Urban Food Systems
The M.S. in Horticulture with an Emphasis in Urban Food Systems focuses on how the urban food system impacts economic development and provides a source of nutritious, safe food grown locally/regionally. The specialization places an emphasis on sustainable agriculture, food systems project management, and safe food production in an urban environment.
The aim of this program is to study the potential an urban food system has in community building and economic development, educating youth and others about nutrition and wise food choices, and providing a source for nutritious food grown locally or regionally with the participation of urban residents. The specialization places an emphasis on sustainable agriculture, project management, and grant writing, in addition to having a solid foundation in urban food production.
This specialization will prepare professionals for positions such as director/program managers in not-for-profit organizations, city governments or extension programs in urban districts facilitating community gardens, urban farming, farmers markets, or farm-to-school programs. There is a growing demand for professionals in this area and this unique specialization will prepare graduates well for careers in this area.
Program of Study
The program of study will be developed initially through consultation between the major professor and the student. Courses to be taken should fit into a unified plan aimed at providing the student with a comprehensive background in the chosen area of interest within urban food systems. Initiative in program design by the student is encouraged. The program should be presented at the initial meeting with the Advisory Committee. The program of study form is available from the Graduate School.
Urban Food Specialization course requirements are as follows:
- HORT 791 Urban Agriculture
- HORT 792 Urban Food Production Practicum
- HORT 794 Urban Food Systems
- HORT 796 Professional Development in Urban Food Systems
- Specialization Elective, must choose at least 3 credit hours from the following:
- HORT 725 Postharvest Technology and Physiology of Horticultural Crops
- HORT 790 Sustainable Agriculture
- HORT 793 Farm to Fork Produce Safety
- HORT 795 Urban Agriculture Study tours
Thesis track course and research credit requirements are as follows:
- At least 30 credit hours beyond a B.S. degree
- 2 credit hours of Horticulture Graduate Seminar (HORT 951)
- At least 3 credit hours of Research Methods and/or Scientific Writing
- At least 3 credit hours of 700 level or above Statistic courses
- At least 6 credit hours of Thesis Research (HORT 899)
- 7 credit hours of additional courses to be determined with Advisory Committee
Professional track course and research credit requirements are as follows:
- At least 30 credit hours beyond a B.S. degree
- At least 3 credit hours of Research Methods and/or Scientific Writing
- At least 3 credit hours of 700 level or above Statistic courses
- At least 2 credit hours of Master's Report (HORT 898)
- 13 credit hours of additional courses to be determined with Advisory Committee
Additional courses to be determined with Advisory Committee:
- Examples of courses are:
- AGRON 605 Soil & Environmental Chemistry
- AGRON 615 Soil Problems
- AGRON 635 Soil Conservation and Management
- CDPLN 631 Leadership for Change
- CDPLN 621 Sustainable Communities
- CDPLN 630 Governance and the Community Development Process
- CDPLN 632 Nonprofit Management
- CDPLN 705 Organizing for Community Change
- FDSCI 751 Food Laws and the Regulatory Process
- GEOG 730 World Agricultural Systems
- POLSC 650 Not-For-Profit Management
- SOCIO 831 Sociology of Agriculture and Food
- SOCIO 835 Environment and Society
- SOCIO 850 Social Change
- SOCIO 953 Political Sociology of Advanced Societies
- SOCIO 830 Social Demography
- SOCIO 951 Sociology of Global Social Change
Courses at the 700 level or above are designated as Masters’ level work, and should comprise a major portion of the program of study. Courses at the 600 level may be included, but the use of 500 level courses is restricted, as these are expected to have been completed as undergraduate prerequisites to graduate study or as undergraduate deficiency courses assigned upon admission. The use of 500 level supporting courses is limited as follows: 1) no course in the student’s major area may be included and 2) no more than 6 credits or 20% of the program of study may be at the 500 level. No more than 3 credits in problems or other individualized courses may be included in the program of study.
Upon approval by the major professor and advisory committee, the student will submit his/her program of study to the Graduate School. The program of study must be approved and submitted to the Graduate School prior to the end of the student’s second semester (excluding summer semester). All changes in the program of study must be approved by the advisory committee, Department Head, and Graduate School.