B.S. in Sustainable Food & Bioenergy Systems, Agroecology Option

The Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Systems (SFBS) program offers an interdisciplinary, hands-on curriculum focused on the ecological, cultural, economic, and health aspects of food and bioenergy systems from production through consumption.  The degree plan is intended to prepare and motivate students as agents of change to address society’s most pressing food and system related issues towards sustained environmental and human well-being. Students of the program are provided with broad interdisciplinary training founded on a core SFBS curriculum while gaining disciplinary training by selecting one of four program options housed in either the College of Agriculture or the College of Education, Health and Human Development: (1) Sustainable Food Systems, (2) Agroecology, and (3) Sustainable Crop Production. The SFBS program seeks to enhance students’ practical and critical thinking skills to explore food system topics through service-based learning internships, hands-on production, training on research methods, independent and group projects, and community engagement.  Students must receive a grade of "C" or higher in all required courses as outlined in the major.

Agroecology explores how crops and pest organisms interact with their environment, and the application of technology to efficiently and sustainability produce crops. Agroecology focuses on application of population principles and community ecology, environmental science, and cropland ecosystems. The curriculum is based on the philosophy that to be able to successfully predict management outcomes and thus make informed recommendations, one must understand fundamental principles of evolution, ecology, soil science, agronomy, and pest management.

The curriculum originates from a base in biological science which includes a broad knowledge of organisms (including plants, animals and microorganisms), and the physical and chemical characteristics of environments. In the Agroecology curriculum, students will develop a knowledge of the diversity of organisms and how they interact in natural and managed ecosystems. Furthermore, the curriculum will build on this knowledge in courses that demonstrate the application of ecology and environmental science principles. Students will also learn how new technologies like remote sensing and geographic information systems are modernizing agriculture. In later stages of the curriculum, students may select from an array of upper division courses in natural ecosystems, cropping systems, pest management, applied ecology, soil and water science, biochemistry, and policy and planning courses that enable them to specialize in food or bioenergy-related areas best suited to their own career vision.

Graduates from this option find careers in environmental industries and consulting firms that solve problems associated with agroecosystems or agricultural practices; government jobs in environmental management and policy making; agricultural industry positions associated with precision agriculture, pest management, general agronomy, and information services. Students will be prepared for graduate training that leads to independent research in basic and applied ecology, environmental biology, cropping systems, precision agriculture, ecologically-based pest management, weed science, or agricultural entomology (pest management science).

Program Learning Outcomes

• An understanding of core theoretical principles and applications in evolutionary, ecological and physical environmental sciences.
• Ability to access, read, and critically assess the quality and source of environmental information.
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of data analysis in environmental sciences, including statistical analysis, model building, and graphical presentation of data.
• The ability to effectively write and present scientific material.
• An understanding of the ethical implications of conducting and applying environmental science.

Directed Electives

Each student shall work closely with their faculty advisor to plan an integrated set of directed elective courses appropriate to their academic, professional and personal goals.  Courses not on this list may be used IF considered appropriate to the student's goals AND approved by the faculty advisor as a curricular exception.  Students choosing to take lower level courses (1xx/2xx) for directed electives should be sure they are meeting the university minimum requirement of 42 credits of upper level classes (3xx/4xx) for graduation.

Because some of our courses are offered during alternate years, the proposed scheduling of courses in junior and senior years may need to be modified.  Work with an advisor to determine an individual schedule.

A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation, 42 of which must be numbered 300 and above.