Sustainable Agriculture and Community Food Systems

The world needs ambitious change-makers to maximize and maintain global food production in an ethical, effective manner. If you want to be a part of that solution, this degree is for you.

• Freshman Admission: Applicants who have not attended a college or university upon completion of secondary school AND who have met all requirements including English proficiency as noted below.
• Transfer Admission : Applicants who have attended a college or university upon completion of secondary school AND met all requirements including English proficiency as noted below.
• Non-degree Admission: Applicants who are exchange or visiting students.

• Conditional Admission: Applicants who meet UK’s academic requirements for admission but do not meet the minimum language proficiency requirement or the departmental specific requirements (such as certain SAT/ACT math scores for Engineering and Nursing).
  • Students who are offered conditional admission because of English may either resubmit a higher TOEFL/IELTS score or enroll in UK's Center for English as a Second Language program. The duration of these courses will depend on placement test results and individual student progress. Upon successful completion of the English language course(s), the student will move seamlessly into a degree program at UK. This means no TOEFL/IELTS scores will be required if students complete CESL.
  • Students who require a higher math score for Engineering may submit a higher score or switch their intended major to a program that does not have specific requirements.
  • No additional application is required for Conditional Admission.

Hungry for change? 

From farm to fork, you'll grow to understand the complex social and scientific factors that influence food systems worldwide. Ultimately, you will use this knowledge to impact non-profit, human service, and agricultural industries around the world.

In this interdisciplinary program, you will explore the three pillars of Sustainable Agriculture:

• environmental stewardship
• economic profitability
• social responsibility

Students will customize their degree by choosing from two tracks:

• Farming Systems:
  students focus on sustainable production methods and biophysical systems with courses in animal science, plant science, entomology and more.
• Community  Food Systems:
  focus on issues related to food systems including food security and hunger issues with courses in nutrition, global issues, policies and more.

Hands-On Experience

Our program emphasizes experiential opportunities to give students practical, real-world skills. Students are required to complete an apprenticeship with the UK CSA farm where they learn to grow, harvest, and distribute organic vegetables. On the outskirts of Lexington, we own and operate a horticulture research farm where students and professors produce a variety of fruits and vegetables for research and consumption. It is also home to our nonprofit Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project that provides organic produce to the Lexington community. As our student, this is just one of the many hands-on learning opportunities you'll have.

Come See for Yourself