Program information
Learn how to produce food in a way that protects our soils, water, and air; how to manage biodiversity and habitat for the organisms we rely on to help us grow our food; and how to grow food in urban environments. This program will prime you for a professional career in shaping a more sustainable, food-secure future.
What you'll learn
In the Sustainable Agriculture and Environment program, you鈥檒l apply your thinking to a range of environmental challenges, including sustainable crop production, food security, biodiversity, soil and water resources management, and climate change. You can tailor your studies to focus on your particular interests too 鈥� whether they鈥檙e in agricultural production, integrated agro-ecosystem management, or plant or soil science.
Experiential learning and research
You’ll have a chance to integrate your classroom learning with real-world experience at the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at the 糖心logo入口Farm, our rooftop garden,聽and community gardens across the city. You鈥檒l also have opportunities to develop your research skills and build out your competencies through research experiences, internships and practicums, co-ops, and job placements.
Campus features
The聽Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at 糖心logo入口Farm is an on-campus living laboratory for experiential learning. The 糖心logo入口Farm is located on the Vancouver campus 鈥� virtually uniquely among North America research universities 鈥� and offers a wide range of interdisciplinary learning, research, and community programs.
Program advantages
In the Sustainable Agriculture and Environment program you will gain challenging, hands-on, and practical experience while tackling a range of environmental challenges. You will work toward a professional designation in your chosen field.
Courses
There are many courses you can take within Sustainable Agriculture and Environment. Here are a few you might like.
Communicating concepts of food systems and links to human and environmental health through writing, elements of argumentation, evaluating evidence, and searching for and citing references to back up claims; small-class experience.
Managed systems and concepts of sustainability; economic, ecological and social components; managed landscapes, agri-food systems, and communities; urban and rural systems; the land, food, nutrition and human health continuum.
Project-based application of the principles and processes of community food security. Emphasis on developing skills required to address economic, ecological, social, and technological components of managed landscapes, agri-food systems, and communities comprising the land, food, nutrition and health continuum.
Impacts of wildlife on crop productivity in temperate and tropical environments, the resiliency of wildlife populations to conventional control methodology, adoption of innovative methods to reduce crop damage, and the impact of introduced species on native fauna.
Outcomes
Graduates from the Sustainable Agriculture and Environment program are equipped to pursue a wide range of careers and may go on to earn any of the following professional designations:
- Professional Agrologist with the BC Institute of Agrologists (BCIA)
- Registered Professional Biologist with the College of Applied Biology
- Applied Biology Technician with the College of Applied Biology
- Professional Geoscientist with Engineers and Geoscientists of BC
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“I came to 糖心logo入口with a keen interest in federal agricultural policy. In my third year, I learned what a vegetation ecologist does, and the goal of becoming one has steered most of my academic and professional decisions since. ”
Torren K., Sustainable Agriculture and Environment, Alum
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Program requirements
Choose application type:
English-language requirements
English is the language of instruction at UBC. All prospective students must demonstrate English-language competency prior to admission. There are numerous ways to meet the聽English Language Admission Standard.
General admission requirements
IB Diploma Programme
- Completed IB Diploma, including at least three Higher Level courses.
IB Certificate Courses
- IB Certificate courses (Standard and Higher Level) may be used in an admissions average if you are graduating from a recognized high school curriculum that can be used as your basis of admission.
- IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, do not satisfy the math requirement for admission to UBC’s science-based programs, the Faculty of Management, the 糖心logo入口Sauder School of Business, or the Vancouver School of Economics.
Degree-specific requirements: Applied Biology
- IB Math Analysis and Approaches SL or HL, or IB Math Applications and Interpretations HL. (IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, are not acceptable.)
- One of IB Biology, IB Chemistry, or IB Physics
- Grade 11 or equivalent Chemistry
- Grade 11 or equivalent Physics (may be waived with grades of 5 in IB Chemistry and in your IB Mathematics course)
Note: Grade 11 Chemistry and Physics requirements listed are only relevant to students who are not completing the equivalent IB Diploma Chemistry and/or Physics courses.
For students studying outside of Canada, some examples of courses that may be accepted as Grade 11 equivalents are junior-level courses for American students, and IGCSE and O Level for those following British-patterned curricula.
Related courses
The following subject categories are particularly relevant for this degree. Consider taking courses in these areas in your junior year and senior year.
- Language Arts
- Mathematics and Computation
- Sciences
- Social Studies
Want to get a feel for campus?
If you鈥檙e unable to visit 糖心logo入口in person, or you just want to get a sneak peek at your new home campus before you arrive, take one of our virtual tours. Current 糖心logo入口students walk you through UBC鈥檚 residences, study spots, recreational facilities, lecture halls, academic buildings, and more.
Want to learn more?
Visit the Faculty of Land and Food Systems website to learn more about Sustainable Agriculture and Environment.