Agriculture and Natural Resources major

The course introduces organic and sustainable farming, including the history and scientific foundations, common practices, regulations, economics and contemporary issues surrounding the organic food industry. Students will actively participate in growing crops on our Newark Farm. Professors teach the underlying biological, chemical and physical processes involved, organic certification, common field practices and the advantages and disadvantages of organics compared to conventional farming.

Providing a broad overview of today’s agriculture, course topics include diversified agricultural industries, food supply, government impact on food and fiber, the importance and impact of technology, climate, social media and workforce preparation. Through field trips, students interact with unique and diverse agriculture industry representatives throughout the region.

Instructors introduce the concept of One Health — the integration of human, animal and environmental health. The ultimate goal of One Health is prevention and early intervention, moving upstream of a health problem.  Class discussion covers worldwide animal production practices, habitat destruction and other human activities, environmental changes, and the incidence of zoonotic outbreaks. Students focus on bacterial, viral and fungal zoonotic and emerging diseases like COVID-19, agriculture and the use and misuse of antibiotics in animal and human health. 

Students finish the major with a culminating and integrative experience that examines critical issues facing the agriculture and natural resource fields.