Urban Agroecology Certificate of Achievement
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.
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Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
1. Contribute to the development of locally-owned enterprises based in the production, processing,
distribution, and sale of fresh foods.
2. Develop and implement groundbreaking techniques for carrying out sustainable agriculture in conjunction
with ecosystem restoration.
3. Serve as educators in their own communities, inspiring and enabling others to contribute to our cities’
health and sustainability through personal choices.
4. Increase social equity by increasing employment, management, and ownership opportunities for the East
Bay’s most economically vulnerable residents.
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Certificate Curriculum
Required Courses: (17 units required; number of units in parentheses)
ENVMT 001 Environmental Careers (1)
ENVMT 002 Introduction to Sustainable Environmental Systems (3)
ENVMT 002L Introduction to Sustainable Environmental Systems Lab (1)
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 015 Environmental Biology (3)
BIOL 029 Introduction to Biodiversity (4)
BIOL 060C Natural History of the Bay Area: Herpetology (2)
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 011 Sustainable Urban and Regional Planning (3)
ENVMT 014 Environmental Impact Reports (2)
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
