Is Sustainable Food and Farming for you?

If you care about: 1) good food; 2) small farms and; 3) local solutions to food, climate and energy challenges, you should explore our associate of science degree (offered both on-campus and fully online), our bachelor of science degree (offered both on-campus and fully online), and our 15-credit online certificate program.  Additionally, students working toward a major in a related field at UMass can earn a secondary major in Sustainable Food and Farming with only 30 credits in the Stockbridge School of Agriculture. 

Students in the Sustainable Food and Farming major prepare for work in diverse fields such as:

  • growing and marketing real food
  • farm-based educational systems
  • food advocacy, community development and public policy

Make a Difference - And Do What You Love

Local food and farming is particularly important today as the world experiences the “perfect storm” of climate disruption, depletion of easily and safely extractable fossil fuel, and economic stress. Students have recognized this as an opportunity and are gravitating to the study of sustainable farming and marketing, working toward careers in local food and green businesses, urban agriculture, permaculture, herbal medicine, and related jobs in farm-based education, public policy, community development and advocacy.

Student Gain Practical Experience

Building on the Levi Stockbridge’s commitment to experiential learning, students in the Sustainable Food and Farming major have initiated and are actively engaged in several exciting hands-on learning projects at UMass! Here are just a few of the projects students are engaged in within our major.

Students can also gain year round farming and marketing experience by participating in the UMass Student Farm, which was recently ranked the 5th best college farm in the U.S.

The College of Natural Sciences created the UMass Center for Agriculture and the Environment (which administers the agricultural research and extension functions of the college). Many student projects find their home at the ALC.

New Courses Established

In response to the increased student demand, many new classes have been added over the past few years (in addition to traditional agricultural courses in soil science, vegetable production, plant pathology, fruit growing, organic farming etc.), such as:

  • Agricultural Leadership and Community Education
  • Introduction to Permaculture
  • Permaculture Design and Practice
  • Agricultural Systems Thinking
  • Agroecology
  • Small Farm Husbandry I: Ruminants for Meat Production
  • Small Farm Husbandry II: Poultry and Pigs

Requirements to complete the Bachelor of Sciences degree in Sustainable Food and Farming, and full course list may be found here.

Online Education

In addition to a vibrant campus program, there are almost 500 students studying Sustainable Food and Farming online from all over the world. We offer a 15-credit Certificate Program that serves the needs of active learners who can’t come to campus. We are also accepting applications for our 60-credit Associate of Science fully online degree program in Sustainable Food and Farming as well as a fully online B.D. degree. Campus students also take online classes during the summer and winter terms.

The online program is particularly helpful for adults who are looking to change careers but also complements the educational experience for university undergraduates who may take these courses when they are not in class during the regular semester. All courses in the Certificate Program will count toward the new online A.S. or the on campus B.S. degrees for those individuals who choose to continue their education.

Practical education built on a solid foundation of biological, ecological, and sociological sciences prepare students to explore creative options and find good work in Sustainable Food and Farming.

Interested in Sustainable Food and Farming?

Anyone interested in discussing this major or the Certificate Program should contact Program Coordinator Sarah Berquist (sbberqui@umass.edu).