Sustainable Farming and Food Systems

Sustainable Farming and Food Systems

A.A.S. Degree

Sustainable Farming and Food Systems

The Sustainable Farming and Food Systems program emphasizes the practical skills it takes to manage a small, diverse farm, while providing students with a broad exposure to the social and ecological considerations of truly sustainable food production and distribution. Students in the program take courses in entrepreneurship, accounting, environmental studies, biology, and unique food systems seminars. They will apply this knowledge on a working farm located on the College's main campus and work closely with food retailers, restaurants, as well as the College Eatery and the College’s Coltivare culinary center in downtown Ithaca as part of the College's unique Farm to Bistro concept.

Sustainable Farming and Food Systems

Careers on Career Coach

This program should have wide appeal to students with diverse career goals. Those wishing to become farmers will gain practical on-farm experience with issues such as spring planning, farm management, pest control, harvesting techniques, and post-harvest handling. Students who wish to work more broadly with community groups in advocacy positions will find courses that emphasize social issues, ecological relationships, and ethical considerations.

Select a career below to connect to Career Coach and find information about that career including median salary and job postings.

Explore more career options: A.A.S.

Program Chair

Pat Sewell

Pat Sewell

Adjunct Associate Professor, Environmental Science/Sustainable Farming and Food Systems

Pat Sewell is the Chair of the Sustainable Farming and Food System. He has been teaching at Tompkins Cortland for the last eight years. His areas of interests include ethics, economics, and public policy and he regularly teaches courses that look at the interconnection between those fields.

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Transfer Options

Although this curriculum is not primarily designed for transfer, students may work with their advisor to design a program of study populated by courses that transfer to programs offered by 4-year institutions. Recent graduates have transferred to the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Hampshire College, SUNY ESF, Unity College, Binghamton University, and other 4-year colleges.

 

Degree Requirements

A.A.S.
Minimum Credits for Graduation: 60 credits

Fall Term 1

Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15

CAPS121, Introduction to Spreadsheets, 1 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi 
ENGL100, Academic Writing I, 3 cr.
A minimum grade of C is required in ENGL 100. A student exempted from ENGL 100 must substitute a 3-credit Unrestricted Elective. The course should be chosen in consultation with the student's academic advisor.		 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi 
ENVS101, Introduction to Environmental Science, 3 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi 
ENVS110, Food Systems Seminar I: Introduction to the U.S. Food System, 2 cr.
A minimum grade of C is required in ENVS 110. ENVS 110 is only offered in the Fall semester.		 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi 
ENVS116, Soil Science, 3 cr.
A minimum grade of C is required in ENVS 116. ENVS 116 is only offered in the Fall semester.		 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi 
ENVS117, Fall Farming Internship, 2 cr.
A minimum grade of C is required in ENVS 117. ENVS 117 is only offered in the Fall semester.		 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi 

HLTH or FITN Elective

Select a minimum of 1 credit from the courses listed below:
FITN@
HLTH@
 Use Schedule Search for electives

Spring Term 1

Minimum Total Semester Credits: 16

BIOL119, Botany, 3 cr.
BIOL 119 is only offered in the Spring semester.		 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi 
ENGL101, Academic Writing II, 3 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi 
ENVS111, Food System Seminar II: Food Movements, 2 cr.
A minimum grade of C is required in ENVS 111. ENVS 111 is only offered in the Spring semester.		 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi 
ENVS141, Agroecology, 3 cr.
A minimum grade of C is required in ENVS 141. ENVS 141 is only offered in the Spring semester.		 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi 
ENVS142, Spring Farming Internship, 2 cr.
A minimum grade of C is required in ENVS 142. ENVS 142 is only offered in the Spring semester.		 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi 

SUNY GEN ED MATH Elective

Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
MATH109, Statistical Literacy, 3 cr.
MATH120, College Algebra, 4 cr.
MATH122, Technical Mathematics, 3 cr.
MATH138, Precalculus Mathematics, 4 cr.
MATH200, Statistics, 3 cr.
MATH201, Calculus I, 4 cr.
MATH202, Calculus II, 4 cr.
MATH203, Calculus III, 4 cr.
MATH206, Differential Equations, 4 cr.
MATH216, Discrete Mathematics, 4 cr.
 Use Schedule Search for electives

Summer Term 1

Minimum Total Semester Credits: 12

ENVS202, Integrated Pest Management, 3 cr.
A minimum grade of C is required in ENVS 202. ENVS 202 is only offered in the Summer semester.		 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi 
ENVS203, Summer Farming Internship, 3 cr.
A minimum grade of C is required in ENVS 203. ENVS 203 is only offered in the Summer semester.		 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi 

Unrestricted Electives

Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
Recommended Electives: ACCT 101, BIOL 102, BIOL 104, BIOL 105, BIOL 114, BIOL 211, BUAD 103, BUAD 106, CAPS 152, CHEM 107, CHEM 108, CULI 101, CULI 120, FITN 170, HLTH 215, HRMG courses, HSTY 202, SPAN 101, SPAN 102, or WINE courses. Students may also wish to consider Study Abroad trips to Italy (HRMG 220 and ANTH 261) or Colombia (HSTY/POSC 260 and BIOL 116). Nine total Unrestricted Elective credits are required in the degree program.
@
 Use Schedule Search for electives

Unrestricted Electives

Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
Recommended Electives: ACCT 101, BIOL 102, BIOL 104, BIOL 105, BIOL 114, BIOL 211, BUAD 103, BUAD 106, CAPS 152, CHEM 107, CHEM 108, CULI 101, CULI 120, FITN 170, HLTH 215, HRMG courses, HSTY 202, SPAN 101, SPAN 102, or WINE courses. Students may also wish to consider Study Abroad trips to Italy (HRMG 220 and ANTH 261) or Colombia (HSTY/POSC 260 and BIOL 116). Nine total Unrestricted Elective credits are required in the degree program.
@
 Use Schedule Search for electives

Fall Term 2

Minimum Total Semester Credits: 17

ENVS105, Environmental Ethics, 3 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi 
ENVS112, Food Systems Seminar III: Identity, Ethics, and Culture in the Global Food System, 2 cr.
A minimum grade of C is required in ENVS 112. ENVS 112 is only offered in the Fall semester.		 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi 
ENVS285, Sustainable Farming and Food Systems Capstone, 3 cr.
A minimum grade of C is required in ENVS 285. ENVS 285 is only offered in the Fall semester.		 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi 
Choose one from the courses listed below:
Minimum credits required: 3
ENGL201, Fundamentals of Speech Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ENGL204, Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
Choose one from the courses listed below:
Minimum credits required: 3
ENVS107, Economy, Society & Environment Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
SOCI101, Introduction to Sociology Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi

Unrestricted Electives

Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
Recommended Electives: ACCT 101, BIOL 102, BIOL 104, BIOL 105, BIOL 114, BIOL 211, BUAD 103, BUAD 106, CAPS 152, CHEM 107, CHEM 108, CULI 101, CULI 120, FITN 170, HLTH 215, HRMG courses, HSTY 202, SPAN 101, SPAN 102, or WINE courses. Students may also wish to consider Study Abroad trips to Italy (HRMG 220 and ANTH 261) or Colombia (HSTY/POSC 260 and BIOL 116). Nine total Unrestricted Elective credits are required in the degree program.
@
 Use Schedule Search for electives


SUNY General Education & Tompkins Cortland Liberal Arts courses

Note: The @ symbol represents any course number or discipline. For example, BIOL @ means any course with a Biology course prefix. An @ alone means one course in any course discipline with any course number.