Sustainable Food and Farming B.S. Major
Core Requirements
Intro to Botany - STOCKSCH 108 - Intro to Botany (4)
Soil Science - STOCKSCH 105 Soil Science (4)
Ecosystem Course - Choose any one
BIOLOGY 287 - Ecology (3)
STOCKSCH 115 - Environmental Biology (3)
STOCKSCH 197G - Introduction to Permaculture (3)
STOCKSCH 378 - Agroecology (3)
Other Permaculture or Environmental Science courses may satisfy this requirement
Mathematics Requirements
MATH 104 - Alg/Anal Geo/Trig (3)
or MATH 101 - Pre_Calc/Alg (3) and MATH 102 - Anal Geo/Trig (3)
or MATH 127 or higher level
Analytical Reasoning - Any University approved Analytical Reasoning Class (R2)
Chemistry Requirement
STOCKSCH 117 - Agricultual Chemistry (3)
or CHEM 110 (4) -
or CHEM 111 (4)
Junior Writing (select one)
STOCKSCH 382 - Writing for Sustainability (3)
or NATSCI 397A - CNS Junior Writing (3)
Choose any course in food or land policy or agricultural education, such as;
STOCKSCH 262 - Intro to Agricultural Education (3)
STOCKSCH 290C - Land Use Policies and Sustaianble Farming (3)
STOCKSCH 297 AL - Agricultural Leadership & Commmunity Education (3)
STOCKSCH 342 - Pesticides, Public Policy and the Environment (3)
STOCKSCH 355 - Community Food Systems (3)
STOCKSCH 356 - Food Justice and Policy (3)
STOCKSCH 390VO - Vocational Agricultural Education (3)
Integrative Experience (GenEd)
STOCKSCH 379 - Ag Systems Thinking (3)
or NATSCI 494I - Global Issues in Applied Biology (3)
Major Requirements
Agricultural Science & Practice - take 18 credits of any STOCKSCH courses or those listed (12 credits must be 200 level or above)
ANIMLSCI 101 - Introduction to Animal Science (3)
ANIMLSCI 103 - Introduction to Animal Management (3)
ANIMLSCI 220 - Anatomy & Physiology of Domestic Animals (3)
ANIMLSCI 260 - Animal Care and Welfare (3)
ANIMLSCI 332 - Basic Animal Nutrition & Feeding (3)
ANIMLSCI 390B - Animal Business Management (3)
ANIMLSCI 421 - Fundamentals of Reproduction (3)
STOCKSCH 120 - Organic Gardening & Farming (4)
STOCKSCH 182 - Principles of Pesticide Management (2)
STOCKSCH 118 - Intro to Sustainable Food and Farming (1)
STOCKSCH 197D - Draft Horse Husbandry I (3)
STOCKSCH 197G - Introduction to Permaculture (3)
STOCKSCH 197PW - Physical Care and Wellness for Beginning Farmers (3)
STOCKSCH 200 - Plant Propagation (3)
STOCKSCH 211 - Pasture Management (3)
STOCKSCH 235 - Pruning Fruit Crops (2)
STOCKSCH 255 - Herbaceous Plants (3)
STOCKSCH 265 - Sustainable Agriculture (3)
STOCKSCH 280 - Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants (4)
STOCKSCH 262 - Intro to Teaching Agricultural Education (3)
STOCKSCH 290E - Organic Weed Control (3)
STOCKSCH 290U - Urban Agriculture (3)
STOCKSCH 297C - Traditional Herbal Medicine Systems I (2)
STOCKSCH 297D - Traditional Herbal Medicine Systems II (2)
STOCKSCH 297ER - Ethnobotany of the Renaissance (2)
STOCKSCH 297F - Draft Horse Husbandry II (3)
STOCKSCH 281 - Topics in Herbalism I - Fall (2)
STOCKSCH 282 - Topics in Herbalism II - Spring (2)
STOCKSCH 297PD - Permaculture Design & Practice (3)
STOCKSCH 297R - Raising Dairy Goats Sustainably (3) - Online
STOCKSCH 297T - Alternative Medicine for Animals (1)
STOCKSCH 297V - Organic Vegetable Production (3) - Online
STOCKSCH 297W - Herbal Approaches to Women's Health (2)
STOCKSCH 298G - GardenShare Practicum (1)
STOCKSCH 300 - Deciduous Orchard Science (3)
STOCKSCH 305 - Small Fruit Production (3)
STOCKSCH 315 - Greenhouse Management (4)
STOCKSCH 325 - Vegetable Crop Production (4)
STOCKSCH 326 - Insect Biology (3)
STOCKSCH 342 - Pesticides, Envir/Public Policy (3)
STOCKSCH 350 - Sustainable Soil and Crop Management (3)
STOCKSCH 370 - Tropical Agriculture (3)
STOCKSCH 375 - Soil and Water Conservation (3)
STOCKSCH 390U - Sustainable Site Planning and Design (3)
STOCKSCH 390VO - Vocational Agricultural Education (3)
STOCKSCH 379 - Agricultural Systems Thinking (3)
STOCKSCH 397F- Pest Management for Greenhouse Crops (2)
STOCKSCH 378 - Agroecology (3)
STOCKSCH 397PB - Pollinator Biology and Habitat (1)
STOCKSCH 397S - Sustainable Site Planning & Design (3) - Online
STOCKSCH 398E - Student Farming Enterprise I (5)
STOCKSCH 498E - Student Farming Enterprise II (5)
STOCKSCH 485 - Project Development in Sustainable Food & Farming (3)
Also any of the Animal Science Student Management Practicums can count toward the SFF major, such as:
Poultry Management
Boer Goat Management
Belted Galloway Beef Management
Dairy Calf Management
Dorsett Sheep Management
Advanced Courses (any 2 STOCKSCH courses at 500 or above)
STOCKSCH 505 - Plant Pathology (4)
STOCKSCH 510 - Mgt. & Eco. of Plant Diseases (3)
STOCKSCH 515 - Microbiology of the Soil (3)
STOCKSCH 520 - Physiology of Crop Yield (3)
STOCKSCH 525 - Mycology (3)
STOCKSCH 530 - Plant Nutrition (4)
STOCKSCH 535 - Diagnostic Plant Pathology (3)
STOCKSCH 545- Post Harvest Physiololgy (3)
STOCKSCH 550 - Plant Growth Regulators in Agriculture (3)
STOCKSCH 555 - Urban Plant Biology (3)
STOCKSCH 575 - Environmental Soil Chemistry (4)
STOCKSCH 580 - Soil Fertility (3)
STOCKSCH 585 - Inorganic Contaminants in Soil, Water & Sediment (3)
STOCKSCH 596 - Independent Study (1-6 credits)
STOCKSCH 597A - Bio/phytoremediation (3)
Non-STOCKSCH 500+ courses with approval
Professional Electives - Select 18 additional credits with at least one course from each category
- Biophysical Systems (at least one class) NOTE: most of the STOCKSCH classes fulfill this requirment
- Economic Systems (at least one class)
- Social Systems (at least one class)
Professional Electives may be taken within the Five Colleges or with an approved Study Abroad Program
Some General Education classes may fulfill Professional Elective Requiements
General Education Requirements
These are University requirements and are the same for all majors. For information, see the following web pages:
UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS - Credits
Minimum 120 credits must be obtained, 45 of which must be earned in residence. Residence credits are defined as credits earned for work done while registered at the UMass Amherst campus or while enrolled in one of the University's formal exchange programs.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
Minimum Overall Grade Point Average (GPA) - 2.00 minimum cumulative GPA is required.
Minimum Stockbridge School of Agriculture Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) - 2.00 minimum cumulative GPA is required for courses within the Stockbridge School of Agriculture majors.
Additional Academic Information
Independent Study - students wishing to complete a research project or independent learning project must select a faculty member within the major who will approve the project and provide guidance. An Independent Study form must be completed, which specifies the number of credits to be earned, a statement of objectives, planned activities, and criteria to be used for evaluation and grading. This form must be filed with the School's Undergraduate Affairs Office before the project is initiated.
Internships/Practicums - an internship is a summer or semester-long work experience that allows students to "apprentice" with professionals in their field. Internships are intended to be learning experiences, and do not necessarily provide significant monetary compensation. Instead, academic credits are earned. Students can earn 12 credits for a full time, semester long internship experience and 3 to 9 credits for a summer program. Prior to undertaking an internship, the student and his/her faculty sponsor must complete an Academic Contract (Independent Study/Practicum form), including planned activities, a statement of objectives, as well as criteria for evaluation and grading.
