University Catalog 2024-2025

Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems (BS): Urban Horticulture Concentration

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.

 
Ms. Jodi Songer
Director of Undergraduate Programs
Department of Horticultural Science
Kilgore Hall
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7609
 

Plan Requirements

Orientation
ALS 103Freshman Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences1
or ALS 303 Transfer Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences
HS 290Horticulture: Careers and Opportunities1
Mathematics & Natural Sciences
MA 107Precalculus I3
or MA 114 Introduction to Finite Mathematics with Applications
Select one of the following:3
Elements of Calculus
Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A
Introduction to Statistics
AEC 360Ecology4
or PB 360 Ecology
BIO 181Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity4
BIO 183Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology4
or PB 200 Plant Life
CH 101Chemistry - A Molecular Science3
CH 102General Chemistry Laboratory1
CH 220Introductory Organic Chemistry3
CH 222Organic Chemistry I Lab1
or PY 131 Conceptual Physics
Communication/Advanced Writing
COM 110Public Speaking3
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
ARE 201Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics3
CS 230Introduction to Agroecology3
CS 415Integrated Pest Management3
CS 430Advanced Agroecology4
HS 201The World of Horticulture: Principles and Practices3
HS 410Community Food Systems3
HS 476Crop Physiology and Production in Controlled Environments 3
HS 480Sustainable Food Production (capstone)1
PB 321Introduction to Whole Plant Physiology3
SSC 200Soil Science3
SSC 201Soil Science Laboratory1
SSC 427Biological Approaches to Sustainable Soil Systems3
SSC 428Soil Management Principles for Sustainable Agriculture1
STS 323World Population and Food Prospects3
Select one of the following:3
Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship Study Abroad
Horticulture Internship
Research Experience in Horticultural Science
Teaching Experience in Horticultural Science
Concentration Electives
Horticultural Science Electives 9
Advanced Horticultural Science Electives 6
Socio-Economic and Food System Electives 6
Advanced Socio-Economic and Food System Electives 3
GEP Courses
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research 14
GEP Humanities6
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP Social Sciences3
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion3
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
World Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Free Electives
Free Electives4
Total Hours120
1

A grade of C- or higher is required.

2

Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement.

Horticultural Science Electives

AEC 203An Introduction to the Honey Bee and Beekeeping3
CS 211Plant Genetics3
or HS 215 Agricultural Genetics
ENT 425General Entomology3
HS 421Temperate-Zone Tree Fruits: Physiology and Culture3
HS 422Small Fruit Production3
HS 431Vegetable Production4
HS 432Introduction to Permaculture3
HS 440Greenhouse Management3
PB 215Medicinal Plants3
PB 325Culinary Botany3
PP 315Principles of Plant Pathology4

Advanced Horticultural Science Electives

HS 451Plant Nutrition3
HS 462Postharvest Physiology3
ENT 401Honey Bee Biology and Management3
ENT 526Organic Agriculture: Principles and Practices3
SSC 332Environmental Soil Microbiology3
SSC 341Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management3
SSC 461Soil Physical Properties and Plant Growth3

Socio-Economic and Food System Electives

ACC 200Introduction to Managerial Accounting3
ACC 280Survey of Financial and Managerial Accounting3
ARE 215Small Business Accounting3
ARE 270Principles of Agribusiness Entrepreneurship3
ARE 303Farm Management3
ARE 304Agribusiness Management3
ARE 306Agricultural Law3
ARE 309Environmental Law & Economic Policy3
ARE 311Agricultural Markets3
FS 301Introduction to Human Nutrition3
or NTR 301 Introduction to Human Nutrition
IDS 211Eating through American History3
NTR 210Introduction to Community Food Security3
NTR 310Food Insecurity and Federal Nutrition Programs3
NTR 330Public Health Nutrition3
SOC 211Community and Health3
SOC 241Sociology of Agriculture and Rural Society3
SOC 241ASociology of Agriculture and Rural Society3

Advanced Socio-Economic and Food System Electives

AEE 433Leadership and Management of Volunteers in Agricultural and Extension Education3
ARE 433U.S. Agricultural Policy3
ARE 448International Agricultural Trade3
IDS 203Humans and the Environment3
PB 345Economic Botany3
PB 346Economic Botany Lab1
SOC 311Community Relationships3
SOC 342International Development3
SOC 350Food and Society3

Semester Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
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
HS 201 The World of Horticulture: Principles and Practices 3
MA 107 Precalculus I 3
HS 290 Horticulture: Careers and Opportunities 1
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours17
Spring Semester
BIO 183
Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology
or Plant Life
4
COM 110
Public Speaking
or Interpersonal Communication
3
Select one of the following: 3
Elements of Calculus
or Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A
or Introduction to Statistics
GEP Humanities 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours14
Second Year
Fall Semester
CH 101 Chemistry - A Molecular Science 3
CH 102 General Chemistry Laboratory 1
CS 230 Introduction to Agroecology 3
GEP Humanities 3
GEP Social Sciences 3
PB 360 Ecology 4
 Hours17
Spring Semester
AEE 311
Communication Methods and Media (Select one of the following:)
or Communication for Engineering and Technology
or Communication for Business and Management
or Communication for Science and Research
3
ARE 201 Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics 3
Horticultural Science Electives 3
PB 321 Introduction to Whole Plant Physiology 3
SSC 200 Soil Science 3
SSC 201 Soil Science Laboratory 1
 Hours16
Third Year
Fall Semester
CH 220 Introductory Organic Chemistry 3
CH 222 Organic Chemistry I Lab 1
Horticultural Science Electives 3
SSC 427 Biological Approaches to Sustainable Soil Systems 3
SSC 428 Soil Management Principles for Sustainable Agriculture 1
 Hours11
Spring Semester
CS 415 Integrated Pest Management 3
CS 430 Advanced Agroecology 4
STS 323 World Population and Food Prospects 3
Socio-Economic and Food System Electives 3
Horticultural Science Electives 3
 Hours16
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
Advanced Horticultural Science Electives 3
HS 410 Community Food Systems 3
HS 492/493
Horticulture Internship
or Research Experience in Horticultural Science
or Teaching Experience in Horticultural Science
3
HS 480 Sustainable Food Production (capstone) 1
Free Elective 4
Socio-Economic and Food System Electives 3
 Hours17
Spring Semester
HS 476 Crop Physiology and Production in Controlled Environments 3
Advanced Horticultural Science Electives 3
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 3
Advanced Socio-Economic and Food System Electives 3
 Hours12
 Total Hours120

Career Opportunities

Career Titles

  • Farm Nursery Manager
  • Organic Farming
  • Sustainable Agriculture Specialist

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