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About B.S. in SAFS

Agroecology and Resilient Food Systems School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences

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Dr. Alex Racelis
Agroecology Program Director
Department of Biology
SCNE 3.104
Email: alexis.racelis@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 665-3656
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National Center for Appropriate Technology Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Advancement (SARA) Quinta Mazatlan Training, Research, and Education in Soil Science (TRESS) UTRGV Environmental Science Find us on Instagram!

B.S. in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS)

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.

Undergraduate Degree Plan - B.S. in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS)

 Students should carefully plan prerequisites and proper course sequence by meeting with an advisor from the program when selecting this major.


 

Major Requirements

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Core 
BIOL 1406 General Biology I (or BIOL 1487 Honors)
BIOL 1407 General Biology II (or BIOL 1488 Honors)
ANTH 4310 Food and Culture
BIOL 4388 Global Change Ecology (requires consent of instructor)
BIOL 4429 Agroecology (requires consent of instructor)
ECON 3355 Development Economics
ENVR 3305 Sustainable Agriculture
HIST 4333 Food and Agricultural History
PHIL 4318 Philosophy of Food
Choose one:
ENVR 3301 Natural Resources Conservation
ENVR 3304 Sustainable Development
Capstone:
EEMS 4381 Community-Engaged Service Learning I (or CESL 3301)
EEMS 4382 Community-Engaged Service Learning II (or CESL 3302)
EEMS 4191 Interdisciplinary Seminar Series Fall
EEMS 4192 Interdisciplinary Seminar Series Spring
EEMS 4193 Interdisciplinary Synthesis & Communication

Track options

Agriculture and Ecology Track

BIOL 3409 Ecology
EEMS 3360 Soil Science and Conservation
EEMS 4365 Integrated Pest Management
ENVR 4351 Environmental Management

Food and Health Track

BIOL 1322 Human Nutrition
BIOL 4319 Medical Entomology
EEMS 4360 Food Science

Food and Society Track 

ANTH 4314 Environmental Anthropology
HIST 3335 American Environmental History
POLS 4357 Urban Sustainability
SOCI 1301 Introduction to Sociology

Business and Policy Track 

HIST 3335 American Environmental History
POLS 4356 U.S. Environmental Policy
POLS 4357 Urban Sustainability

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