At its core, Sustainable Agriculture is about working, managing, or owning an agricultural enterprise that is part of an integrated system of people, organizations, plants, animals, soils, and other natural resources that are part of an agricultural ecosystem. The sustainable agriculture major will provide students with an interdisciplinary and holistic lens for thinking about farming, balancing its environmental, social and economic dimensions, and managing the farm itself and its relationship with the surrounding landscape and neighboring communities. Students will learn how to navigate and balance multiple economic, social, and environmental goals when managing a farm, ranch, or any enterprise while developing the leadership skills and knowledge to pursue an entrepreneurial career in a wide range of public or private organizations.
Possible Career Options
Farmer/Farm Manager | Policy Developer |
Agricultural Research Technicians | Corporate Sustainability Leader |
Environmental & Social Justice Non-Profit | Agriculture Educator |
Agricultural Compliance Agent | Certification Specialist |
Classes and Curriculum
This program is rooted in interdisciplinary coursework, hands-on farming experiences, and developing key employer-requested skills. Students pursuing the major will not only learn about agricultural practice but will graduate with valuable transferable skills in problem-solving, written and verbal communication, management, advocacy, sustainable sourcing and marketing, entrepreneurship, big-picture and detail-oriented systems-thinking, teamwork and leadership; skills that provide an edge in any career. It will teach students to think critically about environmental sustainability, human-environment interactions, and our changing food system, preparing them as responsible citizens who can create cutting-edge jobs in the 21st-century economy.
Curriculum Requirements |
Autumn 2021 - Summer 2022 (pdf) |
Getting Involved
There are several student organizations where students can be involved in issues of sustainability, including opportunities on campus to actually contribute to and experience getting your hands in the soil.
Ohio State Student Farm & Student Growing Collaborative
The Ohio State Student Farm is a 4-acre plot at the Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory. It is a space for Ohio State students of all identities and academic backgrounds to engage in learning, research, and collaborative projects. This space was created by students with the help of faculty of Horticulture and Crop Science and Engineering Education to empower themselves and future students to experience first-hand the present and future of sustainable agriculture and food justice.
The Student Growing Collaborative serves as the student face and organizational foundation of Ohio State's Student Farm, making decisions related to farm management, produce distribution, and events.
Questions?
Bri Schneider
Academic Program Coordinator
Department of Horticulture and Crop Science
schneider.802@osu.edu
Phone: 614- 247-9547