SUSTAINABLY GROWING FARMERS OF THE FUTURE: Undergraduate Curriculum in Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Kentucky

In 2007, the University of Kentucky’s (UK’s) College of Agriculture (COA) established an undergraduate curriculum of sustainable agriculture as an individualized Bachelor of Science degree program. The curriculum aims to meet current and future needs for individuals with sustainable agriculture expertise, including trained farmers, technical consultants, and others. Three conceptual pillars of sustainability-environmental stewardship, economic profitability, and social responsibility-are integrated into the curriculum by requiring students to take courses from a range of disciplines: from plant and animal sciences to sociology, economics, and ethics. Faculty members from multiple departments serve as instructors and advisers to students. Through this multidisciplinary curriculum, students are expected to develop in-depth foundational knowledge, analytical tools, and critical evaluation skills grounded in a holistic understanding of agriculture systems.