Sustainable Farming & Food Systems
This program is designed to give you the skills and knowledge to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation.
What You'll Learn
Develop the science, business, and sustainability skills the future demands.
Combine science, sustainability, and business to shape the future of food production. You’ll gain hands-on experience in soil health, crop production, and sustainable farm management while learning how food systems impact communities. Graduates go on to careers in farming, agribusiness, food policy, or community sustainability initiatives.
Where You’ll Go
Agricultural Technicians
- Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring.
- Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks.
- Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care.
- Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness.
Farmworkers
- Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs.
- Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting.
- Harvest plants, and transplant or pot and label them.
- Participate in the inspection, grading, sorting, storage, and post-harvest treatment of crops.
Agricultural Inspectors
- Inspect food products and processing procedures to determine whether products are safe to eat.
- Interpret and enforce government acts and regulations and explain required standards to agricultural workers.
Salary information presented are estimates and can be different for each individual based on education, experience, and the specific employer. Labor market data is based on 2021 estimates derived from Lightcast (Career Coach | Lightcast)
The careers listed above are just a starting point. Our programs mix together important concepts and hands-on skills—but that doesn’t mean your future has to follow the same script. Find out more at Career Exploration & Support.
Program Requirements
To graduate [ 59-71 credits + 2.0 GPA or higher ]
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL098 | Accelerated Writing Skills for ENGL 100 | 3 |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL100 | Academic Writing I | 3 | |
| or GENERIC | A student exempt from ENGL100 must substitute a three-credit unrestricted elective. The course should be in consultation with the student’s advisor. | ||
| ENVS110 | Food Systems I: Intro U.S. Food System | 3 | |
| FSS 142 | Exploration of a Local Food System: Fing | 1 | |
| BIOL119 | Botany | 3 | |
| BUAD106 | Foundations of Business | 3 | |
| or BUAD103 | Entrepreneurship I | 3 | |
| SUNY GE #3 Mathematics | Mathematics | 3 - 4 | |
| or GENERIC | (MATH117 or MATH200) SUNY Math elective should be chosen in consultation with an advisor. Students wishing to transfer should take MATH 200. Additional math skills and support courses may be taken if needed. |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL101 | Academic Writing II | 3 | |
| or ENGL101H | Academic Writing II-Honors | 3 | |
| ENVS111 | Food Systems II: Food Movements | 3 | |
| ENVS141 | Agroecology | 3 | |
| ENVS142 | Sustainable Farming I | 3 | |
| UNRE ELEC | Unrestricted Elective | 3 | |
| or GENERIC | CHEM101 for Cornell Transfer |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENVS202 | Integrated Pest Management | 3 | |
| ENVS203 | Summer Farming Internship | 6 | |
| ENGL201 | Public Speaking | 3 | |
| or ENGL201H | Public Speaking - Honors | 3 | |
| or ENGL204 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 | |
| or ENGL210 | Intercultural Communication | 3 | |
| CAPS121 | Introduction to Spreadsheets | 1 |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENVS112 | Food Sys III: Identity, Ethics, Culture | 3 | |
| ENVS285 | Sus Farm & Food Sys Capstone | 3 | |
| ENVS217 | Sustainable Farming II | 3 | |
| ENVS116 | Soil Science | 3 | |
| UNRE ELEC | Unrestricted Elective | 3 | |
| or GENERIC | BIOL104 or BIOL105 for Cornell transfer |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM107 | General Chemistry I | 4 | |
| or CHEM107H | General Chemistry I Honors | 4 | |
| or GENERIC | For Cornell Transfer Only | 0 - 4 | |
| ACCT101 | Financial Accounting | 4 | |
| or GENERIC | For Cornell Transfer Only | 0 - 4 | |
| BUAD204 | Principles of Marketing | 3 | |
| or GENERIC | For Cornell Transfer Only | 0 - 3 |
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