Contact Program Coordinator Sarah Berquist to add Sustainable Food and Farming (SFF) as a secondary major: @email
We offer a flexible secondary major for UMass students who are interested in SFF! There is some flexibility depending on a student’s career goals and previous course work. Be sure to talk with your advisor about your options. Please note these requirements are for a secondary major and not dual degree. Students must complete the following to earn a secondary major in the Stockbridge School of Agriculture.
These are the requirements for incoming secondary majors starting fall 2023. To see requirements for students who started the secondary major prior to fall 2023, see list below.
Fall 2023 onward:
1. STOCKSCH 108 - Intro to Botany (4)
2. STOCKSCH 105 - Soil Science (4)
3. STOCKSCH 165 - Intro to Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (3)
4. Environmental Issues (3 cr) choose one:
STOCKSCH 186 - Intro to Permaculture (3)
STOCKSCH 270 – Sustainable Soil and Crop Management (3)
STOCKSCH 378 – Introductory Agroecology (3)
5. Social Equity Issues (3 cr) choose one:
STOCKSCH 263 – Agricultural Leadership and Community-based Education (3)
STOCKSCH 355 – Community Food Systems (3) (OLO)
STOCKSCH 358 – Social Permaculture for Food Justice (3)
6. Economic Issues (3 cr) choose one:
ACCOUNTG 221 – Principles of Financial Accounting (3)
STOCKSCH 266 – Farm Management, Planning and Marketing (3)
STOCKSCH 354 – Non-profit Mgmnt. of Community-based Farming Progs. (3) (OLO)
MARKETNG 301 – Fundamentals of Marketing (3)
7. Sustainable Ag & Food Systems Electives (9 cr) see list here and on Spire
These courses comprise the “heart” of the major and make the Stockbridge School of Agriculture unique. They consist of both traditional agricultural science courses which are offered at most major agricultural universities, as well as practical hands-on classes that make UMass the place to study sustainable agriculture! Some related classes from outside of Stockbridge may count towards these requirements, be sure and speak with your advisor about the options.
- Course one
- Course two
- Course three
8. STOCKSCH 500 level (3–4 cr)
- Course one
Students must complete all eight requirements above (32–33 credits) to earn a secondary major in SFF.
These are the requirements for students who started the secondary major prior to fall 2023:
I. Core SFF Requirements:
1. STOCKSCH 108 - Intro to Botany (4)
2. STOCKSCH 105 - Soil Science (4)
3. Ecosystems - choose one
BIOLOGY 287 — Ecology (3)
STOCKSCH 186 - Introduction to Permaculture (3)
STOCKSCH 297 B – Forest Gardens: Perennial Ag for Ecological Regeneration (3)
STOCKSCH 390 N – Ecosystem Processes (3)
STOCKSCH 510 – Management and Ecology of Plant Diseases (3)
(or other courses with permission of the advisor)
4. Food/Land Policy or Agricultural Education - choose one
STOCKSCH 297 AL – Agricultural Leadership and Education I (3)
STOCKSCH 397 AL - Agricultural Leadership and Education II (3)
STOCKSCH 355 - Community Food Systems (3)
STOCKSCH 356 - Food Justice and Policy (3)
STOCKSCH 387 – Global Food Systems (3)
STOCKSCH 397R – Social Permaculture: Building Resilient Communities (3)
II. SFF Agricultural Science & Practice Requirements:
These courses comprise the “heart” of the major and make the Stockbridge School of Agriculture unique in the nation. They consist of both traditional agricultural science courses which are offered at most major agricultural universities, as well as practical hands-on classes that make UMass the place to study sustainable agriculture! Some related classes from outside of Stockbridge may count towards these requirements, be sure and speak with your advisor about the options.
Students must take the remaining STOCKSCH electives needed (apx 16 more credits in addition to Core above) to total 30 credits in STOCKSCH. Note: six credit maximum at the 100 level. A full list of STOCKSCH courses can be found on SPIRE or here.
Contact Sarah Berquist, program coordinator and advisor for more information: @email