Sustainable Food and Farming Bachelor of Science
Online Degree Requirements
The Bachelor of Sciences degree in Sustainable Food and Farming requires students to take courses in four categories:
a. University General Education Requirements (45 credits)
b. Core Required Classes (22-23 credits)
c. Agricultural Science and Practice Classes (24 credits)
d. Professional Electives (20 credits)
University degree requirements = 120 credits total
Please keep in mind that to graduate you must have taken at least 60 credits of classes within the College of Natural Science (CNS). Relevant transfer credits can fall into this category as well. To determine which classes count towards CNS credits, please see the 13 departments and 2 schools whose classes are part of CNS: https://www.cns.umass.edu/about/at-a-glance
Also, all students (transfers included) must take a minimum of 45 credits at UMass Amherst
1. University General Education Requirements
• College Writing (CW) 3 credits (ENGLWRIT 112) Students need to take placement exam and if not ready for 112, will take ENGLWRIT 111 first.
• General Mathematics (R1) 3 credits (Students need to take a math placement exam)
• Analytical Reasoning (R2) 3 credits
• Biological Science (BS) 4 credits
• Physical Sciences (PS ) 4 credits
• Arts or Literature (AT or AL) 4 credits
• Historical Studies (HS) 4 credits
• Social & Behav. Sci. (SB) 4credits
• Social World (AT, AL, I, SI) 4 credits
• U.S. Diversity (DU) 3 credits (may be combined with another GenED)
• Global Diversity (DG) 3 credits (may be combined with another GenED)
There are online options for all of the above required General Education classes. In addition, some students will transfer courses from previous college work or may fulfill these requirements at a community college. Two additional General Education classes are taken within the Sustainable Food and Farming major:
- Junior Writing - STOCKSCH 382 - Professional Development in Sustainable Food and Farming (3) – Winter and summer session II
- Integrative Experience - STOCKSCH 379 - Ag Systems Thinking (3) - Summer session II
2. Core Required Classes
These classes are required of students earning a Bachelor of Sciences degree in the Stockbridge School of Agriculture. There is some flexibility depending on a student’s career goals and previous course work.
A. Botany - STOCKSCH 108 - Intro to Botany (4) – Summer and Fall
B. Soil Science - STOCKSCH 106 - Soil Science and Management (3) - Summer and Fall
C. Ecosystem Course – Choose one:
• STOCKSCH 186 - Introduction to Permaculture (3) – Spring
• STOCKSCH 378 - Agroecology (3) – Summer
• STOCKSCH 510 – Management and Ecology of Plant Diseases (3) Fall
D. Chemistry Requirement - STOCKSCH 117 - Agricultural Chemistry (3) - Summer
- Or take Chemistry at a community college (talk to your adviser first)
E. Take one course in food/land policy or agricultural education
- STOCKSCH 258 - Urban Agriculture (3) - Summer
- STOCKSCH 297 FL – Intro to Food and Agricultural Law (3) - Winter
- STOCKSCH 297 AL - Agricultual Leadership & Community Education (3) - Fall
- STOCKSCH 355 - Community Food Systems(3) - Summer
- STOCKSCH 356 – Food Justice and Policy (3) - Summer
- STOCKSCH 387 – Global Food Systems (3) - Spring
- STOCKSCH 397R – Social Permaculture for Food Justice (3) - Spring
3. Agricultural Science and Practice Classes
Students must take 24 credits in agricultural science and practice. These courses may be taken in the Stockbridge School of Agriculture or other departments with approval of the advisor.
100 Level Classes (6 credits may be taken from this list but are not required toward the major, and anything over 6 credits counts towards Professional Electives, not Ag Science)
• STOCKSCH 100 – Botany for Gardeners (4) –Winter and Summer
• STOCKSCH 101 – Insects & Related Forms (2) Fall
• STOCKSCH 104 – Plant Nutrients (2) - Winter
• STOCKSCH 110 – Sustainable Horticulture (3) – Fall
• STOCKSCH 111 – Introductory Plant Pathology (2) - Summer session II
• STOCKSCH 119 – Backyard Homesteading (3) – Fall
• STOCKSCH 120 – Organic Farming and Gardening (4) –Summer
• STOCKSCH 166 – Practical Beekeeping(3)–Fall
• STOCKSCH 171 – Plagues, Food and People: Ecology of Food and Disease (GenED-BS - 4 credits) - Spring and Summer session
• STOCKSCH 172– Plants in Our World (4)–Summer Session II
• STOCKSCH 184 – Raising Dairy Goats Sustainably (3)–Fall
• STOCKSCH 186 – Introduction to Permaculture (3) –Spring
• STOCKSCH 190 P – Pastured Poultry (3) –Spring
200 - 400 Level Classes (at least 12 credits are required toward the major from this list, and anything over 12 counts towards Professional Electives)
• STOCKSCH 211 – Pasture Management (3) – Spring
• STOCKSCH 258 – Urban Agriculture (3) - Summer
• STOCKSCH 261 – Topics in Herbalism (2 cr) – Summer
• STOCKSCH 265 - Sustainable Agriculture (3) – Summer
• STOCKSCH 266 – Farm Management, Planning and Marketing (3) – Spring
• STOCKSCH 268 - Raising Cows, Sheep & Goats (3) - Spring
• STOCKSCH 269 - Small Farm Husbandry: Pigs and Poultry (3) – Fall
• STOCKSCH 280 - Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants (4) – Fall
• STOCKSCH 290 B – Cultivation of Edible Mushrooms (3) – Spring
• STOCKSCH 290 F – Holistic Fruit Production (3) - Spring
• STOCKSCH 290 HP – Industrial Hemp Production (Summer, pending approval)
• STOCKSCH 290 M – Integrated Pest Management
- STOCKSCH 290 N - Native Food Systems (3) - Fall
• STOCKSCH 297 FL – Intro to Food and Agricultural Law (3) Winter
• STOCKSCH 297 PA – Pastured Poultry (3) Spring
• STOCKSCH 315 – Greenhouse Management
• STOCKSCH 320 – Organic Vegetable Production (3) –Summer session II and Fall
• STOCKSCH 350 – Sustainable Soil and Crop Management (3) Spring
• STOCKSCH 354 – Non-Profit Management for Community Food Programs (3) Winter
• STOCKSCH 355 – Community Food Systems (3) – Summer, odd yrs
• STOCKSCH 356 – Food Justice and Policy (3) Summer, even years
• STOCKSCH 365 – Hydroponics & Aquaponics (3) – Fall
• STOCKSCH 378 - Agroecology (3) – Summer
• STOCKSCH 386 – Sustainable Site Planning and Design (3) – Fall
• STOCKSCH 387 – Global Food Systems (3) – Spring
• STOCKSCH 397 FJ – Social Permaculture for Food Justice (3) Spring
• STOCKSCH 397 PB – Pollinator Biology and Habitat (1) Winter
• STOCKSCH 398 B – Agricultural Practicum (1-18 credits) – available year round
• STOCKSCH 497 D – Sustainable Site Design (2) – Winter
500 Level Classes (at least 6 credits are required from this list or other departments with approval)
• STOCKSCH 510 – Management and Ecology of Plant Disease (3) - Fall
• STOCKSCH 580 – Soil Fertility (3) - Spring
• STOCKCH 587 - Phyto/Bioremediation (3) - Spring
4. Professional Electives/Internships
Students working closely with an academic adviser are encouraged to select professional elective courses from the major or other UMass majors which help them move toward their own career goals. General Education classes, one credit Stockbridge classes, transfer courses, independent study and practicum classes may be used to fulfill this requirement.
A total of 20 credits of approved courses are required with at least one course from each category below:
1. Biophysical Systems
2. Economic Systems
3. Social Systems
This category ensures that all three aspects of sustainability (environmental, economic and equity) are included in the course of study. The following programs offer courses that may fulfil these categories:
• Accounting • Finance • Public Health
• Animal Sciences • Geology • Regional Planning
• Biology • Legal Studies • Resource Economics
• Building/Const. Tech • Management • Sustainable Communities
• Economics • Marketing • Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies
• Education • Nutrition and of course any Stockbridge classes
Internships or Practicum
Students are encouraged to take up to the maximum of 18 credits as Internships or Practicum which may be counted toward Professional Electives. These may be farm internships, working with non-profits or businesses, or study abroad. Stockbridge is committed to helping students gain practical experience as part of their major area of study. By combining your classroom education with experience in the field, your practicum/internship should be a highlight of your Stockbridge education. Every internship is different and one size does not fit all! The requirements have flexibility. If you are working to establish your own farm and your life situation is such that you are not able to complete an independent study away from home, we can find a “residential solution.”
For more information, talk with our SFF Internship Coordinator, Renee Ciulla at rciulla@umass.edu.
And see: https://sustfoodfarm.org/internship/
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