Program Overview

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Bachelor's Degree (BS) in Sustainable Agriculture and Community Food Systems

The Bachelor's Degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Community Food Systems is ideal for students passionate about environmentally conscious farming practices, food security, and building resilient local food networks. This program prepares graduates for careers in sustainable farming, food policy, agricultural consulting, or community-based food organizations, equipping them with the skills to promote environmentally friendly agriculture and address food access and sustainability issues at local, regional, and global levels.

Program Overview

The world needs ambitious change-makers to maximize and maintain global food production in an ethical, effective manner. This interdisciplinary program explores the three pillars of Sustainable Agriculture: environmental stewardship, economic profitability, and social responsibility. Students will customize their degree by choosing from two tracks:

• Farming Systems: students focus on sustainable production methods and biophysical systems with courses in animal science, plant science, entomology, and more.
• Community Food Systems: focus on issues related to food systems, including food security and hunger issues, with courses in nutrition, global issues, policies, and more.

Hands-On Experience

The program emphasizes experiential opportunities to give students practical, real-world skills. Students are required to complete an apprenticeship with the UK CSA farm, where they learn to grow, harvest, and distribute organic vegetables. The university owns and operates a horticulture research farm on the outskirts of Lexington, where students and professors produce a variety of fruits and vegetables for research and consumption. This farm is also home to the nonprofit Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project, which provides organic produce to the Lexington community.

Related Careers

The Sustainable Agriculture and Community Food Systems degree will prepare students for opportunities in conservation, agriculture, and business, in addition to a variety of job opportunities in Extension and the non-profit sector. Some potential careers include:

• Agronomist
• Apiarist
• Conservation specialist
• Distillation Sciences
• Educator
• Entrepreneur
• Extension agent
• Farm manager
• Non-profit management
• Research scientist

Program Details

• Offered by: Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment
• Credit Hours: 120
• Credential: BS

Admission Requirements

• Official High School Transcript with Pre-College Curriculum
• Test Scores (optional): ACT or SAT scores can be submitted but are not required for university admission.

Application Requirements

Completed applications include an official high school transcript, application fee ($50 domestic/$60 international), and optional official ACT/SAT score (the University of Kentucky is test-optional for admission and scholarships).

Application Deadlines

Freshman

• Early Action: 12/01/2025
• Regular Decision: 02/15/2026

Transfer

• Fall Scholarship: 06/15/2026
• Fall: 08/01/2026
• Spring: 11/15/2025
• Summer: 04/15/2026

Curriculum

The program's curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of sustainable agriculture and community food systems. The curriculum includes:

Freshman Year

• Total Freshman Credit Hours: 31
  • Fall Semester: 16 Credit Hours
    • UK Core - Comp. & Comm. I
    • INTRO GENERAL CHEMISTRY
    • MA 109 or PHI 120
    • UK Core - Quantitative Foundations
    • ISSUES IN AG, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT
    • UK Core - Community, Culture and Citizen
    • SUSTAINABLE AG & COMM FOOD SYSTEMS
  • Spring Semester: 15 Credit Hours
    • UK Core - Comp. & Comm. II
    • INTR TO INORGANIC, ORGANIC/BIO W/O LAB
    • DYNAMICS-RURAL SOC LIFE
    • UK Core - Social Sciences
    • INTRO TO STATISTICAL REASONING
    • UK Core - Statistical Inferential Reason
    • UK Core - Natural, Physical and Math

Sophomore Year

• Total Sophomore Credit Hours: 31
  • Fall Semester: 16 Credit Hours
    • INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I
    • PRINCIPLES OF ECO I
    • FUNDAMENTALS OF SOIL SCI
    • CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES ON SUSTAINABILITY
    • UK Core - Global Dynamics
    • UK Core - Humanities
  • Spring Semester: 15 Credit Hours
    • FOOD & AGRICULTURAL MARKETING PRINCIPLES
    • INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY II
    • INTRODUCTORY NUTRITION
    • Specialty Support
    • UK Core - Arts and Creativity

Junior Year

• Total Junior Credit Hours: 30
  • Fall Semester: 14 Credit Hours
    • AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES
    • PLANT PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
    • ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY
    • Specialty Support
  • Spring Semester: 16 Credit Hours
    • ANIMAL PRODUCTION PRINCIPLES
    • Ethics Course
    • Specialty Support
    • Specialty Support
    • Specialty Support

Senior Year

• Total Senior Credit Hours: 29
  • Fall Semester: 15 Credit Hours
    • APPRENTICESHIP IN SUSTAINABLE AG
    • SOCIOLOGY OF COMMUNITIES
    • Specialty Support
    • Free Elective
    • Free Elective
  • Spring Semester: 14 Credit Hours
    • INTRO RESOURCE/ENVIR ECO
    • INTEGRATION OF SUSTAINABLE AG PRINCIPLES
    • Specialty Support
    • Free Elective (5 hours)

Accelerated Pathway

This program is part of the Accelerated Master's Pathways program, which can save students time and money with dual credit hours by signing up when they have earned between 60-105 credit hours as an undergraduate student at UK.