Graduate Specialization in EFFS

The Graduate Specialization in Ecological Food and Farming Systems (EFFS) is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in graduate degree programs at Michigan State University. The EFFS Specialization is designed to foster an understanding of biogeochemical and socioeconomic, and policy concepts, using experiential learning within the individual's program of study as a venue for exploring multidisciplinary work.

Each student's graduate committee will be required to include at least one faculty member from the biological sciences and one from the social sciences. Students are encouraged to participate in either an overseas course in an EFFS related topic, or an EFFS course with international focus to gain an international perspective.

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources in cooperation with the Departments of Crop and Soil Sciences; Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies; Entomology, and Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics participate in the Specialization in EFFS. The Department of Crop and Soil Sciences is the primary administrative unit for the program.

Requirements for the Specialization in Ecological Food and Farming Systems

The student's program of study for the specialization must be approved by the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences in advance and in writing. With the approval of the department that administers the student's degree program, courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the specialization may also be used to satisfy the requirements for a graduate degree. The student must meet the requirements specified below:

• Fundamentals of Ecological Food and Farming Systems (7 credits):
  • ACR 811 Community, Food and Agriculture: A Survey - 3 credits
  • CSS 442 Agricultural Ecology - 3 credits
  • CSS 892B Ecological Food and Farming Systems Seminar - 1 credits
• One of the following agricultural science courses (3 credits):
  • CSS 424 Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Capstone 3 credits
  • CSS 431 International Agricultural Systems 3 credits
  • CSS 893 Sustainable Agriculture Field Methods 3 credits
  • ENT 479 Organic Pest Management 3 credits
  • ENT 848 Biological Control of Insects and Weeds 3 credits

International courses can be considered in place of the selective agricultural science course on approval of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences.

• One of the following social science courses (3 credits):
  • ACR 854 Social Movements in Agriculture 3 credits
  • ACR 891B Issues in Organic Agriculture 2 (can repeat) credits
  • ACR 823 Contemporary Issues in Animal and Human Relationships 3 credits
  • ACR 853 Industrialization of American Agriculture 3 credits
  • AEC 861 Agriculture in Economic Development 3 credits
  • ANP 858 Gender, Justice, and Environmental Change: Issues and Concepts 3 credits
  • GEO 410 The Geography of Food and Agriculture 3 credits

International courses can be considered in place of the selective social science course on approval of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences.