An exciting new area of study
The university that began as “Mass Aggie” is the home of the Sustainable Food and Farming (SFF) program which is the fastest-growing major in the Stockbridge School of Agriculture. This growth is a result of the rapidly changing economic and social conditions of the nation in which local, organic, and sustainable food systems are providing opportunities for good work and exciting new careers.
Opportunities grow
The growth of local food and farming is particularly important today as the world experiences the “perfect storm” of climate disruption, energy shortages, and economic stress. Students who recognize crisis as an opportunity are gravitating to the study of sustainable farming, 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.
A Stockbridge instructor writes...
"...in my capacity providing technical assistance for the Harvard Pilgrim Healthy Food Fund grantees, I encounter Stockbridge and SFF grads throughout New England. They have good jobs working at the intersection of community food, social justice, and policy: coordinating school gardens, gleaning programs, community cooking, urban farming, mobile markets, and food banks. It's striking to find our former students everywhere I turn, and a pleasure to collaborate with them again, as they have the energy, smarts, and grit to build an equitable good food movement." Catherine H. Sands
This major was designed by students, alumni, employers, local activists, and our faculty. To learn more about the major or schedule a visit, please contact Program Coordinator, Sarah Berquist to arrange a visit.
The student experience
Experiential learning and hands-on practice are central to our major. For example, the Student Farming Enterprise Project is a year-round class in which students manage a small organic farm and sell their produce through a membership CSA, an on-campus farmers market, and to university and private buyers such as the local Big Y.
Find a list of other exciting projects here!
Reasons to choose the bachelors degree over the associate degree
Whether you choose to move from AS to BS or choose to start in the BS program from day one, the bachelors of science degree will offer you:
More flexibility – You'll have more elective courses to choose from, dipping into horticulture, arboriculture, landscaping, and plant pathology.
More specialization – Choose a focus on business courses (e.g. accounting, economics, management), or a focus on Science courses (e.g. biology, chemistry, calculus).
More in-depth exploration – Continuing to advanced courses, with smaller class sizes, allows for deeper exploration and knowledge in the courses you select.
More research opportunities – Our BS program offers an increased ability to assist faculty research, plus opportunities to propose and conduct your own research, as an independent study for academic credit, using our facilities.
More well-roundedness – While the AS degree is uniquely specialized, the purposeful addition of general education courses offers you a BS degree on par with any other four-year college degree.
More career mobility and job security – You'll have more professional recognition within the turfgrass industries, due in part to our strong alumni support, and paving the way to a variety of higher paying jobs including management.
More foundation for further advancement – A bachelor of science degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst provides an excellent foundation for applying to a master's or PhD program, at UMass or anywhere else you want to go.
Note to residents of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont:
The UMass BS degree in SFF is eligible for reduced tuition rates for residents of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont as part of the New England Board of Higher Education Tuition Break Program.
Learn More About Our Sustainable Food & Farming Program
Student leadership
SFF student, Mithra, talks about his love of farming.
Emma gives a workshop at the UMass Permaculture Garden.