Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (Agriculture and Ecology), Bachelor of Science
The multidisciplinary Bachelor of Science degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS) serves students interested in improving the sustainability of modern food and agricultural systems. This major prepares graduates to understand the interdisciplinary and systems-based aspects of sustainability and provides them with the knowledge, leadership skills, and experiences required to excel in agricultural and food systems professions. A degree in SAFS prepares students for a broad range of careers related to agricultural production (including plant, animal, and biofuels) and food system management, rural and urban community services, education and development, as well as careers in agricultural, environmental, and economic policy and analysis. Employers may include private industry, local, state and federal government, public service agencies, non-profit organizations, nature preserves, community organizations, or any other group that aims to produce, distribute, or improve access to food, to improve the quality and/or sustainability of food or food systems, to improve human health related to diet and nutrition, to work towards social justice related to food access or hunger, or to develop policy or social structures related to food or food systems. The SAFS major also prepares students for graduate studies in a wide range of fields related to agriculture, food, water, and energy systems.
Core Curriculum - 42 Hours
The Core Curriculum serves as a broad foundation for the undergraduate degree. All candidates for a bachelor’s degree must achieve core student learning outcomes, including communication, critical thinking, empirical and quantitative skills, teamwork, personal responsibility and social responsibility, by completing courses within each category or component area of the Core Curriculum as outlined below.
The University has approved specific courses that satisfy Core Curriculum Requirements. Approved courses can be found on the Core Curriculum Page. Students seeking the most efficient way to complete the core curriculum and major or minor requirements are advised to take approved courses that can fulfill both requirements. Although core curriculum courses can also be used to fulfill major or minor requirements, earned credits hours are only applied once. The courses listed below fulfill core curriculum and major requirements. Students who have completed a core curriculum category with courses other than those listed below will still be required to take the listed course(s) to meet major requirements.
020 Mathematics - 3 hours
Choose one:
080 Social & Behavioral Sciences - 3 hours
030 Life and Physical Sciences – 6 hours
| ENVR 1401 | Introduction to Environmental Science I | 4 |
| ENVR 1402 | Introduction to Environmental Science II | 4 |
Three-credit hours apply from each course.
090 Integrative and Experiential Learning – 6 hours
One credit hour from each required Life and Physical Science course applies.
Major Requirements – 72 Hours
Required Courses - 45 hours
Sustainability Core– 36 hours
Required:
Choose one:
Capstone - 9 hours
| EEMS 4381 | Community-Engaged Service Learning I | 3 |
| Or | |
| CESL 3301 | Community Engaged Scholarship and Learning Internship I | 3 |
| | |
| EEMS 4382 | Community-Engaged Service Learning II | 3 |
| Or | |
| CESL 3302 | Community Engaged Scholarship and Learning Internship II | 3 |
| | |
| EEMS 4191 | Interdisciplinary Seminar Series Fall | 1 |
| EEMS 4192 | Interdisciplinary Seminar Series Spring | 1 |
| EEMS 4193 | Interdisciplinary Synthesis & Communication | 1 |
Agriculture and Ecology Concentration - 19 hours
Required:
Natural Resource Management and Food Science
Choose at least three hours from:
Production Sciences
Choose at least three hours from Crop Production, Livestock Production, or Aquaculture/Fisheries Courses:
Crop production related courses:
Livestock production related courses:
Aquaculture/Fisheries related courses:
With approval from the department, additional courses may be used to fulfill concentration requirements.
Support Courses - 8 hours
Free Electives - hours will vary
Free electives credit hours required may vary to achieve the institutional minimum of 120 hours for a degree.
Free elective credit hours at the advanced level may be needed to achieve the institutional minimum of 42 advanced hours.
Total Credit Hours: 42
Total Credit Hours: 120