The Option in Agricultural Systems (including Animal Sciences) emphasizes sustainable, integrated and small-scale livestock production systems, and yet is applicable to all production systems and scales of production. It has a focus on food safety and local food systems. Students will learn modern livestock production skills through classroom and hands-on training.
The Option for Food Systems emphasizes human nutrition, health, dietary needs, metabolism, chronic disease prevention, and food safety, with an emphasis on minority and limited-resource individuals and communities. Students will learn practical and highly-technical skills in classroom and hands-on laboratories. Enroll in one of our undergraduate programs and you will embark on a course of study that will challenge, excite and change the way you think about the world of food, health and nutrition. When you graduate, you'll have the tools, knowledge and opportunity to shape the future of animal production, wellness, the nutrition education, and the changing food environment.
Undergraduate research assistant positions, work-study opportunities and stipends are available in division units during the school year and the summer for interested students.
Degrees Offered:
Beginning in the fall Semester of 2012, the College of Agriculture, Food Science, and Sustainable Systems will offer a baccalaureate degree program in Agriculture, Food, and Environment (AFE) with an Option in Food Systems and an Option in Agricultural Systems (Animal Science). Using an interdisciplinary approach, students will develop a broad understanding of animal production, food safety, and nutrition and graduates will be trained for jobs and graduate school opportunities in these growth areas in the U.S. economy.
The AFE Degree Option in Food Systems and the AFE Option in Animal Sciences requires a general core of university required classes. Additional AFE general required courses include:
- AFE 116 Introduction Agriculture, Food, and Environment
- AFE 117 Global Perspectives in Agriculture, Food, and Environment
- AFE 211 Introduction to Animal Science
- AFE 217 Plant Science
- AFE 311 Practicum I*
- AFE 340 Environmental Science and Agroecology
- AFE 401 AFE Seminar
- AFE 411 Practicum II*
- AFE 450 Human Health & the Environment
* Intensive experience involving practical on-site “hands-on” participation working in the area of agriculture (University, state, or private) such as a laboratory, farm, or business.
The Option in Food Systems requires four Core courses in:
- FNU 104 Basic Nutrition
- AFE 455 Food Microbiology and Safety
- AFE 465 Food Systems
- BIO 302 General Microbiology
Acceptable option electives include:
- BIO 303 Human Physiology
- AFE 435 Urban Agriculture
- AFE 445 Agriculture and Energy
- NUR 412 Vulnerable Populations
- BIO 408 Cell Biology
The Option in Agricultural Systems (including Animal Science) requires four Core courses in:
- AEC 305 Food and Agricultural Marketing Principles (University of Kentucky, on-line)
- AFE 318 Environmental Entomology
- AFE 334 Soil Science
- AFE 445 Agriculture and Energy
Acceptable option electives include:
- AFE 425 Organic Agriculture
- AFE 455 Food Microbiology and Safety
- AFE 465 Food Systems
- BIO 302 General Microbiology
- BIO 408 Cell Biology
- AFE 318 Environmental Entomology
- BIO 417 Ecological Field Methods
- BIO 316 Ecology
- AQU 460 Water Quality Management
- ACC 201 Principles of Accounting
- MGT 301 Principles of Management
- MKT 301 Principles of Marketing
- COM 215 Mass Communication and Society
Additional coursework in animal husbandry and food science will be available in the future.