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You are here: Home / Publications / Educational and Training Opportunities in Sustainable Agriculture / U.S. Colleges and Universities: M  Printer Friendly Page
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Educational and Training Opportunities in Sustainable Agriculture


19th Edition. June 2009.

Compiled by:
Becky Thompson
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center

We invite comments or corrections, and names of institutions or organizations not listed here.

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United States Directory

By State: A | C | D-H | I-L | M | N | O | P-T | U-W |

Internships and apprenticeships on farms in the U.S. may be found on the Web site for ATTRA: http://attrainternships.ncat.org/.

Each institution or organization includes contact information and a short program description. U.S. associations and organizations follow this section.

Colleges and Universities (By State: M)


Maine

College of the Atlantic
105 Eden Street
Bar Harbor, ME  04609
207-288-5015
fax:  207-288-4126
e-mail:  inquiry@coa.edu
Web:  http://www.coa.edu/html/sustainablefoodsystems.htm
B.A. in Human Ecology with a concentration in Sustainable Food Systems.  On-campus sustainable facilities include Beech Hill Farm (http://www.coa.edu/html/foodsysfacilitiesresources.htm).

Unity College
Sustainable Food and Agriculture Program
90 Quaker Hill Road
Unity, ME  04988
Nancy Ross
207-948-3131, ext. 249
e-mail:  nross@unity.edu
Web:  http://www.unity.edu/Academic/Majors/SustainableFoodAndAgriculture/
SustainableFoodAndAgriculture.aspx

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Food, and Sustainability.

University of Maine
Sustainable Agriculture Program
Department of Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences
College of Natural Sciences, Forestry and Agriculture
5722 Deering Hall, Room 115
Orono, ME  04469-5722
Dr. Marianne Sarrantonio
207-581-2913
fax:  207-581-2999
e-mail:  mariann2@maine.edu
Web:  http://www.sag.umaine.edu
B.S. degree in Sustainable Agriculture. Graduate degrees in cooperation with other academic departments. Organic/sustainable agriculture research; student Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)/organic farm; hands-on training at local farms partnerships with Maine Cooperative Extension.

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Maryland

University of Maryland
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Department of Environmental Science and Technology
H.J. Patterson Hall
College Park, MD  20742
Ray R. Weil
301-405-1314
fax:  301-314-2763
e-mail:  rweil@umd.edu
Web:  http://enst.umd.edu/
or http://ensp.umd.edu/Concentrations&Advising.htm
Undergraduate and graduate studies. B.S. in Soil and Watershed Science; or B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy, with concentration in Environmental Agriculture or in Soil, Land and Water; informal internships on organic and sustainable farms; courses in sustainable agriculture, agroecology, international crop production, soil fertility, integrated pest management; graduate research in soil quality, cropping systems, cover crops, composting, integrated pest management, animal grazing systems, and conservation biology.

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Massachusetts

Gordon College
Department of Biology
255 Grapevine Road
Wenham, MA  01984
Dr. Grace C. Ju
978-867-4399
e-mail:  grace.ju@gordon.edu
or
Dr. Cliff Hersey
978-867-4399
e-mail:  cliff.hersey@gordon.edu
Web:  http://www.gordon.edu/academics/biology/ (select Sustainable Tropical Agriculture under The Global Experience section)
Courses. Seminars in Sustainable Tropical Agriculture in association with Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization (ECHO, Ft. Myers, Florida) with travel to tropical sites.

Greenfield Community College
One College Drive
Greenfield, MA  01301-9739
413-775-1000
fax:  413-773-5129
Contact form:  http://gcc.mass.edu/contact.html
Web:  http://gcc.mass.edu/
or http://gcc.mass.edu/media/docs/catalog/catalog.pdf (search course catalog for sustainable or energy)
Courses in “Sustainable Agriculture: Organic Gardening” (HEC 152) and sustainable energy.

Renewable Energy Education program
Brian Adams, Program Coordinator
413-775-1454
e-mail:  adams@gcc.mass.edu
or
Teresa Jones, Program Coordinator
413-775-1462
e-mail:  jones@gcc.mass.edu
Certificate in Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency, http://gcc.mass.edu/media/docs/catalog/ree.pdf
AA in Liberal Arts (Fall 2009) in Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency, http://gcc.mass.edu/media/docs/catalog/lre.pdf
General e-mail:  renewable@gcc.mass.edu

Hampshire College
Hampshire College Farm Center
Mail Code FC
839 West Street
Amherst, MA  01002-5001
Leslie Cox
413-559-5348
e-mail:  lcox@hampshire.edu
or
Nancy Hanson (CSA Program)
413-559-5599
e-mail:  nhanson@hampshire.edu
Web:  http://www.hampshire.edu/cms/index.php?id=556
Farm Center: http://www.hampshire.edu/academics/5728.htm
CSA: http://www.hampshire.edu/academics/5735.htm
Research and curriculum in sustainable agriculture; 400-acre demonstration farm with Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), field trips, and summer employment.

Tufts University
Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy
Program on Agriculture, Food and Environment
150 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA  02111
Matthew Hast
617-636-6719
fax:  617-636-3600
e-mail:  nutritionadmissions@tufts.edu
or stacey.herman@tufts.edu
Web:  http://nutrition.tufts.edu
or http://nutrition.tufts.edu/1174562918439/Nutrition-Page-nl2w_1177953852962.html
M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, courses, student internships, and directed research. Research on sustainable agriculture and local food systems. Emphasis on policy and interdisciplinary studies with domestic or international applications.

University of Massachusetts

College of Natural Resources and the Environment
Department of Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences
103 French Hall
Amherst, MA  01003
Deborah J. Picking
413-545-2249
fax:  413-545-3075
e-mail:  dpicking@psis.umass.edu
Web:  http://www.umass.edu/psis/
or http://www.umass.edu/psis/academics/undergraduate.html
Undergraduate program with concentrations in Sustainable Agriculture-Crop Production and Sustainable Agriculture-Food Systems.

Stockbridge School of Agriculture
College of Natural Resources and the Environment
111 Stockbridge Hall
Amherst, MA  01003
Director
413-545-2222
fax:  413-577-0242
e-mail:  stockbridgeschool@nre.umass.edu
Web:  http://www.umass.edu/stockbridge/index/
or http://www.umass.edu/stockbridge/current/courses.php
Two-year programs with courses in sustainable farming, sustainable forestry, Organic Farming and Gardening, and Community Food Systems.  Courses on weed management cover integrated pest management strategies.

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Michigan

Grand Valley State University
Biology Department
1 Campus Drive
212 Henry Hall
Allendale, MI  49401
Neil MacDonald
616-331-2470
fax:  616-331-3446
e-mail:  biodept@gvsu.edu
Web:  http://www.gvsu.edu/biology
or http://www.gvsu.edu/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.catalog
Program in Natural Resources Management offered through the Biology Department includes courses in Soils (NRM 281), Global Agricultural Sustainability (BIO 319), Watershed and Wetland Management (NRM 452), and Forest Ecosystem Management (NRM 462).

Lansing Community College
Environmental, Design and Building Technologies Department
P.O. Box 40010
Lansing, MI  48901-7210
Sydney Glasscoe
517-483-1336
e-mail:  hansonk@lcc.edu
Web:  http://www.lcc.edu/edbt/
Courses in sustainable agriculture, precision agriculture, integrated pest management, and alternative/renewable energy.  Degree and certificate programs in Precision Agriculture and in Alternative Energy.

Michigan State University

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
286 Plant and Soil Sciences Building
East Lansing, MI  48824-1039
517-355-0217
fax:  517-353-5174
e-mail:  canr@msu.edu or toddfr@msu.edu
Web:  http://www.canr.msu.edu/canrhome/
or http://www.reg.msu.edu/Courses/Search.asp (search by keyword)
or http://web2.canr.msu.edu/maes/maes1.cfm (searchable database of Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station research projects)
Graduate studies and Extension; courses and/or research projects in sustainable agriculture, organic agriculture, precision agriculture, integrated pest management, etc.

Department of Entomology
243 Natural Science Building
East Lansing, MI  48824-1115
517-355-4663
fax:  517-353-4354
Web:  http://www.ent.msu.edu/
Extension and research projects in integrated pest management. Undergraduate and graduate programs include instruction in integrated pest management and in sustainable agriculture.

Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Program
103 Giltner Hall
East Lansing, MI  48824
Katherine Gross
517-432-1359
e-mail:  eebb@msu.edu
Web:  http://www.eebb.msu.edu
The Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior is a multidisciplinary program of study and research leading to a Master's specialization or dual-major Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior and one of the traditional disciplines offered by 16 participating departments.

Environmental Science and Policy Program
274 Giltner Hall
East Lansing, MI  48824
517-432-8296
fax:  517-432-8830
e-mail:  espp@msu.edu
Web:  http://www.environment.msu.edu/research/programs/sustainable_ag.html
or http://www.safs.msu.edu/
Research projects in sustainable agriculture and food systems.  Research and programs cover organic farming and marketing, soil ecology and management, cover crops, integrated pest management, biological control of plant pests, community beef programs, and cultural diversity.  C. S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University (http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu/).

Student Organic Farm
Plant and Soil Sciences Building
3291 College Road
Holt, MI  48824
Corie Pierce
517-230-7987
e-mail:  msufarm@msu.edu
Web:  http://www.msuorganicfarm.org/
Organic Farming Certificate Program  includes 40 credit courses in organic or sustainable farming and specialty production research; internship or apprenticeship; educational programs; Student Organic Farm; and one-year Community Support Agriculture (CSA) operation.

W. K. Kellogg Biological Station
3700 East Gull Lake Drive
Hickory Corners, MI  49060
Katherine Gross, Director
269-671-5117
fax:  269-671-2104
e-mail:  grossk@kbs.msu.edu
Web:  http://www.kbs.msu.edu/
Graduate training in agricultural ecology; undergraduate research internships and fellowships.  Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program (http://lter.kbs.msu.edu/).

University of Michigan
Center for Sustainable Systems
School of Natural Resources and Environment
Dana Building
440 Church Street
Ann Arbor, MI  48109-1041
Helaine R. Hunscher, Program Coordinator
734-764-1412
fax:  734-647-5841
e-mail:  css.info@umich.edu
Web:  http://css.snre.umich.edu/
Integrated graduate and undergraduate programs involve some elements of sustainable agriculture including renewable energy.

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Minnesota

Carleton College
Environment and Technology Studies Concentration
Department of Biology
3-Goodsell
One North College Street
Northfield, MN  55057
Mark Kanazawa
507-222-5769
fax:  507-222-7594
e-mail:  mkanazaw@carleton.edu
Web:  https://apps.carleton.edu/academics/
or https://apps.carleton.edu/curricular/ents/
Environmental and Society (ENTS 110) course coverage includes sustainable agriculture topics.  Course in Agroecology (BIOL 160) offered in alternate years. The Green Carleton Web site (http://apps.carleton.edu/campus/sustainability/) highlights campus programs on composting, wind energy, and other alternative energy options, Sustainable Living House is part of Shared Interest Living Communities.

Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College
2101 14th Street
Cloquet, MN  55720
John Gustafson
218- 879-0715 or 1-800-657-3712
e-mail:  admissions@fdltcc.edu
Web:  http://www.fdltcc.edu/academics/departments/certificate/clean-energy-technology.shtml
Clean Energy Certificate Program. Courses in Alternative and Renewable Energy Systems (EUT 1010) and  Wind Energy Systems (EUT 1045).

University of Minnesota

Sustainable Agriculture Systems Minor
Courtney Tchida, Program Coordinator
University of Minnesota
411 Borlaug Hall
1991 Buford Circle
St. Paul, MN  55108
612-625-2738
800-909-MISA (6472)
fax:  612-625-1268
e-mail:  tchi0003@umn.edu
Web:  http://www.misa.umn.edu/Undergraduate_Minor.html
or http://www.misa.umn.edu/Graduate_Minor.html
Minor in Sustainable Agriculture Systems is available to undergraduates in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) and to graduate students in any degree program at the University of Minnesota.  Students interact with faculty involved in sustainable agriculture research; with practitioners who are applying sustainable principles on their farms; and with organizations and agencies that work on myriad aspects of sustainability in agriculture.  Internship required. Cornercopia Student Organic Farm (http://sof.cfans.umn.edu, e-mail:  umsof@umn.edu) offers internships and a Student Organic Farm Planning, Growing and Marketing Class.

Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture
University of Minnesota
Helene Murray, Executive Director
411 Borlaug Hall
1991 Buford Circle
St. Paul, MN  55108
800-909-MISA
612-625-8235
fax:  612-625-1268
e-mail:  misamail@umn.edu
Web:  www.misa.umn.edu
Sustainable agriculture information exchange, seminar series, student organic farm, alternative livestock program, and Green Lands Blue Waters program.

Organic Ecology
Jim Riddle and Carmen Fernholz, Coordinators
University of Minnesota Southwest Research and Outreach Center
23669 130th Street
Lamberton, MN  56152
507-752-7372
e-mail:  riddl003@umn.edu or fernholz@umn.edu
Web:  http://organicecology.umn.edu
Program explores agricultural alternatives and the science of organic systems. Researchers from the University's Research and Outreach Centers, faculty from the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus, and University of Minnesota Extension Service educators contribute to the program with research projects and outreach activities.

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Mississippi

Alcorn State University
Department of Agriculture
Morris/Boykin Ag. Science Building, Room 102
1000 ASU Drive, no. 750
Alcorn State, MS  39096-7500
Kenneth Stallings, Chairperson
601-877-6525
fax:  601-877-6526
Web:  http://www.alcorn.edu/Academics/Schools/AREAS/Default.aspx?id=69
or http://www.asuextension.com/asuep/index.php
Sustainable farming research on vegetables and fruits; demonstration plots, tours, and workshops. Extension programs focus on developing and disseminating research-based information to small-farm families; exploring sustainable agriculture as a profitable and sound strategy; and considering alternative agricultural enterprises, diversification, value-added processing, and new marketing strategies.

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Missouri

Growing Growers Training Program
Kansas State University
35230 W 135th Street
Olathe, KS  66061
Laura Christensen, Program Manager
Phone:  816-805-0362 (cell)
e-mail:  growers@ksu.edu
Web:  http://www.growinggrowers.org/
A collaboration between the Kansas State University Research and Extension, University of Missouri, Kansas Food Circle, Kansas Rural Center and Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture.  Offers on-farm apprenticeship program focused on sustainable, small and mid-scale production.  Program includes monthly workshops, one-on-one training and print resources.

University of Missouri

College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Academic Programs Office
2-64 Agriculture Building
Columbia, MO  65211
573-882-8301
888-682-2367 (toll free)
fax:  573-884-9409
e-mail:  visitcafnr@missouri.edu
e-mail form:  http://cafnr.missouri.edu/contact.php
Web:  http://cafnr.missouri.edu/academics/degrees.php
or http://cafnr.missouri.edu/academics/sustainable-ag.php
or http://cafnr.missouri.edu/academics/gen-ag.php
Undergraduate degree in General Agriculture with an emphasis in Sustainable Agriculture; Sustainable Agriculture minor.

Agricultural Experiment Station
Office of Research
2-44 Agriculture Building
Columbia, MO  65211
573-882-7488
fax:  573-884-7993
Marc Linit
e-mail:  linitm@missouri.edu
or spencerb@missouri.edu
Web:  http://aes.missouri.edu/
On-farm research in developing sustainable systems for crop and livestock production; integrated crop management; and precision agriculture.  Operates 17 farms, some with hands-on training opportunities in sustainable cropping and livestock production practices. Facilitates and supports farmer organizations on sustainable agriculture issues.

College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Division of Plant Sciences
University of Missouri-Columbia
1-41 Agriculture Building
Columbia, MO  65211
573-882-3001
Toll-Free:  800-877-6312
fax:  573-882-2699
e-mail:  plantsci@missouri.edu
Web:  http://plantsci.missouri.edu
or http://plantsci.missouri.edu/graduate/areas.htm
The Division of Plant Sciences provides leadership for plant, insect and microbe-based education, research  and Extension programs in the College.  Addresses issues related to plant production, plant protection and plant biology from the laboratory to the field.  Division faculty contribute to advances in conventional, sustainable and alternative production systems, plant biology, genetics and breeding, plant protection and pest management, plant-insect/pathogen interactions, plant-soil relationships and environmental quality. Research farms and centers emphasize alternative cropping systems, integrated pest management, and sustainable agriculture methods.

The Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute (http://www.jeffersoninstitute.org/), a Missouri-based, non-profit education and research center, focuses on crop diversification and addresses agricultural sustainability through education, research, and market development assistance to farmers.

Truman State University
Agricultural Science Department
Magruder Hall 2004
100 East Normal
Kirksville, MO  63501
Michael Seipel, Department Chair
660-785-4316
fax:  660-785-4045
e-mail:  mseipel@truman.edu
Web:  http://agriculture.truman.edu/curriculum.asp
or http://agriculture.truman.edu
Undergraduate courses in sustainable agriculture; seminars.

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Montana

Montana State University
Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Systems Program
Hosaeus HPE Complex 175
Bozeman, MT  59717-3540
Mary Stein, Program Coordinator
406-994-5640
fax:  406-994-6314
e-mail:  mstein@montana.edu
Web:  http://sfbs.montana.edu/ or http://sfbs.montana.edu/Program_overview2.htm
Interdisciplinary B.S. Degree Program in Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Systems.  The program has three degree options and is housed within three separate academic departments:  1. Sustainable Food Systems (Department of Health and Human Development); 2.  Agroecology (Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences); and 3.  Sustainable Crop Production (Department of Plant Science and Plant Pathology).  Research in sustainable crop production issues such as soil fertility, natural resource conservation, pest management, nutrient cycling, variety testing, and other problems specifically associated with small-scale or market gardening endeavors.  Bioenergy-related research areas involve production, processing, and performance questions related to crops grown for biodiesel, ethanol, or cellulosic ethanol production.  Food research areas include community food security, public health and human nutrition, and production, marketing, distribution and access within local food systems.  Internships in student-run Community Supported Agriculture program.

University of Montana
Environmental Studies Program
Rankin Hall 106A
Missoula, MT  59812-4320
Neva Hassanein
406-243-6273
fax:  406-243-6090
e-mail:  neva.hassanein@umontana.edu
or evst@mso.umt.edu
Web:  http://www.cas.umt.edu/evst/students_undergrad_emphasis_sff.htm 
Courses in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems. Environmental Studies Program includes an emphasis in Sustainable Food and Farming for graduate (MS) and undergraduate (BA) students.  Offers: (1) interdisciplinary study of contemporary food and agricultural systems; (2) hands-on, internship experience growing organic food for low-income people on campus-community farm through the Program in Ecological Agriculture and Society (PEAS); and (3) community-based action research projects.

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