Campuses:
This is archival data. This system was retired as of August 21, 2023 and the information on this page has not been updated since then. For current information, visit catalogs.umn.edu.
Twin Cities Campus
Food Systems B.S.Agronomy & Plant Genetics
Animal Science
Entomology
Food Science & Nutrition
Horticultural Science
College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
Food systems are interconnected sets of biological, technological, economic, and social activities that nourish human populations. The activities include farming, food processing and manufacturing, food distribution and retailing, food consumption, and managing post-consumption food waste. The Food Systems major offers graduates the knowledge, problem-solving skills and leadership ability to address complex and often controversial challenges and opportunities in food systems, guided by a desire to create systems that are increasingly sustainable in environmental, economic, and social terms, in diverse contexts and at different scales.
The core courses in the Food Systems major begin with an orientation to food systems followed by a three-course core sequence that provides a basic understanding of the structure and interactions within food systems, introduces techniques for life cycle analysis of the outcomes, impacts and sustainability of food systems and explores conventional, sustainable and organic examples of production systems for food plants. The core course sequence culminates in a capstone experience aimed at solving real-world problems in local community food systems, and involvement in future systems design and visioning.
Students will chose from one of three existing tracks of required courses, or in collaboration with an advisor, will develop an individually tailored coursework track.
Flexibility in course sequence and required courses has been incorporated into the major so that students can transfer into the program and still graduate in a timely fashion. This flexibility will also make it attractive to students who wish to pursue a dual major with Foods Systems as one of those majors.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Admission Requirements
A GPA above 2.0 is preferred for the following:
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the
Office of Admissions
website.
General Requirements
All students in baccalaureate degree programs are required to complete general University and college requirements including writing and liberal education courses. For more information about University-wide requirements, see the
liberal education requirements.
Required courses for the major, minor or certificate in which a student receives a D grade (with or without plus or minus) do not count toward the major, minor or certificate (including transfer courses).
Program Requirements
All major requirements must be taken A-F (unless only offered S-N), and students must earn a grade of at least C-.
Integrated Food Systems Core Courses
AGRO 1661W - Engaging Plant Science
[WI]
(2.0 cr)
FDSY 2101 - Plant Production Systems
(3.0 cr)
BBE 3201 - Sustainability of Food Systems: A Life Cycle Perspective
[GP]
(3.0 cr)
APEC 3202 - An Introduction to the Food System: Analysis, Management and Design
(3.0 cr)
FDSY 4101 - Holistic Approaches to Improving Food Systems Sustainability
(3.0 cr)
Communications
WRIT 3562W - Technical and Professional Writing
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
AECM 2421W - Professional and Oral Communication for Agriculture, Food & the Environment
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
COMM 1101 - Introduction to Public Speaking
[CIV]
(3.0 cr)
Physical and Biological Sciences
FSCN 1112 - Principles of Nutrition
[TS]
(3.0 cr)
Mathematical Thinking
Interdisciplinary Learning
APEC 3202 also meets Integrated Food Systems Core Course
Experiential Learning
CFAN 3096 - Making the Most of your Professional Experience
(1.0 cr)
or
CFAN 2201 {Inactive}
(2.0 cr)
or
HORT 4096W {Inactive}
[WI]
(1.0 cr)
Upper Division Writing Intensive within the major
Students are required to take one upper division writing intensive course within the major. If that requirement has not been satisfied within the core major requirements, students must choose one course from the following list. Some of these courses may also fulfill other major requirements.
Take 0 - 1 course(s) from the following:
·
WRIT 3562W - Technical and Professional Writing
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
Program Sub-plans
Students are required to complete one of the following sub-plans.
Agroecology
Students in this track will be prepared for jobs emerging in managing the relationship between agricultural production systems and surrounding resource systems, including landscapes, waterways, and food and energy systems. Positions are rapidly emerging with government at multiple levels, non-profits, and private sector consulting and engineering firms, etc. Students will also be solidly prepared for advanced scientific study in graduate school in a range of fields related to the ecology of agricultural systems.
Required Courses
ESPM 3108 - Ecology of Managed Systems
[ENV]
(3.0 cr)
SOIL 2125 - Basic Soil Science
[PHYS, ENV]
(4.0 cr)
PLSC 3005W - Introduction to Plant Physiology
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
Track Electives
Choose at least 16 credits from the following of which at least 9 credits must be upper division
Take 16 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
AGRO 2501 - Plant Identification for Urban and Rural Landscapes
(1.0 cr)
·
AGRO 4505 - Biology, Ecology, and Management of Invasive Plants
(3.0 cr)
·
AGRO 4888 - Issues in Sustainable Agriculture
(2.0 cr)
·
CFAN 2333 - Insects, Microbes, and Plants: Ecology of Pest Management
[TS]
(3.0 cr)
·
CHEM 2301 - Organic Chemistry I
(3.0 cr)
·
ENT 5341 - Biological Control of Insects and Weeds
(3.0 cr)
·
ESPM 5071 - Ecological Restoration
(4.0 cr)
·
HORT 1014 - The Edible Landscape
[TS]
(3.0 cr)
·
GCC 3001 {Inactive}
[ENV]
(3.0 cr)
·
AGRO 4103 {Inactive}
[GP]
(3.0 cr)
or
APEC 4103 {Inactive}
[GP]
(3.0 cr)
Consumer and Markets
Students in this track will study aspects of the food system that extend beyond primary food production, including processing, wholesale and retail distribution, consumer choice, and human nutrition. This track will prepare students for careers in these aspects of the food system. Note that most of these courses have prerequisites.
Track Electives
Select at least 30 credits from the following, of which at least 16 must be upper division (3XXX or above)
Take 30 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
ANSC 1511 - Food Animal Products for Consumers
(3.0 cr)
·
APEC 3071 - Microeconomics of International Development
(3.0 cr)
·
APEC 3411 - Commodity Marketing
(3.0 cr)
·
APEC 3451 - Food and Agricultural Sales
(3.0 cr)
·
APEC 3501 - Agribusiness Finance
(3.0 cr)
·
APEC 3551 - Concept Design and Value-Added Entrepreneurship in Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
(3.0 cr)
·
APEC 3811 - Principles of Farm Management
(3.0 cr)
·
APEC 3841 - Agricultural and Consumer Cooperatives and Mutuals
(3.0 cr)
·
APEC 4451W - Food Marketing Economics
[CIV, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
APEC 4481 - Futures and Options Markets
(3.0 cr)
·
APEC 4821W - Business Economics and Strategy
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
FSCN 1011 - Science of Food and Cooking
[PHYS]
(4.0 cr)
·
FSCN 1102 - Food: Safety, Risks, and Technology
[CIV]
(3.0 cr)
·
FSCN 2001 - A Food Systems Approach to Cooking for Health and the Environment
(3.0 cr)
·
FSCN 2021 - Introductory Microbiology
(4.0 cr)
·
FSCN 3102 - Introduction to Food Science
(3.0 cr)
·
FSCN 3612 - Life Cycle Nutrition
(3.0 cr)
·
FSCN 3615 {Inactive}
[GP]
(3.0 cr)
·
FSCN 4131 - Food Quality
(3.0 cr)
·
HORT 1031 - Vines and Wines: Introduction to Viticulture and Enology
(3.0 cr)
·
GCC 3001 {Inactive}
[ENV]
(3.0 cr)
·
AGRO 4103 {Inactive}
[GP]
(3.0 cr)
or
APEC 4103 {Inactive}
[GP]
(3.0 cr)
Organic and Local Food Production
In this track, students will pursue advanced coursework in horticultural science and organic production. This course of study will prepare them for advanced scientific study in graduate school, science-focused career paths, and preparation to become a producer or grower.
Required Courses
APS 5103 - Integration of Sustainable Agriculture Concepts
(3.0 cr)
HORT 2121 - Agricultural Biochemistry
(3.0 cr)
PLSC 3005W - Introduction to Plant Physiology
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
CFAN 2333 - Insects, Microbes, and Plants: Ecology of Pest Management
[TS]
(3.0 cr)
HORT 3131 - Student Organic Farm Planning, Growing, and Marketing
(3.0 cr)
HORT 1001 - Plant Propagation
[BIOL]
(4.0 cr)
SOIL 2125 - Basic Soil Science
[PHYS, ENV]
(4.0 cr)
Track Electives
Take 6 or more credit(s) from the following. Students who completed HORT 1001 to fulfill the Physical and Biological Sciences major requirement should take 10 or more credit(s) from the following:
Take 6 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
ESPM 3108 - Ecology of Managed Systems
[ENV]
(3.0 cr)
·
ESPM 3656 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
FDSY 2102 - Diversity of Agricultural Production Systems
(3.0 cr)
·
HORT 1015 - Plant Families for Plant People
(4.0 cr)
·
HORT 4015 {Inactive}
(1.0 cr)
·
HORT 4071W - Applications of Biotechnology to Plant Improvement
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
HORT 4141W - Scheduling Crops for Protected Environments
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
HORT 4601 {Inactive}
(4.0 cr)
·
HORT 5031 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
HORT 5032 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
HORT 5051 {Inactive}
(4.0 cr)
·
SOIL 3416 - Plant Nutrients in the Environment
(3.0 cr)
·
GCC 3001 {Inactive}
[ENV]
(3.0 cr)
·
AGRO 4103 {Inactive}
[GP]
(3.0 cr)
or
APEC 4103 {Inactive}
[GP]
(3.0 cr)
·
HORT 4401 {Inactive}
(4.0 cr)
or
AGRO 4401 {Inactive}
(4.0 cr)
Individualized
Students choosing to follow this track will identify, in consultation and with the approval of a faculty advisor, a track made up of a minimum of 30 credits where at least 16 credits are upper division (3xxx or higher). The track will address the interests and ambitions of the student and will be consistent with the learning outcomes of the Food Systems major.
|
|
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Prerequisites: | College level general biology course or Hort 1001 or # |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Writ 3562V/Writ 3562W |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Comm 1101/Comm 1101H/PSTL 1461 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Biol 1009/Biol 1009H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1011/Chem 1015 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Prerequisites: | [1015 or &1015], %; credit will not be granted if credit received for: 1011; CHEM 1017 is a 1-credit lab-only course. This course is not intended for students who are planning to take CHEM 1061/1065. Intended only for students who need the course to fulfill the Physical Science/Lab requirement, and are taking CHEM 1015 either concurrently or consecutively. This course will NOT fulfill the Physical Science/Lab core requirement, unless CHEM 1015 is completed either concurrently or consecutively.; meets Lib Ed req of Physical Sciences) |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1061/ 1071/H/ 1081 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1065/Chem 1075H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | CI 1806/Math 1031 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Econ 1101/1165 ApEc 1101/1101H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Econ 1101/1165 ApEc 1101/1101H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Writ 3562V/Writ 3562W |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESPM 3108/ESPM 5108 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Soil 2125/Soil 5125 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BioC 3021/BioC 3022/BioC 4331/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 2301/Chem 2331H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ent 3341/Ent 5341 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESPM 5071/Hort 5071 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | OPT No Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ApEc 3411/ApEc 5411 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ApEc 3501/Fina 3001/Fina 3001H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ApEc 3841/ApEc 5841 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ApEc 4451W/ApEc 5451 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ApEc 4481/5481 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ApEc 4821W/ApEc 5821 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | OPT No Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Prerequisites: | BIOL 1009, CHEM 1015 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | OPT No Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ApEc 4461/Hort 4461 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ApEc 4461/Hort 4461 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | HORT 3131 / HORT 5131 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Soil 2125/Soil 5125 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESPM 3108/ESPM 5108 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | OPT No Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Hort 4141W/Hort 6141 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ApEc 4461/Hort 4461 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ApEc 4461/Hort 4461 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |