Program Tracks
The Agroecology Program offers a Master's degree with two tracks.
- The Public Practice Option is a 3-semester program that trains facilitators to enable broader discussion and negotiation at the interfaces of agriculture and other sectors of society. The goal of this 'action-in-society' option is to train analysts to increase understanding about the roles of agricultural systems in multifunctional landscapes, and the public policy that shapes these roles. (See learning plan)
- The Research Option addresses the need for continued research and scholarship in order that discussions and negotiations are well informed. Students will have the opportunity to obtain experience in the scholarship of original research, culminating in the writing of a thesis. (See learning plan)
The two program tracks in summary are....
| Public Practice Option | Research Option | |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | Giving students the skills for engaging broad public discussion concerning the place of agriculture in a multifunctional landscape | Giving students the necessary interdisciplinary foundation for advanced agroecological research and scholarship |
| Course Work | Core curriculum; cross-training electives | Core curriculum; cross-raining electives based on thesis research |
| Major Product | Project | Thesis |
| Advising | Electives chosen through learning contract signed with Student Progress Committee; master's project carried out with Project Committee | Electives chosen with Thesis Committee; master's thesis conducted with Thesis Committee |
Our program aims to train analysts and researchers in a broadened vision of the possibilities of agriculture. Social, environmental, ethical and economic concerns are stimulating reconsideration of what is appropriate agricultural technology and how best to structure socioeconomic relationships. Great opportunity lies in our emerging appreciation of the power of conflict management, community development, and inclusive participatory processes to lead to wise and equitable decisions about agriculture. By coming to appreciate issues in context and through exposure to concepts of systems, ecology, and public process, our graduates will shape the evolution of a new agriculture.
