Courses and Certificates in Organic Agriculture

 

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS IN ORGANIC FOOD AND FARMING SYSTEMS

Online Undergraduate Organic Farming Systems Certificate Program (27 credits, 9 courses). This applied program prepares students for careers in organic food and farming systems, with an emphasis on certified organic crop production systems.  Can be completed in one year. Can be undertaken along with a degree program, or as a stand alone certificate.

Graduate Organic Farming Systems Certificate (18 credits)

 

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

HORT 260, Organic Farming and Gardening, 3 Credits
Organic farming and gardening methods are discussed in class and practiced in the field. The philosophical background of organic farming as well as the biological, environmental and social factors involved in organic food production are covered. Emphasis is on hands-on application of scientific principles to create sustainable food production systems. Lec/lab. (also available online through eCampus)

CROP 355, ORGANIC CERTIFICATION, 3 Credits
Learn about the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards relating to certified operations, inspection, certification processes, and labeling. Focus on the crops, processing, and livestock aspects of organic certification for farms and food manufacturing operations.Available via Ecampus.

HORT 212, INTRODUCTION TO ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS, 4 credits 
An introduction to organic agricultural systems with a focus on history, regulations, principles and practices, performance, trends, and careers.  
Available via Ecampus.

HORT 306, INPUTS IN ORGANIC CROPPING SYSTEMS: SOURCING AND EFFICACY, 2 Credits
Applied course focused on the regulation, sourcing, and efficacy of organic inputs including soil amendments, fertilizers, and pesticides. Gain experience using science-, practice-, and regulation-based information to source and determine effectiveness of inputs in certified organic cropping systems.Prerequisite: HORT 212 with C- or better and CROP 355 [C-]

HORT 307, ORGANIC SYSTEM PREDICAMENTS, 3 Credits
Analyze controversial organic agriculture and systems issues while developing critical- and systems-thinking skills. Synthesis of information from diverse sources and application of scientific knowledge will be required to recommend possible solutions to real world organic agriculture predicaments.
Available via Ecampus

HORT 308, WEED MANAGEMENT IN ORGANIC CROPPING SYSTEMS, 3 Credits
Applied organic weed identification and management course. Learn real-world application of science-, practice-, and regulation-based weed management information while designing and evaluating organic weed management plans for certified organic farming systems.
Available via Ecampus

HORT 344, INSECT AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN ORGANIC CROPPING SYSTEMS, 3 Credits
A skills-based course on the science, practice, and regulations related to insect and disease management in organic cropping systems.
Prerequisite: BOT 350 with C- or better and ENT 311 [C-]

AGRI 411, *INTRODUCTION TO FOOD SYSTEMS: LOCAL TO GLOBAL, 3 Credits
What is a food system, what does it look like, and how does it work? How do our food choices shape our world? Food systems, farm to plate, operate within social, political, economic, and natural environments, at multiple scales. This multidisciplinary course will introduce students to the complex topic of food systems, at different scales and from a variety of perspectives. (Bacc Core Course) 
Attributes: CSST – Core, Synthesis, Science/Technology/Society
Available via Ecampus

SOIL 360, SOIL MANAGEMENT FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTION, 3 Credits
This is a skills-based soil management course that is part lecture and part student-centered learning. Significant class time will be devoted to making field-scale management decisions. The course includes individual and group work, presentation, and discussion. The intent is to prepare students for real-world application of soil management decisions in certified organic systems. Using the National Organic Program as a starting point as well as farm system descriptions with extensive long-term data sets, we will interpret soil nutrient analyses, cover cropping systems, and organic amendments, to design soil management plans for two model cropping systems (annual and perennial).
Prerequisite: (SOIL 205 with C or better and (SOIL 206 [C] or FOR 206 [C])) or CSS 205 [C]
Recommended: Introductory soil science course with lab

HORT 482, DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT OF ORGANIC CROPPING SYSTEMS, 3 Credits
This capstone course is the final stage of the Organic Farming Systems Certificate Program. Iteratively design and evaluate organic farming system management plans. Apply real-world science-, practice-, and regulation-based information to the design and management of organic farming systems.
Prerequisite: HORT 212 with C- or better and CROP 355 [C-] and HORT 306 (may be taken concurrently) [C-] and HORT 307(may be taken concurrently) [C-] and HORT 308 (may be taken concurrently) [C-] and HORT 344 (may be taken concurrently) [C-] and SOIL 360 (may be taken concurrently) [C-]