Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, Bachelor of Science
Program Overview
The multidisciplinary Bachelor of Science degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS) serves students interested in improving the sustainability of modern food and agricultural systems. This major prepares graduates to understand the interdisciplinary and systems-based aspects of sustainability and provides them with the knowledge, leadership skills, and experiences required to excel in agricultural and food systems professions. A degree in SAFS prepares students for a broad range of careers related to agricultural production (including plant, animal, and biofuels) and food system management, rural and urban community services, education and development, as well as careers in agricultural, environmental, and economic policy and analysis. Employers may include private industry, local, state and federal government, public service agencies, non-profit organizations, nature preserves, community organizations, or any other group that aims to produce, distribute, or improve access to food, to improve the quality and/or sustainability of food or food systems, to improve human health related to diet and nutrition, to work towards social justice related to food access or hunger, or to develop policy or social structures related to food or food systems. The SAFS major also prepares students for graduate studies in a wide range of fields related to agriculture, food, water, and energy systems.
Core Curriculum - 42 hours
The Core Curriculum serves as a broad foundation for the undergraduate degree. All candidates for a bachelor’s degree must achieve core student learning outcomes, including communication, critical thinking, empirical and quantitative skills, teamwork, personal responsibility and social responsibility, by completing courses within each category or component area of the Core Curriculum as outlined below.
The University has approved specific courses that satisfy Core Curriculum Requirements. Approved courses can be found on the Core Curriculum Page. Students seeking the most efficient way to complete the core curriculum and major or minor requirements are advised to take approved courses that can fulfill both requirements. Although core curriculum courses can also be used to fulfill major or minor requirements, earned credits hours are only applied once.
The courses listed below fulfill core curriculum and major requirements. Students who have completed a core curriculum category with courses other than those listed below will still be required to take the listed course(s) to meet major requirements.
020 Mathematics - 3 hours
Choose one:
030 Life and Physical Sciences - 6 hours
| ENVR 1401 | Introduction to Environmental Science I |
| ENVR 1402 | Introduction to Environmental Science II |
Three-credit hours apply from each course.
080 Social & Behavioral Sciences - 3 hours
090 Integrative and Experiential Learning - 6 hours
One credit hour from each required Life and Physical Science course applies.
Major Requirements - 68 hours
Required Courses - 33 hours
Sustainability Core
Choose four:
Students must complete a minimum of four courses from the list below. Total minimum credit hours for this section is 12. Hours completed will vary based on student selection of three or four credit hour courses. Additional hours beyond 12 will be applicable to the minimum 120 hours required for the degree.
Capstone
Students will complete six hours from one pair: CESL 3301 and CESL 3302 or EEMS 4381 and EEMS 4382 and one credit hour from EEMS 4193.
| CESL 3301 | Community Engaged Scholarship and Learning Internship I |
| CESL 3302 | Community Engaged Scholarship and Learning Internship II |
| Or |
| EEMS 4381 | Community-Engaged Service Learning I |
| EEMS 4382 | Community-Engaged Service Learning II |
| And |
| EEMS 4193 | Interdisciplinary Synthesis & Communication |
Prescribed Elective Courses - 35 hours
A minimum of 35 hours of prescribed electives are required. Students are strongly encouraged to seek counseling early in the program to devise a course of study suitable for their career goals. Students should always consider the prerequisites of desired courses when selecting electives. Students must also ensure that sufficient courses at the 3000 and 4000 level are taken to achieve the institutional minimum of 42 advanced hours.
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Communications
Connected Humanities
Data Analysis, Statistics, and Forecasting
Economics
Entrepreneurship
Food Science & Technology
Microbiology, Toxicology, and Epidemiology
Natural Resource Management
Nutrition and Dietetics
Organismal Sciences Related to Production
Political Science
Sociology
Sustainable Agricultural Production
Sustainable Societies and Environmental Governance
Free Electives - hours will vary
Free electives credit hours required may vary to achieve the institutional minimum of 120 hours for a degree.
Free elective credit hours at the advanced level may be needed to achieve the institutional minimum of 42 advanced hours.
Total Credit Hours: 42
Total Credit Hours: 120
View this program’s recommended roadmap to graduation.
UTRGV Roadmaps are a suggested sequence of courses designed to assist students in completing their undergraduate degree requirements. This is a term-by-term sample roadmap of courses required to complete the degree. Students must satisfy all requirements in their catalog including, but not limited to course prerequisites, grade point average and course grade benchmarks, progression requirements, and graduation requirements.
Students should meet with their academic advisor every semester to discuss their individualized path toward completion. Degree progress within this roadmap depends upon such factors as course availability, individual student academic preparation and readiness, student time management, work and personal responsibilities, and financial considerations. Students may choose to take courses during summer terms to reduce course loads during long semesters.