Degrees and Certificates
Online Organic Agriculture Certificate
<< Back to Degrees and Certificates
Overview
Careers
Apply
Program Requirements
The U.S. organic food industry has grown at an impressive rate of nearly 20 percent each year for more than a decade and industry experts are predicting the trend to continue or accelerate. The Organic Trade Association forecasts that overall, the everyday use of organic products of all kinds will be both accepted and routine by the year 2025.
The growing demand for organic products has created the need for employees who understand the unique production, processing, and marketing approaches used in organic agriculture.
WSU’s new online certificate in organic agriculture, the first in the nation, develops a solid background in the agricultural sciences, including an understanding of complex agriculture and food systems. Students develop knowledge and skills that are applicable to all industries and agencies involved in the food chain – from production, processing, and delivery to policy, regulation, and education.
The online certificate is ideal for professionals working in agriculture or related fields who require in-depth knowledge of organic systems, those wanting to pursue a career in organic agriculture, anyone interested in beginning a community supported agriculture (CSA) farm, home gardeners, as well as current WSU students in other majors at WSU with an interest in organic agriculture.
Online courses are taught by the same world-renowned faculty who teach on Washington State University’s main campus in Pullman. Washington State University is a national leader in agricultural research and education and was the first university in the nation to offer a major in organic agriculture (available on the Pullman campus).
Online courses for the certificate are accessible 24/7 from computers with high-speed Internet access. A professional internship at an approved farm, orchard, nursery, greenhouse or business involved in the organics industry is an integral part of the curriculum.
Students who complete the organic agriculture certificate will be well-prepared to work on or develop their own organic farm. The organic agriculture certificate also prepares students for employment opportunities with non-profit organizations and government agencies involved in environmental and food safety, as well as private sector food processing, marketing, organic certification, and product development industries.
Additional career information is available at the U.S. Department of Labor.
All students pursuing the certificate in organic agriculture must be admitted to Washington State University. Students interested in pursuing the online certificate, but not a degree in one of the majors offered online, should apply as a non-degree seeking student.
Courses can be taken in any order. (For course descriptions, visit the DDP Course Catalog and select the course you are interested in learning about.)
Questions should be directed to Troy Hullin (509-335-8406 or tshullin@wsu.edu) in the College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences.
* Indicates course is not available online
Core (both courses are required; 6 credits):
- SoilS 101 – Organic Gardening and Farming, 3 cr (cross listed as AFS 105)
- AFS 416 – Sustainable Small Farming and Ranching Overview, 3 cr. (cross listed as CRS 416)
Experiential Learning (3 credits minimum):
- SoilS 480, Practicum in Organic Agriculture, must be taken on the Pullman campus
OR - Professional Internship (Crops 498, EconS 497, Hort 399, Soils 498, or similar) for students not on the Pullman campus
Food, Farming, and Ecosystems (choose 9 credits minimum):
- AFS 445 – Field Analysis of Sustainable Food Systems, 3 cr.
- AFS 417 – Agricultural Entrepreneurship, 3 cr. (cross listed as CRS 417)
- EconS 101 [S] – Fundamentals of Microeconomics, 3 cr.
- EconS 102 [S] – Fundamentals of Macroeconomics, 3 cr.
- *CropS 102 – Crop Growth and Development, 4 cr. (cross listed as Hort 102)
- CropS 360 [I] – World Agricultural Systems, 3 cr. (cross listed as SoilS 360)
- *CRS 336 [S] – Agriculture, Environment and Community, 3 cr.
- *CRS 435 – Resolving Environmental Conflicts, 4 cr.
- FSHN 130 [B] – Nutrition for Living, 3 cr.
- *FSHN 220 – Food Safety and Quality, 3 cr.
- *NATRS 300 [B] – Natural Resource Ecology, 3 cr.
- SoilS 301 [M] – Ecological Soil Management, 3 cr.
- SoilS 441– Soil Fertility, 3cr.
- *SoilS 490– Composting, 2 cr.
<< Back to Degrees and Certificates
Highlight
New Online Business Major!
DDP's new international business major prepares students for success in the global economy.
Learn more.