Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems (BS): Urban Horticulture Concentration
To see more about what you will learn in this program, visit the Learning Outcomes website!
The Bachelor of Science in Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems: Urban Horticulture Concentration is one of the four concentrations offered in by the Department of Horticultural Science. Students are offered a unique look at various aspects of Horticulture and Food Systems. Two of the concentrations, Agroecology Research and Production and Community Food systems, are supported and advised by faculty in the Crop and Soil Sciences Department.
Students in the Urban Horticulture concentration are required to take two Biology courses, two Soil Science courses, General Chemistry, and Ecology. These students also required to take interdisciplinary courses that focus on the societal issues of food availability and security. The remaining courses for the major are selected from a series of Foundational and Restricted electives.
Students can follow paths toward sustainable and multidisciplinary approaches in growing food in urban systems and food security.
Dr. Helen Kraus
Director of Undergraduate Programs and Associate Professor
Department of Horticultural Science
114 Kilgore Hall, Campus Box 7609
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7609
919.515.1208
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation | |||
| ALS 103 | Freshman Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences | 1 | |
| or ALS 303 | Transfer Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences | ||
| Mathematics & Natural Sciences | |||
| MA 107 | Precalculus I | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | ||
| Elements of Calculus | |||
| Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | |||
| Calculus I | |||
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 | |
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 | |
| or PB 200 | Plant Life | ||
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 | |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 | |
| AEC 360 | Ecology | 4 | |
| Communication/Advanced Writing | |||
| COM 110 | Public Speaking | 3 | |
| or COM 112 | Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | ||
| Communication Methods and Media | |||
| Communication for Engineering and Technology | |||
| Communication for Business and Management | |||
| Communication for Science and Research | |||
| Major Requirements | |||
| CS 230 | Introduction to Agroecology | 3 | |
| CS 415 | Integrated Pest Management | 3 | |
| CS 430 | Advanced Agroecology | 4 | |
| HS 410 | Community Food Systems | 3 | |
| HS 480 | Sustainable Food Production (capstone) | 1 | |
| ARE 201 | Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | 3 | |
| SSC 200 | Soil Science | 3 | |
| SSC 201 | Soil Science Laboratory | 1 | |
| STS 323 | World Population and Food Prospects | 3 | |
| SSC 427 | Biological Approaches to Sustainable Soil Systems | 3 | |
| or SSC 332 | Environmental Soil Microbiology | ||
| SOC 241 | Sociology of Agriculture and Rural Society | 3 | |
| SSC 428 | Service-Learning in Urban Agriculture Systems | 1 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | ||
| Environmental Ethics | |||
| Eating through American History | |||
| Humans and the Environment | |||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | ||
| Professional Internship Experience in Crop and Soil Sciences | |||
| Research Experience in Crop and Soil Sciences | |||
| Horticulture Internship | |||
| Research Experience in Horticultural Science | |||
| CSSC 290 | Professional Development in Crop & Soil Sciences | 1 | |
| Concentration Electives | |||
| Foundational Electives | 11 | ||
| Restricted Electives | 21 | ||
| GEP Courses | |||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 | |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP Additional Breadth (Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts) | 3 | ||
| GEP U.S. Diversity (verify requirement) | |||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Free Electives | |||
| Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) | 6 | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | ||
| 1 | A grade of C- or higher is required. |
| 2 | Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement. |
Foundational Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group I (Max: 8 Units ) | |||
| ACC 220 | Introduction to Managerial Accounting | ||
| ACC 280 | Survey of Financial and Managerial Accounting | ||
| ANS 215 | Agricultural Genetics | ||
| CH 220 | Introductory Organic Chemistry | ||
| CH 221 | Organic Chemistry I | ||
| CH 222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | ||
| CS 211 | Plant Genetics | ||
| HS 215 | Agricultural Genetics | ||
| Group II (Max: 9 Units ) | |||
| ARE 304 | Agribusiness Management | ||
| ARE 306 | Agricultural Law | ||
| HS 201 | The World of Horticulture: Principles and Practices | ||
| HS 432 | Introduction to Permaculture | ||
| HS 532 | Introduction to Permaculture | ||
| PB 321 | Introduction to Whole Plant Physiology | ||
Restricted Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARE 303 | Farm Management | ||
| ARE 309 | Environmental Law & Economic Policy | ||
| ARE 336 | Introduction to Resource and Environmental Economics | ||
| EC 336 | Introduction to Resource and Environmental Economics | ||
| ENT 203 | An Introduction to the Honey Bee and Beekeeping | ||
| ENT 401 | Honey Bee Biology and Management | ||
| ENT 425 | General Entomology | ||
| FS 462 | Postharvest Physiology | ||
| FS 520 | Pre-Harvest Food Safety | ||
| FS 530 | Post-Harvest Food Safety | ||
| FS 562 | Postharvest Physiology | ||
| FSA 520 | Pre-Harvest Food Safety | ||
| FSA 530 | Post-Harvest Food Safety | ||
| HS 421 | Temperate-Zone Tree Fruits: Physiology and Culture | ||
| HS 422 | Small Fruit Production | ||
| HS 423 | Viticulture | ||
| HS 431 | Vegetable Production | ||
| HS 440 | Greenhouse Management | ||
| HS 451 | Plant Nutrition | ||
| HS 462 | Postharvest Physiology | ||
| HS 521 | Temperate-Zone Tree Fruits: Physiology and Culture | ||
| HS 523 | Viticulture | ||
| HS 551 | Plant Nutrition | ||
| HS 562 | Postharvest Physiology | ||
| SSC 341 | Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management | 3 | |
| SSC 342 | Soil and Plant Nutrient Analysis | 1 |
Semester Sequence
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ALS 103 | Freshman Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences | 1 |
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| MA 107 | Precalculus I | 3 |
| HS 201 | The World of Horticulture: Principles and Practices | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIO 183 or PB 200 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology or Plant Life | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Elements of Calculus | ||
| Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| COM 110 or COM 112 | Public Speaking or Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| HS 290 | Horticulture: Careers and Opportunities | 1 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| CS 230 | Introduction to Agroecology | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Eating through American History | ||
| Humans and the Environment | ||
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ARE 201 | Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | 3 |
| AEC/PB 360 | Ecology | 4 |
| SSC 200 | Soil Science | 3 |
| SSC 201 | Soil Science Laboratory | 1 |
| Foundation Elective | 4 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SOC 241 | Sociology of Agriculture and Rural Society | 3 |
| SSC 427 | Biological Approaches to Sustainable Soil Systems | 3 |
| CS/HS 410 | Community Food Systems | 3 |
| Foundation Elective | 4 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Communication for Engineering and Technology | ||
| Communication for Business and Management | ||
| Communication for Science and Research | ||
| Communication Methods and Media | ||
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CS 430 | Advanced Agroecology | 4 |
| SSC/HS 428 | Service-Learning in Urban Agriculture Systems | 1 |
| STS 323 | World Population and Food Prospects | 3 |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CS/HS 480 | Sustainable Food Production (capstone) | 1 |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| HS 492/493 | Horticulture Internship | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CS 415 | Integrated Pest Management | 3 |
| GEP Additional Breadth | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |