Information and Policies
Introduction
The agroecology major provides ecological concepts that can be applied to the development of sustainable agricultural systems. Students will develop their understanding of social, political, and economic aspects of agriculture . Students will also engage in hands-on experiences, and obtain skills in research, fieldwork, production, and communication in order to achieve multiple sustainability goals in complex, social-ecological food systems.
The agroecology major does not have any concentrations offered. Students interested in the available concentrations should pursue the environmental studies bachelor of arts (B.A.) degree.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with a B.A. degree in agroecology will be able to:
- Analyze the problems faced in agriculture and food systems by identifying the societal (historical, social, political, economic, cultural, and ethical) agents and structures that contribute to environmental change. (Social science competency)
- Describe the structure and functioning of major physical and ecological components of earth’s systems, including agricultural systems. (Natural science competency)
- Access and assess complex literature and review specific topics in agroecology and sustainable food systems, and evaluate the usefulness and limitations of individual methods. (Analytical thinking)
- Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills. (Communication skills)
- Demonstrate an introductory level of competence in horticulture or agronomy or aquaculture. (Production skills)
Academic Advising for the Program
Advising is one way to make the most of your university experience. Ask questions, seek advice, and make decisions that work best for you.
To receive advising for this major, contact envsadvi@ucsc.edu. Additional information for prospective transfer students can be found in the Transfer Information and Policy section.
Getting Started in the Major: Frosh
This is a course-intensive and/or sequential program, and students who intend to pursue this major must begin taking classes for the major in their first year at UC Santa Cruz. Math placement is required for one or more of the foundational courses for this major. For more information, please review the Math Placement website. Language placement is not required for the major.
Transfer Information and Policy
Transfer Admission Screening Policy
Students who apply for transfer admission to the major are required to have taken the equivalents of the following courses with a C grade (2.0) or better by the end of the spring term for students planning to enter in the fall:
One of the following:
ENVS 23 or a general chemistry course
Plus one of the following:
| AM 3 | Precalculus for the Social Sciences | 5 |
| AM 11A | Mathematical Methods for Economists I | 5 |
| MATH 3 | Precalculus | 5 |
| MATH 11A | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
GPA Requirement
To be considered for admission in the environmental studies majors, transfer students must pass the following courses or their equivalents of the following courses with a C (2.0) or better in the required courses.
General Education Courses (GEs)
Prospective students are also encouraged to complete the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or to complete all UC Santa Cruz general education requirements before matriculation.
Recommended Courses
In addition, we recommend transfer students complete the following lower-division courses before transferring:
One of the following courses:
Plus both of the following:
| STAT 7 | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences | 5 |
| STAT 7L | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences Laboratory | 2 |
Plus:
ENVS 25, or a course in macroeconomics or microeconomics plus a course in national or international politics
Plus one of the following courses:
| ANTH 2 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 5 |
| BME 80G
/PHIL 80G
| Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society | 5 |
| PHIL 22 | Introduction to Ethical Theory | 5 |
| PHIL 24 | Introduction to Ethics: Contemporary Moral Issues | 5 |
| PHIL 28 | Environmental Ethics | 5 |
| SOCY 1 | Introduction to Sociology | 5 |
| SOCY 10 | Issues and Problems in American Society | 5 |
| SOCY 15 | World Society | 5 |
Plus the following course:
| ENVS 80F | Introduction to Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems | 5 |
Getting Started in the Major: Transfer Students
Transfer students pursuing agroecology majors are encouraged to transfer in the fall quarter.
Transfer students should complete as many lower divisions as possible before transferring. All remaining lower-division requirements should be completed in summer, fall, and winter of their first year in order to take ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L in winter or spring quarter of their first year. Transfer students can formally declare their major once qualification courses are successfully completed, following the declaration steps on the ENVS department website.
ENVS 25 and ENVS 23 are usually offered during Summer Session at UC Santa Cruz, and transfer students are encouraged to take these classes if they have not yet completed a substitute requirement or if they want a better understanding of the relevant material. If you are transferring, compare catalog descriptions and consult your current institution's advisor to determine equivalency.
Students who are proposed in a different major and have advanced standing when they come to UC Santa Cruz require permission from the department to change into the major. Contact envsadvi@ucsc.edu to request permission.
Major Qualification Policy and Declaration Process
Major Qualification
For transfer requirements, see Transfer Admission Screening Requirements above. Transfer students must have the agroecology major listed on their application in order to pursue the major, unless approved by the department. Contact envsadvi@ucsc.edu with any questions.
One of the following:
| | Either this course | |
| ENVS 23 | The Physical and Chemical Environment | 5 |
| | or these courses | |
| CHEM 3A | General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 3B | General Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 3BL | General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
| | or these courses | |
| CHEM 4A | Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity | 5 |
| CHEM 4AL | Advanced General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
| CHEM 4B | Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity | 5 |
| CHEM 4BL | Advanced General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
Plus one of the following:
Plus both of the following:
| ENVS 25 | Environmental Politics, Economics and Justice | 5 |
| ENVS 80F | Introduction to Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems | 5 |
Plus one of the following statistics series:
| | Either these courses | |
| STAT 7 | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences | 5 |
| STAT 7L | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences Laboratory | 2 |
| | or these courses | |
| STAT 17 | Statistical Methods for Business and Economics | 5 |
| STAT 17L | Statistical Methods for Business and Economics Laboratory | 2 |
Determining Qualification
Students who complete all the qualification courses with a grade of P, or letter grade of C or better are qualified to declare the major.
Students who have received one grade of NP, C-, D+, D, D-, or F in one of the qualification courses taken at UC Santa Cruz will only be qualified to declare after successfully completing the same or an equivalent course with a grade of P, or letter grade of C or better.
Students with two or more grades of NP, C-, D+, D, D-, or F in the qualification courses taken at UC Santa Cruz are not qualified to declare the major.
Students with AP credit (score of 3 or higher) for any of the qualification course(s) are qualified to declare after successfully completing the remaining qualification courses.
Appeal Process
Students who are not qualified to declare the major may appeal this decision by submitting an appeal to qualify for the major here within 15 days of the denial of the declaration. Within 15 days of receipt of the appeal, the department will notify the student and college of the decision. If a student has questions about the appeals process, they should contact envsadvi@ucsc.edu.
How to Declare the Agroecology Major
Petition to declare your major as soon as you have met qualification requirements and/or reach your declaration deadline quarter, whichever comes first.
Students wishing to declare within the Environmental Studies Department should visit the Environmental Studies Department website and follow the declaration steps.
Letter Grade Policy
This program does not have a letter grade policy, except that the comprehensive (senior exit) requirement must be taken for a letter grade.
Course Substitution Policy
Of the four elective courses, agroecology students can petition to substitute one of the agroecology upper-division elective courses from:
- Another ENVS upper-division course (ENVS 104-ENVS 179) not listed as one of the four elective course options.
- A relevant course in SOCY, LALS, ANTH by petition*
- A relevant course taken in a study abroad program by petition*
*By petition: You may petition to substitute a course taken outside of ENVS and/or UC Santa Cruz such as other institutions, other departments, courses not listed on the pre-approved substitution list, other programs including Educational Abroad Program (EAP), Wildlands Studies, or the Sierra Institute. Please review the petitioning process on the department's website.
Study Abroad
Students in agroecology are encouraged to participate in Study Abroad programs and other off-campus programs. Students who are interested in these programs shall note the following policies:
- Students planning to study abroad must be declared in their major prior to studying abroad.
- Students must have the courses they plan to take abroad reviewed and approved by Environmental Studies Advising.
- Agroecology majors may petition for one course to fulfill their four electives. Please review the petitioning process here prior to your EAP program. For more information on EAP, please visit the UC Education Abroad Program website.
Honors
Departmental Honors. Students must have a 3.5 grade point average (GPA) in all courses used to satisfy the agroecology upper-division requirements. To be considered for departmental honors, students are limited to no more than one grade of P in those upper-division courses.
Senior Comprehensive Honors. Honors must be nominated by the student’s faculty sponsor, and a second faculty member must concur.
Highest Departmental Honors. Students must have a 3.75 GPA in in all courses used to satisfy the agroecology upper-division requirements and must also receive senior comprehensive honors (see above). To be considered for highest departmental honors, students are limited to no more than one grade of P in those upper-division courses.
Requirements and Planners
Course Requirements
Continuing students must complete all lower-division course requirements before taking ENVS 100 and ENVS 100L.
Lower-Division Courses
One of the following options:
| | Either this course | |
| ENVS 23 | The Physical and Chemical Environment | 5 |
| | or these courses | |
| CHEM 3A | General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 3B | General Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 3BL | General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
| | or these courses | |
| CHEM 4A | Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity | 5 |
| CHEM 4AL | Advanced General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
| CHEM 4B | Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity | 5 |
| CHEM 4BL | Advanced General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
Note: This requirement may also be satisfied with prior completion of CHEM 1A or equivalent.
Previous to July 1, 2023, the General Chemistry series, offered by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, was listed in the General Catalog as CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B and CHEM 1C, with associated laboratories CHEM 1M and CHEM 1N. As of academic year 2023-24, this series was replaced with two distinct series: CHEM 3A, CHEM 3B and CHEM 3C, with labs CHEM 3BL and CHEM 3CL; or CHEM 4A and CHEM 4B with labs CHEM 4AL and CHEM 4BL. Descriptions of these two series are given here.
Plus one of the following courses:
Plus both of the following:
| ENVS 25 | Environmental Politics, Economics and Justice | 5 |
| ENVS 80F | Introduction to Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems | 5 |
Plus one of the following courses:
| AM 3 | Precalculus for the Social Sciences | 5 |
| AM 11A | Mathematical Methods for Economists I | 5 |
| MATH 16A | Mathematics for Life and Environmental Sciences | 5 |
| MATH 3 | Precalculus | 5 |
| MATH 11A | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
May also be satisfied with a score of 3 or higher on the AP Calculus exam or a score of 300 or higher on the ALEKS Math Placement Exam.
Plus one of these statistics series:
| | Either these courses | |
| STAT 7 | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences | 5 |
| STAT 7L | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences Laboratory | 2 |
| | or these courses | |
| STAT 17 | Statistical Methods for Business and Economics | 5 |
| STAT 17L | Statistical Methods for Business and Economics Laboratory | 2 |
Plus one of the following courses:
| ANTH 2 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 5 |
| BME 80G
/PHIL 80G
| Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society | 5 |
| PHIL 22 | Introduction to Ethical Theory | 5 |
| PHIL 24 | Introduction to Ethics: Contemporary Moral Issues | 5 |
| PHIL 28 | Environmental Ethics | 5 |
| SOCY 1 | Introduction to Sociology | 5 |
| SOCY 10 | Issues and Problems in American Society | 5 |
| SOCY 15 | World Society | 5 |
Upper-Division Courses
All of the following courses:
| ENVS 100 | Ecology and Society | 3 |
| ENVS 100L | Ecology and Society Writing Laboratory | 5 |
| ENVS 130A | Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture | 5 |
| ENVS 130L | Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS 130B
/LGST 130B
| Justice and Sustainability in Agriculture | 5 |
ENVS 100 and ENVS 100L are offered twice yearly, during the winter and spring quarters. ENVS 130A and ENVS 130L are offered fall quarter only. ENVS 130B is offered winter quarter only.
Plus one of the following courses:
Plus four Agroecology electives:
Not duplicating any courses used to fulfill the above requirements, students take four courses from the following list. Lecture/lab combinations count as one course. Associated labs are required only when required by the lecture. ENVS 133 and ENVS 133B may not both be counted toward the major.
If students wish to petition to substitute a course not on the agroecology elective list, contact envsadvi@ucsc.edu.
Required Internship or Independent Study
Complete one of the following in a topic related to agroecology, aquaculture, or sustainable food systems:
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
Students of every major must satisfy that major's upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. A primary goal of the agroecology major is to train students who are able to critically analyze interdisciplinary environmental problems, justify their position on an issue, and communicate that position to a range of audiences verbally and in writing.
The DC requirement in agroecology is satisfied by completing:
Plus one of the following:
ENVS 183B and ENVS 195B are usually taken after successfully completing ENVS 183A and ENVS 195A respectively.
Comprehensive Requirement
The senior comprehensive may be satisfied by completing one of the options listed below. All courses used to satisfy the senior comprehensive requirement must be taken for a letter grade. The topic engaged in the senior comprehensive courses must be relevant to the field of agroecology.
Before enrolling in the senior thesis or senior internship option, students must formally apply to work with a particular faculty mentor very early in their thesis or project preparation. The senior thesis and senior internship option require careful planning, additional independent research, and at least a two-quarter commitment.
Students with advanced skills in one of the graduate focal areas may also take a graduate seminar by invitation from the instructor.
One of the following options:
Planners
The tables below are for informational purposes and do not reflect all university, general education, and credit requirements. See Undergraduate Graduation Requirements for more information.
The following are two sample academic plans for students pursuing the Agroecology B.A. major. Plan One is for incoming frosh and Plan Two is for incoming transfer students.
Plan One for Incoming Frosh
| |
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
Summer |
| Entering |
|
|
|
College 1A |
| |
|
|
Summer Edge (optional) |
| |
|
|
|
| 1st (frosh) |
MATH 3 or
AM 3 |
SOCY/ANTH/PHIL course |
ENVS 23 |
|
| ENVS 80F |
ENVS 25 |
|
|
| College 1 |
WRIT 1/WRIT 1E (if needed) |
|
|
| 2nd (soph) |
ENVS 24 or
BIOE 20C |
ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L* |
Upper-division elective |
|
| STAT 7 & STAT 7L |
|
ENVS 83 or
ENVS 84 or
ENVS 199F |
|
| WRIT 2** |
|
|
|
| 3rd (junior) |
ENVS 130A & ENVS 130L |
ENVS 130B |
ENVS 130C or
ENVS 133 |
|
| |
ENVS 133 or
ENVS 135 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| 4th (senior) |
Upper-division elective |
Upper-division elective |
Upper-division elective |
|
| |
|
Comprehensive requirement |
|
| |
|
|
|
*This course is also offered in the spring term.
** WRIT 2 should be taken in or before spring quarter of the second year.
Students completing this major will have satisfied the SI, IN, PE-E, IS, and PR-E general education requirements needed to fulfill all remaining university, college, and general education requirements.
Students interested in taking the senior thesis or senior internship as their comprehensive requirement must take ENVS 195A (thesis) or ENVS 183A (internship) in the quarter before completing ENVS 195B (thesis) or ENVS 183B (internship). Both the senior thesis and senior internship are two consecutive quarter commitments.
Plan Two for Incoming Transfer Students
| |
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
Summer |
| Entering |
|
|
|
KRSG 1T |
| |
|
|
Summer Edge (optional) |
| |
|
|
|
| 3rd (junior) |
STAT 7 & STAT 7L |
ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L* |
ENVS 130C or
ENVS 133 |
|
| ENVS 80F |
ENVS 130B |
Upper-division elective |
|
ENVS 83 or
ENVS 84 or
ENVS 199F |
|
|
|
| 4th (senior) |
ENVS 130A & ENVS 130L |
ENVS 133 or
ENVS 135 |
ENVS 130C |
|
| Upper-division elective |
Upper-division elective |
Upper-division elective |
|
| |
|
Comprehensive requirement |
|
*This course is also offered in the spring term
This planner assumes a student has completed all lower-division courses except STAT 7 & STAT 7L and ENVS 80F before transferring to UCSC.
Students completing this major will have satisfied the SI, IN, PE-E, IS, and PR-E general education requirements needed to fulfill all remaining university, college, and general education requirements.
Students interested in taking the senior thesis or senior internship as their comprehensive requirement must take ENVS 195A (thesis) or ENVS 183A (internship) in the quarter before completing ENVS 195B (thesis) or ENVS 183B (internship). Both the senior thesis and senior internship are two consecutive quarter commitments.