You can apply anytime to this online program. And you are welcome to take classes as a "non-degree" student before you are officially accepted.
Request More Information about the Online Associate Degree in Sustainable Food & Farming
The University of Massachusetts Stockbridge School of Agriculture has offered college degrees to students at the Amherst campus since 1918. Due to the growing interest in online education, we now offer a fully online Associate degree in sustainable food and farming as well as a Bachelor of Science degree and a 15-credit Certificate.
List of online classes and annual schedule
The Associate Degree Program
The AS in sustainable food and farming is designed for those who wish to explore careers in sustainable agriculture but are not able to take classes on campus. The major offers flexibility in designing a personal program of study, allowing students to focus on production and marketing, agricultural education, and/or public policy, advocacy, and community development. Students are not required to complete the degree in a set period of time or register for a set number of courses per semester. To know the weekly timeframe for each class, it's best to contact the course instructor, but students can expect to spend anywhere from four to nine hours per week per class.
If you have specific questions please contact Renee Ciulla at @email or call 413-687-1392.
For those who want to continue their studies after completing the A.S. degree, we offer a Bachelor of Science degree in sustainable food and farming that can be pursued either online or on-campus.
Admission Requirements
Students are admitted based on their academic record, related experiences, and personal/professional goals. The minimum high school GPA required for admission is 2.0/4.0 scale, recalculated based on the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education standards, which includes grades in English, math, social science, natural science, foreign language, and appropriate elective courses only. Students are expected to have the required number and kind of academic units designated by the Mass Department of Higher Education. Please note that students who have graduated from this online associate degree and wish to pursue the online cachelor degree in sustainable food and farming are admissible with a 2.5 GPA, instead of the 2.7 typically required.
Application materials
▪ Official college transcripts from all colleges previously attended, regardless of whether or not transfer credit is desired. UMass Amherst does not accept personal copies, unofficial transcripts, or emailed electronic transcripts.
- Sending in transcripts: Official college transcripts from all colleges previously attended, regardless of whether or not transfer credit is desired. Transcripts are considered official if mailed directly or sent electronically by institution’s Registrar to @email (Hard copies of transcript may be needed if electronic transcript is illegible or not from a reputable organization). Official transcripts should be mailed to UWW Admissions: University Without Walls / Division of Online Education / 350 Campus Center Way / Amherst, MA 01003-9202. Paper or electronic transcripts sent from students are not considered official. Photocopies are not acceptable.
▪ Official high school transcript – If students have completed fewer than 24 semester credits of college coursework at the time of application, an official high school transcript is also required (unless those college credits include a suitable mathematics course). Four years of high school math are expected, although exceptions may be made.
▪ Official SAT or ACT scores sent directly to UMass Amherst from the testing agency. If students have completed fewer than 24 semester credits of college coursework at the time of application, official SAT or ACT scores are also required, unless the student has a waiver. Waivers are granted upon request to: students 25 years or older, students from Massachusetts with documented learning disabilities (state law); veterans; students who graduated from high school five or more years ago. The school codes are as follows: SAT 3917 and ACT 1924
▪ ESL students – Students whose native language is not English are required to provide proof of English language proficiency, usually by submitting an SAT exam with a critical reading score of 450 or higher or an internet-based TOEFL score of 80 or higher with a writing subscore of 20 or higher.
▪ Essay – What led you to apply to the UMass Amherst AS in sustainable food and farming? What qualifications and traits do you possess that would help you be successful? How would completing this degree program help you meet your personal and/or professional goals?
For more information, please see here: UWW Admissions
▪ If a student has a disciplinary or criminal history, s/he must also provide an explanation, as well as a Transfer Disciplinary Report from the college where the disciplinary incident occurred or CORI report. See application form for more information.
NOTE: While we welcome students from New England states, online degree programs are not eligible for reduced tuition through the New England Regional Student Program (NERSP)
Deadlines
- Financial aid (both terms) – March 1 priority deadline
- Fall semester – Early application deadline May 1, regular deadline June 1
- Spring semester – Early application deadline October 1, regular deadline November 1
- Summer semester - Early application deadline March 1, regular deadline March 15
Fees
- $550 per credit (subject to change)
- Credit registration fee (per term) $85
- Application fee: $60 for early deadline and $85 for regular deadline (waived for veterans and for all applicants through summer 2021)
- Fees are the same for in-state, out-of-state and non-U.S. students.
Financial aid
If you would like to apply for financial aid, please complete a FAFSA application: https://fafsa.gov/
The university code is 002221. Any questions related to completing the FAFSA in relation to your UMass financial aid package can be directed to Sharon Ruth: # 413-545-3219. Email: @email or Matt Mourovic Email: @email
Please see the Financial Aid website. Alternatively, students are always welcome to meet with a counselor during office hours, call the main number 413.545.0801 or email at @email. It's best to identify yourself as an online (UWW) students to be sure to get the most accurate information.
- Students admitted for summer will be packaged starting in early April, and continue as students are admitted/activated for summer. To receive aid in summer 2021, you must submit a 2020-2021 FAFSA and a Summer Aid Application (online around mid-March at umass.edu/umfa/forms). The deadline to submit the FAFSA for summer aid is June 30, 2021.
- Students admitted for fall will be packaged for financial aid starting mid-July. Packaging will continue through the academic year as students are admitted.
- Students admitted for spring will be packaged starting late November. Packaging will continue as students are admitted.
*In all cases, students will not be packaged until they are admitted and have provided all required documents to Financial Aid Services. The FAFSA priority deadline is May 1. Missed the deadline? There is still aid available. Submit your FAFSA as soon as possible.
Transfer credit
Transfer credit for the composition and math requirements is routinely awarded at the time of admission, as well as credit for financial accounting, introduction to management, and introduction to marketing. However, transfer credit for coursework related to program requirements, including practicum credit, is done in consultation with the faculty advisor after admission.
Academic advisers
How to enroll for classes
Please view instructions on how to register for online classes whether you are a non-degree or degree-seeking student.
International students welcome!
Since this program is fully online there are no visas required, and therefore no barriers for any international student to apply and take classes. Keep in mind that if a student would like to come to campus to participate in a commencement, or other type of formal meeting, they would need to do so on a visitor's visa, not a student visa. Students who have attended universities outside of the US are asked to have their official transcripts evaluated by a professional organization. Please see the following website for more information: Applications
UMass accepts students from all 50 states
Please see here for more information about the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement
Military credits
UMass Amherst uses the American Council on Education (ACE) guidelines and applies the same standards to credits for military education as those applied to coursework from accredited colleges and universities. The JST military transcript is available in electronic format only and may be requested via the Joint Services Transcript (JST) website.
Disability services
Please view the UMass Amherst Disability Services website and make note that it is necessary to complete an online intake form before any accommodations will be made by an online instructor. Questions can be directed to the Interim Co-Director of Disability Services, AnnMarie Duchon via email @email, by phone 413-545-0892, or at her office 233 Whitmore Building. Or Disability Services Coordinator Jackie Walton can speak with students and explain the process to get disability accommodations. Her email is @email and her phone is 413-545-0892.
Second degrees
Students can transfer up to 30 credits from a previous degree towards their 60 credit AS degree. All previous credit can be used to complete degree requirements, but it's important to keep in mind that the UMass AS degree requirements still have to be met. Therefore, there is a chance that few or no electives may transfer over.
What a few students are saying about the online program
"I have really been enjoying this program. I wanted to get a master gardener certificate, but am so glad I ran across this program online. I'm sure I would not have been able to attend a campus with a full-time job and two teenage daughters."
"I like everything about the classes: my increasing interest, the reading materials, class structure, task requirements for blackboard, self-paced tasks, reminders, and instructor knowledge and careful comments.”
“I'm amazed by the depth of knowledge each instructor has, and the great thoughts and ideas of my fellow classmates. Like seeds scattered on fertile ground, good things will come of all this…"
“I've learned an incredible amount and feel as though my perspective has widened…the global realities are personal to people, which makes the material and insight shared all the more valuable.”
"These classes keep me motivated…and it shows that my instructors care by all their attentive feedback. I think it is very important to have this open interaction…”
"I learned more than I thought I was capable of and I looking forward to trying out many of the things that I have learned.”
