Organic and Sustainable Agriculture
Explore the Possibilities
This program provides students with hands-on experiences in the classroom, the field, and through internships at industry or government sites related to each student’s area of interest.
The growth of the organic food and natural product markets has created the need for highly-educated employees who understand the unique production, processing, and marketing approaches used in organic and sustainable agriculture.
AFS Degree
The Agricultural and Food Systems degree focuses on vital aspects of food systems ranging from plant and animal production to agricultural markets, sustainability, and access to healthy food. In AFS, you will learn the science informing practice, policy, and consumer behavior in a wide range of careers in agriculture and food systems.
Career Opportunities
- Organic and Regenerative Farmer or Rancher
- Organic Certification Specialist or Inspector
- Organic and Regenerative Farming Consultant or Specialist
- Sustainable Food Restaurateur
- Sustainable Products Purchaser
- Agricultural Researcher
Quick Facts
Major Requirements
Minimum Total Credits: 120 credits
Your program may include different courses. Consult with your advisor about the best combination and order of courses for you. Visit the WSU Catalog for a list of required courses for this major and course descriptions.
General Education Requirements: 40 credits
AFS Core Requirements: 24 credits
- AFS 201: System Skills Development for AFS – 3 credits
- ANIM_SCI 101: Intro to Animal Science or FS 110: Intro to Food Science – 3 credits
- BIOLOGY 106: Intro to Organismal Biology, BIOLOGY 107: Cell Biology & Genetics, or BIOLOGY 120: Botany – 3 credits
- CHEM 102: Principles of Chemistry II – 3 credits
- CROP_SCI/HORT 102: Cultivated Plants – 3 credits
- ECONS 350: Intro to Farm & Ranch Management or ECONS 352: Business Management Economics – 3 credits
- SOIL_SCI 201: Soil: A Living System – 3 credits
- System Based Courses – 3 credits
OSA Core Requirements: 45 credits
- AFS 336: Agriculture, Environment, & Community – 3 credits
- AFS 350: From Farm to Table: Food Systems of Western Washington – 3 credits
- AFS 445: Field Analysis of Sustainable Food Systems – 3 credits
- CROP_SCI/HORT 202: Crop Growth & Development – 4 credits
- CROP_SCI 305: Ecology & Management of Weeds – 3 credits
- CROP_SCI 403: Advanced Cropping Systems – 3 credits
- ENTOM 351: Ecological & Integrated Pest Management – 3 credits
- PL_P 429: General Plant Pathology – 3 credits
- SOIL_SCI 101: Organic Gardening & Farming – 3 credits
- SOIL_SCI 303: Organic & Sustainable Agricultural Certifications – 2 credits
- SOIL_SCI 441: Soil Fertility – 3 credits
- SOIL_SCI 443: Soil Mgmt. for Sustainable & Organic Farming Systems – 3 credits
- SOIL_SCI 478: Advanced Organic Farming & Gardening – 2 credits
- SOIL_SCI 479: Organic Farm & Garden Field Management – 2 credits
- SOIL_SCI 480: Practicum in Organic Agriculture – 2 credits
- SOIL_SCI 498: Professional Internship – 3 credits
Electives: 11 credits
The Organic Agriculture Program in Everett taught me about sustainable food production and major cropping systems in western Washington. It prepared me for a MS in Horticulture and gave me the opportunity to gain research and field experience.
Brenda Madrid Martinez, Pacific Northwest Research Agronomist, Driscoll’s
