Sustainable Agriculture Systems (B.S.)

DelVal has focused on sustainability for over a century. Founder Joseph Krauskopf lectured and published on conservation decades before the world understood its urgency. Now, caring for the planet is a rising global priority, and DelVal draws on that legacy to give you an in-depth, hands-on education focused on stewardship, profitability and quality of life.


The sustainable agriculture systems degree is an integrated program that includes the plant, animal, social and agribusiness components of a sustainable agriculture system. You will emerge from this program a trained steward of the land who can feed and clothe the world while caring for our planet’s fragile resources.

Sustainable agriculture is fresh innovation for an old way of life. It is a production system built on three principles:

  • Long-term profitability
  • Good stewardship of environmental resources
  • High quality of life for the farmer and community

You’ll experience true hands-on learning on the University’s more than 1,000 acres of land and multiple facilities:

  • The Roth Center for Sustainable Agriculture has been specifically dedicated as the living laboratory of the sustainable agriculture systems program. It provides space for your lab projects, class demonstrations, and faculty research.
  • More than 12,000 feet of modern greenhouse space and high tunnels.
  • A 60-acre arboretum on main campus with landscape plantings, specimens and gardens.

You also have the opportunity to gain practical experience in this diverse atmosphere through school-year and summer employment.

100%
real-world experience
Two hands holding soil
four students walking under trees on the DelVal campus
$28,000
average scholarship and grant amount awarded to freshmen in 2023-24
14:1
student to faculty ratio
college students in a classroom
Dr. Jaclyn Fiola in a soil pit with a shovel, smiling at the camera.
Influencer: Dr. Jaclyn Fiola

See how Dr. Fiola gets her hands dirty with our students to teach them all things soils.

Roth Center for Sustainable Agriculture Tour

roth farm video cover
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS AT-A-GLANCE

This comprehensive program includes diverse coursework for a complete understanding of sustainable agriculture systems.

Core Sustainable Agriculture Systems Courses:

  • Sustainability
  • Soils
  • Principles of Ecology
  • Botany of Vascular Plants
  • Principles of Sustainable Agriculture
  • Organic Food and Fiber
  • Integrated Pest Management
  • Agricultural Economics
  • Introduction to Animal Science
  • Animal Welfare
  • Food Sovereignty and Security

Recommended Minors

  • Agribusiness
  • Animal Science
  • Business Administration
  • Communication
  • Food Systems
  • One Health Communication
  • Policy Studies
  • Writing

Learn about the sustainable agriculture systems program

sustainable ag
A small group of college-aged students standing in a cranberry bog.
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The Experience360 Program gives you the opportunity to apply classroom lessons to real-world activities like internships, career exploration experiences, student research, study abroad, leadership development and more.

Career Paths

With 100 percent of our students having real-world, hands-on experience, graduates with a degree in sustainable agriculture systems are able to work in:

  • Food production and marketing
  • Food systems education and training
  • State and federal agencies
  • Agricultural research
  • Non-profit agricultural organizations
Collegiate Farm Bureau
Get Involved
Student Clubs & Organizations
  • -Dive into the issues that are most important to you in agriculture while learning from industry professionals!
  • -Explore the wide variety of career options within agriculture in this student organization!
  • -Connect with new friends who are interested in agriculture through Greek life!
  • -Connect with new friends who are interested in agriculture through Greek life!
  • -Work with other students to host our annual fair on campus!
Contact
Dr. Jacqueline A. Ricotta, Chair, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, Professor

Office: Feldman 115

A student planing seedlings in a field
A variety of seed packets.
Sustainable Agriculture
A small group of student holding garden tools.
Sustainable Agriculture