The Stockbridge Associate Degree Curriculum

The Stockbridge Associate Degree Curriculum

Our associate degree curriculum is developed in partnership with industry leaders to deliver targeted, career-ready expertise and extensive hands-on training. In just two years, graduates are prepared to step directly into high-demand jobs or launch their own businesses as entrepreneurs. The curriculum is purposefully focused, ensuring students gain the essential skills and applied knowledge needed to succeed immediately upon graduation.

 

AS students enter a tight-knit learning community each fall, beginning with foundational courses such as Botany and Soils. From there, class sizes become even smaller as students move into specialized courses tailored to each major, providing direct mentorship and practical experience.

 

Internships are an integral part of every AS program and take place after the first year, giving students the opportunity to earn an income, build a resume, and establish professional connections before graduating. With a Stockbridge AS degree, students leave campus with not just a diploma, but also with real-world experience and a clear pathway to a rewarding career in agriculture and the green industries.

 

Many students continue on to pursue a bachelor’s degree, earning both an AS and BS in just four years while combining practical, hands-on experience with advanced academic training.

 

 

Arboriculture and Community Forest Management

Arboriculture and Community Forest Management
Kristina Bezanson

2-year Associate Degree

Program Advisor: Kristina Bezanson, ISA BCMA®, MCA

@email

 

This major prepares graduates for careers in residential, commercial, municipal, and utility arboriculture, as well as the non-profit sector. Students will learn how to plant, prune, fertilize, cable, and remove trees.  Pest and disease management, plant health care, quantifying the benefits that trees provide, and identifying the risks they present, are topics in the program.

Courses in bold require a minimum grade of C.

 

FIRST SEMESTER (FALL)

STOCKSCH 105 Soils  4

STOCKSCH 108 Introductory Botany  4

STOCKSCH 192F First Year Seminar  1

NRC 102 Arboricultural Field Techniques I  2

NRC 232 Principles of Arboriculture  3

SUSTCOMM 335 Plants in Landscape 4

Credit Total  18

 

SECOND SEMESTER (SPRING)

Courses for First Seven Weeks Only, Followed by Internship

STOCKSCH 101 Exploring the Wonders and Applications of Entomology  2

STOCKSCH 111 Introductory Plant Pathology  2

NRC 191A Seminar in Arboriculture & Comm. Forestry  2

NRC 210 Arboricultural Field Techniques II  2

NRC 198Y Arboriculture Internship (April-August)  4

Credit Total  12

 

THIRD SEMESTER (FALL)

STOCKSCH 109 Insects of Managed Landscapes  3

STOCKSCH 230 Introductory Turfgrass Management  4

ELECTIVES xxx (With Advisor Approval: See Examples Below)  6-7

MATH 100/101/104 Course Based on Math Placement Exam Score  3

Credit Total 16-17

 

FOURTH SEMESTER (SPRING)

ENGLWRIT 111/112 Course Based on Writing Placement Exam Score  3-4

LANDARCH 297M Business Concepts of Landscape Contracting  3

NRC 310 Community Forestry  3

ELECTIVES or GEN EDS (With Advisor Approval: See Examples Below)  6-7

Credit Total  15-17

 

Grand Total 61-64

 

Arboriculture Electives (Taken with Advisor Approval)

Note: May take other courses with advisor approval. Students planning to transfer to a 4-year bachelor’s program may be encouraged to complete general education courses that count towards that goal.

STOCKSCH 289 Forest Gardens  3

NRC 160 Forest Fire Control  1

NRC 213 Arboricultural Field Techniques III  2

NRC 225 Forests and People  3

NRC 235 Sensible Pruning for Beginners & Experts  2

NRC 261 Wildlife Conservation  3

 

General Education Courses (Only For Students Transferring to a BS Program)

STOCKSCH 105 Soils (BioSci)  4

STOCKSCH 172 Plants in Our World (SI)  4

CHEM 111 General Chemistry (PS)  4

MATH 104 Algebra, Analytic Geometry, and Trigonometry (R1)  3

NRC 100 Environment and Society (SI)  4

RES-ECON 102 Introduction to Resource Economics (SB)  4

Landscape Contracting

Landscape Contracting
Michael Davidsohn

2-year Associate Degree

Program Advisor: Mike Davidsohn, MLA

@email

 

The landscape contracting curriculum develops a foundation around three primary areas: landscape design, horticulture, and landscape construction/business.

The goal of the landscape contracting program is to prepare students to become crew leaders, project supervisors, and estimators, as well as to hold other managerial positions. This is done by developing a student's skills in these areas: design, estimating, installation, and management. The program is offered through the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning and administered through the Stockbridge School of Agriculture.

This program prepares students with the horticultural, design, and construction background to organize and execute the installation of landscape projects on private, commercial, and public properties.

Courses in bold require a minimum grade of C.

 

FIRST SEMESTER (FALL)

STOCKSCH 105 Soils  4

STOCKSCH 108 Introductory Botany  4

STOCKSCH 192F First Year Seminar  1

LANDCONT 112 Introduction to Landscape Design  4

SUSTCOMM 335 Plants in Landscape  4

Credit Total  17

 

SECOND SEMESTER (SPRING)

Courses for First Seven Weeks Only, Followed by Internship

STOCKSCH 101 Exploring the Wonders and Applications of Entomology  2

STOCKSCH 111 Introductory Plant Pathology  2

LANDCONT 105 Landscape Drafting  2

LANDARCH 203 Design Studio III  3

LANDCONT 198Y Landscape Contracting Internship (April-August)  4

Credit Total  13

 

THIRD SEMESTER (FALL)

STOCKSCH 109 Insects of Managed Landscapes  3

STOCKSCH 230 Introductory Turfgrass Management  4

or NRC 232 Principles of Arboriculture  3

LANDCONT 107 Land Form  4

MATH 100/101/104 Course Based on Math Placement Exam Score  3

Credit Total  13-14

 

FOURTH SEMESTER (SPRING)

STOCKSCH 255 Herbaceous Plants  3

LANDCONT 213 Small Property Design  4

LANDARCH 294A Construction Materials  3

LANDARCH 294B Construction Materials Practicum  1

LANDARCH 254 Business Concepts of Landscape Contracting  3

ENGLWRIT 111/112 Course Based on Writing Placement Exam Score  3-4

Credit Total  17-18

 

Grand Total 60-62

Sustainable Food & Farming

Sustainable Food & Farming
Jaime Piñero

2-year Associate Degree

Program Advisor: Jaime Piñero, PhD

[email protected]

 

 

Students in this major learn the complexities of farming and pursue careers in farming, education, and/or advocacy. The curriculum is flexible, with a wide range of electives, allowing students to specialize their degree as they desire.

Courses in bold require a minimum grade of C.

 

FIRST SEMESTER (FALL)

STOCKSCH 105 Soils  4

STOCKSCH 108 Introductory Botany  4

STOCKSCH 165 Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems  3

STOCKSCH 192F First Year Seminar  1

STOCKSCH 320 Organic Vegetable Production  3

Credit Total  15

 

SECOND SEMESTER (SPRING)

STOCKSCH 101 Exploring the Wonders and Applications of Entomology (1st Seven Weeks)  2

STOCKSCH 104 Plant Nutrients (1st Seven Weeks)  2

STOCKSCH 111 Introductory Plant Pathology (1st Seven Weeks)  2

STOCKSCH 298 Optional: Agriculture Practicum (2nd Seven Weeks)  2

ELECTIVES xxx (Advisor Approved: See Lists Below) (Full Semester)  6

STOCKSCH 198F Sustainable Food & Farming Internship (June-August)  3-4

Credit Total  15-18

 

THIRD SEMESTER (FALL)

MATH 100/101/104 Course Based on Math Placement Exam Score  3

STOCKSCH 270 Sustainable Soil and Crop Management  3

SFF ELECTIVES xxx (Advisor Approved: See Lists Below)  9

Credit Total  15

 

FOURTH SEMESTER (SPRING)

ENGLWRIT 111/112 Course Based on Writing Placement Exam Score  3-4

SFF ELECTIVES xxx (Advisor Approved: See Lists Below)  12

Credit Total  15-16

 

Grand Total  60-64

 

SUSTAINABLE FOOD & FARMING ELECTIVES (TAKEN WITH ADVISOR APPROVAL)

  • Must earn a minimum of 27 credits across all 5 categories of electives below
  • Each course can only be used to satisfy one category (no double dipping)
  • Additional courses may be taken with advisor approval

Note: Students planning to transfer to a 4-year bachelor’s program may be required to complete general education courses that count towards that goal.

 

Economic & Social Systems (Must take one course)

ANIMLSCI 260 Animal Care & Welfare  4 (Fall)

NRC 225 Forests and People  3 (Spring)

RES-ECON 262 Environmental Economics  4 (Spring)

RES-ECON 263 Natural Resource Economics  4 (Fall)

 

Plant & Animal Systems (Must take two courses)

STOCKSCH 165 Intro to Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems  3 (Fall)

STOCKSCH 269 Small Farm Husbandry: Pigs & Poultry  3 (Fall)

ANIMLSCI 103 Introductory Animal Management  4 (Spring)

ANIMLSCI 260 Animal Care & Welfare  4 (Fall)

 

Practica and Related Experiences (Must take one course)

STOCKSCH 170 Pesticide Certification  1 (Both)

STOCKSCH 196 Independent Study  1+ (Both)

STOCKSCH 298 Stockbridge Practicum  1+ (Both)

STOCKSCH 390STB Livestock Marketing and Finances  3 (Fall)

STOCKSCH 398G Greenhouse Practicum  1+ (Both)

ANIMLSCI 239 Livestock Classic  1 (Spring)

ANIMLSCI 251 Dorset Sheep Management II  2 (Spring)

ANIMLSCI 252 Belted Galloway (aka “Oreo cow”) Management II  2 (Spring)

ANIMLSCI 253 Boer Goat Management II  2 (Spring)

ANIMLSCI 298 Animal Science Practicum  1+ (Both)

 

Production Systems (Must take one course)

STOCKSCH 335 Principles and Practices of Greenhouse Cultivation  4 (Spring)

STOCKSCH 370 Tropical Agriculture  3 (Spring)

ANIMLSCI 103 Introductory Animal Management  4 (Spring)

ANIMLSCI 332 Basic Animal Nutrition & Feeding  4 (Spring)

 

Soil, Insects, & Pest Management (Must take one course)

STOCKSCH 117 Agricultural Chemistry  3 (Fall)

STOCKSCH 326 Insect Biology  3 (Fall)

STOCKSCH 581 Integrated Pest Management  4 (Fall)

 

GENERAL ED COURSES (ONLY FOR STUDENTS TRANSFERRING TO BS PROGRAM)

STOCKSCH 172 Plants in Our World (SI)  4

CHEM 111 General Chemistry (PS)  4

MATH 104 Algebra, Analytic Geometry, and Trigonometry (R1)  3

NRC 100 Environment and Society (SI)  4

RES-ECON 102 Introduction to Resource Economics (SB)  4

Sustainable Horticulture

Sustainable Horticulture
Elsa Petit

2-year Associate Degree

Program Advisor: Elsa Petit, PhD

@email

 

Students interested in gaining knowledge in a range of sustainable horticulture topics enroll in this major. The curriculum is flexible, with a wide range of electives, allowing students to specialize their degree as they desire.

Courses in bold require a minimum grade of C.

* = An advisor-approved substitution can be made for this course.

 

FIRST SEMESTER (FALL)

STOCKSCH 105 Soils  4

STOCKSCH 108 Introductory Botany  4

STOCKSCH 192F First Year Seminar  1

MATH 100/101/104 Course Based on Math Placement Exam Score  3

ELECTIVE xxx (Advisor Approved: Below)  3

Credit Total  15

 

SECOND SEMESTER (SPRING)

STOCKSCH 101 Exploring the Wonders and Applications of Entomology (1st Seven Weeks)  2

STOCKSCH 104 Plant Nutrients (1st Seven Weeks)  2

STOCKSCH 111 Introductory Plant Pathology (1st Seven Weeks)  2

STOCKSCH 398D HydroFarm Practicum (Optional) (2nd Seven Weeks)  1

STOCKSCH 255* Herbaceous Plants (Full Semester)  3

ELECTIVE xxx (Advisor Approved: See List Below) (Full Semester)  3

STOCKSCH 198G Horticulture Internship (June-August)  3

Credit Total  15-16

 

THIRD SEMESTER (FALL)

STOCKSCH 109 Insects of Managed Landscapes  3

STOCKSCH 230* Introductory Turfgrass Management  4

SUSTCOMM 335 Plants in Landscape  4

ELECTIVES xxx (Advisor Approved: See List Below)  6-7

Credit Total  17-18

 

FOURTH SEMESTER (SPRING)

STOCKSCH 200* Plant Propagation  3

STOCKSCH 315 Greenhouse Management  4

  OR STOCKSCH 355 Principles and Practices of Greenhouse Cultivation  4

ENGLWRIT 111/112 Course Based on Writing Placement Exam Score  3-4

ELECTIVE xxx (Advisor Approved: See List Below)  3

Credit Total  13-14

 

Grand Total  60-63

 

SUSTAINABLE HORTICULTURE ELECTIVES (TAKEN WITH ADVISOR APPROVAL)

Note: May take other courses with advisor approval. Students planning to transfer to a 4-year bachelor’s program may be required to complete general education courses that count towards that goal.

STOCKSCH 100 Botany for Gardeners  4 (Fall)

STOCKSCH 110 Sustainable Horticulture  3 (Fall)

STOCKSCH 120 Organic Farming and Gardening  4 (Both)

STOCKSCH 165 Intro to Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems. 3 (Fall)

STOCKSCH 172 Plants in Our World  4 (Spring)

STOCKSCH 186 Introduction to Permaculture  3 (Both)

STOCKSCH 210 Retail Floral Design  3 (Fall)

STOCKSCH 230 Introductory Turfgrass Management  4 (Fall)

STOCKSCH 234 Irrigation & Drainage  3 (Spring)

STOCKSCH 255 Herbaceous Plants  3 (Spring)

STOCKSCH 270 Sustainable Soil and Crop Management  3 (Fall)

STOCKSCH 275 Turfgrass Physiology & Ecology  3 (Spring)

STOCKSCH 280 Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants  3 (Spring)

STOCKSCH 281 Topics in Herbalism I (Online only)  2 (Winter)

STOCKSCH 282 Topics in Herbalism II  2 (Spring)

STOCKSCH 294A Construction Materials  3 (Spring)

STOCKSCH 294B Construction Materials Practicum  1 (Spring)

STOCKSCH 301 General Plant Pathology  4 (Spring)

STOCKSCH 315 Greenhouse Management  4 (Spring)

STOCKSCH 320 Organic Vegetable Production  3 (Fall)

STOCKSCH 326 Insect Biology  3 (Fall)

STOCKSCH 358 Social Permaculture: Building Resilient Communities  3 (Spring)

STOCKSCH 365 Hydroponics  4 (Fall)

STOCKSCH 386 Sustainable Site Design and Planning  3 (Fall)

ENVIRSCI 101 Introduction to Environmental Science  4 (Fall)

LANDARCH 294A Construction Materials  3 (Spring)

LANDARCH 294B Construction Materials Practicum  1 (Spring)

NRC 100 Environment and Society  4 (Fall)

NRC 210 Arboricultural Field Techniques II  2 (Spring)

NRC 232 Principles of Arboriculture  3 (Fall)

NRC 310 Community Forestry  3 (Spring)

 

GENERAL ED COURSES (ONLY FOR STUDENTS TRANSFERRING TO BS PROGRAM)

STOCKSCH 172 Plants in Our World (SI)  4

CHEM 111 General Chemistry (PS)  4

MATH 104 Algebra, Analytic Geometry, and Trigonometry (R1)  3

NRC 100 Environment and Society (SI)  4

RES-ECON 102 Introduction to Resource Economics (SB)  4

Turfgrass Management

Turfgrass Management
Michelle DaCosta

2-year Associate Degree

Program Advisor: Michelle DaCosta, PhD

@email

 

 

This major prepares students for employment in the rapidly growing green industries, with emphasis on developing grass areas for fine turf, including golf, sports, and lawns.

Courses in bold require a minimum grade of C.

 

FIRST SEMESTER (FALL)

STOCKSCH 105 Soils  4

STOCKSCH 108 Introductory Botany  4

STOCKSCH 192F First Year Seminar  1

STOCKSCH 230 Introductory Turfgrass Management  4

ENGLWRIT 111/112 Course Based on Writing Placement Exam Score  3-4

Credit Total  16-17

 

SECOND SEMESTER (SPRING)

STOCKSCH 101 Exploring the Wonders and Applications of Entomology (First 7 weeks)  2

STOCKSCH 104 Plant Nutrients (First 7 weeks)  2

STOCKSCH 111 Introductory Plant Pathology (First 7 weeks)  2

STOCKSCH 112 Turfgrass Pathology Lab (Second 7 weeks)  2

STOCKSCH 275 Turfgrass Physiology & Ecology (Full semester)  3

ELECTIVE xxx (With Advisor Approval: See Below) (Full semester)  3

STOCKSCH 198T Turfgrass Internship (June-August)  3

Credit Total  17

 

THIRD SEMESTER (FALL)

STOCKSCH 109 Insects of Managed Landscapes  3

NRC 232 Principles of Arboriculture  3

SUSTCOMM 335 Plants in Landscape  4

ELECTIVE xxx (With Advisor Approval: See Below)  3-4

MATH 100/101/104 Course Based on Math Placement Exam Score  3

Credit Total  16-17

 

FOURTH SEMESTER (SPRING)

STOCKSCH 234 Landscape and Agricultural Irrigation System Management  3

ELECTIVES xxx (With Advisor Approval: See Below)  9

Credit Total  12

 

Grand Total  61-63

 

TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT ELECTIVES (TAKEN WITH ADVISOR APPROVAL)

Note: May take other courses with advisor approval. Students planning to transfer to a 4-year bachelor’s program may be required to complete general education courses that count towards that goal.

COMM 260 Public Speaking  3

ENVIRSCI 101 Introduction to Environmental Science  4

SPANISH xxx Course Based on Placement Exam Score  4

STOCKSCH 111 Agricultural Chemistry  3

STOCKSCH 170 Pesticide Certification  1

STOCKSCH 197GS Special Topic: UMass Extension Green School (Winter)  3

STOCKSCH 240 Applied Calculations in Turfgrass Management (PreReq 230)  2

STOCKSCH 275 Turfgrass Physiology and Ecology (PreReq 230)  3

STOCKSCH 326 Insect Biology  3

STOCKSCH 398T Turf Practicum  1-9

STOCKSCH 422 Soil Ecology  3

 

GENERAL ED COURSES (FOR STUDENTS TRANSFERRING TO BS PROGRAM)

STOCKSCH 172 Plants in Our World (SI)  4CHEM 111 General Chemistry (PS)  4

MATH 104 Algebra, Analytic Geometry, and Trigonometry (R1)  3

NRC 100 Environment and Society (SI)  4

RES-ECON 102 Introduction to Resource Economics (SB)  4