Sustainable Food Systems

Climate Change and Food Systems Concentration

Climate change poses significant and urgent challenges to food systems. The Climate Change and Food Systems concentration focuses on how climate change affects and is affected by food systems, and how we can both use agriculture to mitigate environmental change while simultaneously adapting to it. Students who complete this concentration will learn about the primary and secondary effects of climate change, and will become well-versed in adaptation and risk-mitigation frameworks. These bodies of knowledge will prepare them to succeed in a wide variety of food system related careers. Because climate change affects all parts of the food system, these skills will be highly sought after in a range of sectors including agricultural production, processing, distribution, municipal and community planning and advocacy, policy and program development, and more.

Food Processing and Innovation Concentration

How we eat and develop new and healthful foods is a career trajectory with the potential to positively affect people across the country and the globe. In this interdisciplinary concentration, students will become well-versed in the skills needed to pursue careers in food processing and innovation. A science-based curriculum will encompass the technical aspects of food science, while sociological courses will address the policy and cultural environments in which food science is practiced. Graduates can look forward to careers in the food industry with a focus on new food product development and marketing.

Justice, Equity, and Community Development Concentration

Pervasive inequality in society demands that new professionals in food systems careers are knowledgeable and proficient when it comes to justice and equity. Community programs developed through these lenses are in high demand. Students enrolled in this concentration will become well versed in elements of policy, economics, and culture that lead to unequal and unjust social outcomes, and will develop the skills they need to change these outcomes in their communities and future organizations. Career options in community development can include directing programs that impact food security in the U.S. Examples abound, such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the National School Lunch Program, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Leadership and Management Concentration

Food is at the center of society, and this program will train students who will become the future leaders in food system organizations, businesses, and movements. Through this concentration, students will become well-versed in the ethics of leadership and management, and learn how to apply these ethical standards to business and community development as they pertain to food systems. Coursework will train students to be communicators, to be knowledgeable about world cultures, and aware of policies that affect food domestically and internationally. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, or the Department of Health and Human Services are examples of organizations where graduates can assume leadership roles.

Plant and Animal Production Systems Concentration

Food production is at the heart of food systems. In this concentration, students will learn about integrated crop and livestock systems at local, regional, national, and global scales. Critical analysis of these agricultural systems will instruct students about the most promising methods to decrease the ecological harm while contributing to vibrant food production. This concentration provides the opportunity to study both animal and crop production, and equips students for future careers in farming, agricultural advising, research, and policy.

Individualized Concentration in Sustainable Food Systems

Students may also opt to develop their own individualized concentration in Sustainable Food Systems. Working with a faculty mentor, the student will be able to choose within the broad selection of courses available within the degree. Students who wish to pursue this option will have a specific set of skills unique for their chosen career path. Working with a faculty mentor, the student will prepare a narrative explaining the organizing concept for the concentration, name, and required classes.

Summary of Graduation Requirements

To obtain this degree students must meet the requirements of the University, those requirements specific to the major and the requirements for the concentration.

Sustainable Food Systems Major

1. Satisfy General Education requirements
2. Satisfy Bachelor of Science requirements
3. ELH 117 - First-Year Success Seminar  
4. Biology requirement: BIO 100  
5. Sustainable Food Systems core class requirements:ECO 190 ; FSN 101 , FSN 270 , FSN 425 , FSN 436 ; PSE 105 , PSE 312 , PSE 430  
6. Social Sciences requirements: ANT 212 , ANT 225 , ECO 120 , and SOC 101  
7. Quantitative requirements: MAT 115  and STS 132  or STS 215  
8. Communication and Leadership Skills: ENG 101 , LBR 200 , LDR 100  and two of the following CMJ 102 , CMJ 103 , CMJ 107  

Climate Change and Food Systems Concentration

1. Satisfy the core requirement of the degree program
2. Satisfy Bachelor of Science requirements
3. Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences requirements: PSE 105 , PSE 312 , PSE 360  
4. Ecology and Environmental Sciences/Earth and Climate Sciences requirements:  ERS 121 , ERS 201  and EES 140  
5. Other requirements: ANT 410 ,ECO 105  and ECO 180  
6. Electives:  Choose at least 12 credits in this section with at least 9 credits from the 300+ level 

Food Processing and Innovation Concentration

1. Satisfy the core requirement of the degree program
2. Satisfy Bachelor of Science requirements
3. Food Science and Human Nutrition requirements: FSN 103 , FSN 104 , FSN 236 , FSN 330 , FSN 340 , FSN 415  
4. Chemistry requirement: BMB 207  
5. Other requirements: INV 121  
6. Electives:  Choose at least 18 credits in this section, with at least 9 credits from the 300+ level

Justice, Equity, and Community Development Concentration

1. Satisfy the core requirement of the degree program
2. Satisfy Bachelor of Science requirements
3. Social Sciences requirements:  ANT 102 , PHI 100 , PSY 100 , PSY 230 ,SWK 320 , SWK 440 , WGS 101  
4. Electives:  Choose at least 18 credits in this section, with at least 9 credits from the 300+ level

Leadership and Management Concentration

1. Satisfy the core requirement of the degree program
2. Satisfy Bachelor of Science requirements
3. Leadership skills and Management requirements: LDR 200 , LDR 220 , LDR 330 ; MGT 325  
4. Other requirements: MGT 326  and PSY 100  
5. Electives:  Choose at least 18 credits in this section, with at least 9 credits from the 300+ level:

Plant and Animal Production Systems Concentration

1. Satisfy the core requirement of the degree program
2. Satisfy Bachelor of Science requirements
3. Chemistry requirements: CHY 121  and CHY 123  
4. Animal and Veterinary requirements:AVS 145 , AVS 146  and AVS 211  
5. Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences requirements: PSE 100 , PSE 105   and PSE 360  
6. Other requirements: EES 140   and EES 141  
7. Electives;  Choose at least 12 credits in this section, with at least 9 credits from the 300+ level

Individualized Concentration in Sustainable Food Systems

1. Satisfy the core requirement of the degree program
2. Satisfy Bachelor of Science requirements
3. Grades of C- or higher in all of the courses required for the major and in all concentration courses
4. Individualized concentrations must be distinct from an established concentration and all other degree programs at UMaine. Individualized concentrations must include at least 36 credit hours of coursework, at least 18 of which are at the 300 or 400 course level. An individualized concentration must be approved by the student’s academic advisor, the SFS Undergraduate Coordinator, and the SFA Associate Director.