Environment and Society
STOCKSCH 115 Environmental Biology
STOCKSCH 197G Introduction to Permaculture

Food Policy - one of the following:
STOCKSCH 290C Land Use Policies and Sustainable Farming
STOCKSCH 297NR Nuestras Raices: Community Farming & Food Security
STOCKSCH 342 Pesticides, Public Policy & the Environment
STOCKSCH 397C Community Food Systems
STOCKSCH 397P Food Justice and Policy

Junior Year Writing (3 crecits)
NATSCI 397A CNS Junior Year Writing or
STOCKSCH Writing for Sustainability

Mathematics, Statistics and Reasoning—two semesters in mathematics, statistics and/or analytic reasoning (6-8 credits).

Concentration Requirements (Total: 48-53 credits)
Choose from a selection of Required courses in Agricultural Science and Pest Management (four courses minimum at or above 200 level; two courses minimum from Pest Management) (16-23 credits)

Choose minimum 24 credits from Restricted Electives in areas of Biophysical Systems, Economic Systems, and Social Systems.

Advanced Courses (minimum 6 credits at or above 500 level)