Apr 19, 2024  
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]


Urban Food Systems Graduate Certificate



This 12-credit interdisciplinary graduate certificate in Urban Food Systems (UFS) is designed for graduate students and professionals that wish to demonstrate proficiency in UFS. Through the 6-credits of core courses and 6-credits of electives students will learn:

  • a systems perspective to understand the urban environment and its cultural, political, environmental, and economic roles in urban food systems
  • the inter-relationships within urban food systems, specifically among diet, food production, the environment, climate, and public health
  • approaches to urban food crop production
  • selected skills (grant writing, fundraising, non-profit management, advocacy, communication, evidence-based decision rules) as a community organizer, educator, or leader in urban food systems.

This program can be completed online and on-campus. Students will interact regularly with each other and leaders in the field.

Admission Requirements


Current K-State graduate students who want to pursue the certificate should contact the Program Director for guidance on filling out a plan for completing the certificate.

Certificate only students must apply to the certificate program through the online graduate admissions application process. When asked to Select a Degree Program choose “Graduate Certificate” for degree and “Urban Food Systems – Graduate Certificate” for program. The program will be listed under the Interdisciplinary tab. Once your application is set up, you will be asked to provide the following documents that you will upload to the online application and pay the application fee:

  • Statement of Purpose (1-2 pages) describing your interest in urban food systems, your objectives in pursuing this certificate, and plans for completion of the program requirements. The Statement of Purpose is an important component of your application.
  • Copies of all transcripts. If accepted, you will need to provide “official” transcripts to the Graduate School.
  • One letter of reference from your supervisor, advisor, or a professor that can address your ability to succeed in Graduate School. You will provide the name and e-mail address and the online system will email that person and provide them with a link.

To qualify, students must have:

  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
  • GPA of 3.0 or higher in the final two years of undergraduate study or approximately the last 60 credit hours
  • Computer proficiency sufficient to complete the online course work
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores for students whose native language is not English. Acceptable TOEFL score is 550 (paper-based test), or 79 (IBT-internet-based test).

Students not meeting the requirements above may be admitted on a provisional basis at the discretion of the certificate faculty if the student has demonstrated adequate preparation in this or an equivalent field and has successfully completed projects of equivalent difficulty.

Graduation Requirements


The Graduate Certificate in Urban Food Systems consists of 12 credit hours with 6 credits of core courses and 6 credits of elective courses.

Elective Courses (6 credits): Select from the following:


Total Hours Required: 12