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, 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: 25-31 credits).

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

Chemistry (4 credits)
CHEM 110 General Chemistry or
CHEM 111 General Chemistry - Science or
CHEM 121H Honors General Chemistry or
STOCKSCH 117 Agricultural Chemistry

Ecosystems Studies - one of the following (3-4 credits):
BIOLOGY 287 Introductory Ecology
STOCKSCH 197G Introduction to Permaculture

Food/Land Policy or Agricultural Education - one of the following:
STOCKSCH 262 Introduction to Teaching Agricultural Education
STOCKSCH 288 Land Use Policies and Sustainable Farming
STOCKSCH 342 Pesticides, Public Policy & the Environment
STOCKSCH 355 Community Food Systems
STOCKSCH 356 Food Justice and Policy
STOCKSCH 362 Vocational Agricultural Education Seminar

Integrative Experience (3 credits)
NATSCI 494I Global Issues in Applied Biology or
STOCKSCH 379 Agricultural Systems Thinking

Junior Year Writing (3 crecits)
NATSCI 387 CNS Junior Writing or
STOCKSCH 382 Writing for Sustainability

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

Major Requirements (Total: 42 credits)
Choose from a selection of Required courses in Agricultural Science and Practice (four courses minimum at or above 200 level; 18 credits)

Choose minimum 18 credits from Restricted Electives in areas of Biophysical Systems, Economic Systems, and Social Systems.

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