The Urban Agroecology Certificate of Achievement trains students in the skills and practices of urban agriculture, focusing on ecologically restorative food production, project planning, and small-scale enterprise development.
Graduates of the program will be prepared for entry-level employment in the local urban agriculture industry or non-profit organizations.
Students in the Urban Agroecology program will:
- Learn the principles of sustainable farming and food systems in the urban environment.
- Plan and design home, school, and community gardens and farms.
- Find out about food production, food access in under-served communities, and the public health implications of food distribution.
- Get hands-on training to work for the following: Small-scale farm enterprises, non-profit organizations
relating to food and public health, and food policy organizations.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Contribute to the development of locally-owned enterprises based in the production, processing,
distribution, and sale of fresh foods. - Develop and implement groundbreaking techniques for carrying out sustainable agriculture in conjunction
with ecosystem restoration. - Serve as educators in their own communities, inspiring and enabling others to contribute to our cities’
health and sustainability through personal choices. - Increase social equity by increasing employment, management, and ownership opportunities for the East
Bay’s most economically vulnerable residents.
Certificate Curriculum
Required Courses
17 units required; number of units in parentheses
- ENVMT 001 Environmental Careers (1)
- ENVMT 002 Introduction to Sustainable Environmental Systems (4)
- ENVMT 003 Social Issues in Agriculture (3)
- ENVMT 005 Bay Area Food Culture (3)
- ENVMT 035 Introduction to Urban Agroecology (3)
- ENVMT 012 or AFRAM 38 Environmental Racism and Justice (3)
Major Electives
Select any combination of courses for a minimum of five (5) units from the following:
- ENVMT 016 Introduction to Healthy Community Systems (3)
- LANHT 028A Permaculture Design I (3)
- LANHT 045A Mushroom Cultivation I (2)
- LANHT 076 Edible Landscaping (3)
- LANHT 077 Crop Production, Marketing and Sales (1.5)
- NUTR 031 Food-Production Systems (3)
Interdisciplinary Electives
Select any combination of courses for a minimum of two (2) units from the following:
- BIOL 005 Botany (4)
- BIOL 015 Environmental Biology (3)
- BIOL 029 Introduction to Biodiversity (4)
- BIOL 061H Natural History of the Bay Area: Butterflies and Moths (2)
- COPED 476F Occupational Work Experience in Environmental Management and Technology (3)
- ENVMT 008 Introduction to Outdoor Education (3)
- ENVMT 014 Environmental Impact Reports (2)
- ENVMT 39C Introduction to GIS (4)
- ENVMT 044 Introduction to Creek and Watershed Restoration: General Aspects (3)
- ENVMT 055 Principles of Conservation and Land Management (3)
- ENVMT 056 Management of Public Parks and Natural Resources (3)
- ENVMT 057 Park Operations Practices and Skills (4)
- GEOG 001 Physical Geography (3)
- GEOL 021 Bay Area Field Studies (1)
- LANHT 002 Plant Materials: Tree ID and Culture with Lab (Day) (3)
- LANHT 002E Plant Materials: Tree ID and Culture (Evening) (3)
- LANHT 005A Plant Materials: Fall Native Plant ID and Culture with Lab (Day) (3)
- LANHT 005B Plant Materials: Spring Native Plant ID and Culture with Lab (Day) (3)
- LANHT 005EA Plant Materials: Fall Native Plant ID and Culture (Evening) (3)
- LANHT 005EB Plant Materials: Spring Native Plant ID and Culture (Evening) (3)
- LANHT 010 Insect Pests (3)
- LANHT 016 Soil Management (3)
- LANHT 023 Plant Terminology (2.5)
- LANHT 045A Mushroom Cultivation I (2)
- LANHT 050 Plant Taxonomy (3)
- LANHT 081 Arborist Equipment Fundamentals (2)
- NATAM 076E California Indian Ecology on the Central Coast (1.5)
Total units required for Certificate: 24
Model Curriculum
The following table provides a suggested sequence of courses through which a student could earn the Certificate within 2 years:
Semester 1 (Fall Year 1)
| Course | Units |
| ENVMT 1 | 1 |
| ENVMT 5 | 3 |
| Major Elective | 3 |
| Total Semester Units | 7 |
| Total Units Completed To Date | 7 |
Semester 2 (Spring Year 1)
| Course | Units |
| ENVMT 2/2L | 4 |
| ENVMT 35 | 3 |
| Total Semester Units | 8 |
| Total Units Completed To Date | 15 |
Semester 3 (Fall Year 2)
| Course | Units |
| ENVMT 12 | 3 |
| Interdisciplinary Elective | 2 |
| Total Semester Units | 5 |
| Total Units Completed To Date | 20 |
Semester 4 (Spring Year 2)
| Course | Units |
| ENVMT 3 | 3 |
| Major Elective | 2 |
| Total Semester Units | 5 |
| Total Units Completed To Date | 25 |
To view the Spring courses available, click HERE, and to apply and/or enroll, click HERE. For questions, contact NHS Program Director Brad Balukjian at bbalukjian@peralta.edu
