Major in Organic Agriculture Systems Curriculum
The Organic Agriculture Systems major gives you a broad understanding of organic agriculture systems from production, economic, environmental, and community perspectives. Significantly different than conventional agriculture, organic food is one of the fastest growing segments of agriculture, with retail sales increasing by 20 percent annually since 1990.
The Organic Agriculture program at WSU prepares not only aspiring growers of organic food, but also students who are interested in related industries, such as direct marketing, global marketing, or food or environmental quality.
Advising check list for Organic Ag Systems
- General Requirements
- Ag & Food Systems Core Requirements
- Organic Agriculture Systems Core Requirements
General Requirements |
Credits |
Public Speaking (ComSt 102[C]) or Comm. In Human Relations (HD 205[C]) |
3 |
World Civ. I & II (GenEd 110/111,[A]) |
6 |
Introductory Writing (Engl 101, Com [W]) |
3 |
World Agricultural Systems (CropS 360,[I]) |
3 |
Intro. Psychology (Psych 105, [H,G,S,K]) |
3 |
Biological Science [B] |
8 |
Intro to Chemistry/Chemistry Related to Life Sciences (Chem 101/102) or Principles of Chemistry I & II (Chem 105/106)[P] |
8 |
Elementary Functions (Math 107) or Intro to Finite Math for Bus. & Econ. (Math 201) |
3-4 |
Intro to Statistical Methods (Stat 212 [N]), Math for Life Scientists (Math 140), Calculus I (Math 171), Intro to Math Analysis for Business and Econ. Majors (Math 202) |
4 |
Arts & Hum ([H]& [D]) |
3 |
Capstone (Tier III, [T]) |
3 |
Total General Requirements |
47-48 |
Ag & Food Systems Core |
Credits |
Intro to Systems (AFS 101) |
3 |
Cultivated Plants (CropS/Hort 102) |
3 |
Animal Sciences (AS 101) |
3 |
Intro. Systems Development (AFS 201) |
3 |
Fund. of Microeconomics (EconS 101[S]) |
3 |
Soil: A Living System (Soils 201[B]) |
3 |
Gen. Ecology (Biol 372[M]) or Natural Resource Ecology (NATRS 300[B]) |
4-3 |
Systems Development & Analysis (AFS 301) |
3 |
Ag., Environment, and Community (CRS 336[S]) |
3 |
Seminar (discipline optional) |
1 |
Advanced Sys. Analysis & Design (AFS 401) |
3 |
Total AFS Core |
31-32 |
Organic Agriculture Systems Core Requirements |
Credits |
Organic Farming & Gardening (SoilS 101) |
3 |
Sustainable Ag. (SoilS 345), Small Acreage Farming Ranching Overview (SoilS 404), or Field Analysis of Sustainable Food Sys. (SoilS 445) |
3 |
Practicum in Organic Agriculture (SoilS 480) |
6 |
Nutrition for Living (FSHN 130[B]) |
3 |
Ecology & Management of Weeds (CropS 305), Agricultural Entomology (Entom 340), or General Plant Pathology (PlP 429) |
3 |
Internship (discipline optional) |
3 |
Ag Electives (Must include [M] course(s) if not fulfilled above) |
21 |
Total Organic Agriculture Systems Core |
42 |
Total |
120-122 |
Advisors
Organic Ag.Systems
John Reganold
Johnson Hall 255
509.335.8856
Catherine A. Perillo
Johnson Hall 231
509.335.2851
Preston Andrews
Johnson Hall 155E
509.335.3603
News in Organic Agriculture:
Researchers: Organic foods have more nutrients
Organically grown foods generally hold more nutrition value than conventionally grown foods, according to a study co-authored by three WSU researchers.
According to the study, organic plant-based foods contain higher levels of eight of 11 nutrients studied, including significantly greater concentrations of the health-promoting polyphenols and antioxidants.
Read the full story at DailyEvergreen.com
Organic foods industry grows faster than expected
According to the preliminary results of a survey by Organic Trade Association, "US sales of organic foods totaled nearly $17bn in 2006, exceeding last year's forecasts of $16bn. This marks a 22 percent increase compared to sales of $14bn in 2005. Organic foods' 3 percent share of total food sales is up from 1.9 percent in 2003 and approximately 2.5 percent in 2005." Read a fuller report on the preliminary survey results.
The future of research
Check out the 2007 National Organic Research Agenda, published by the Organic Farming Research Foundation, for some ideas about the future of organic production research.