The Major/Minor
This week’s featured program is the International Agricultural Development Major and Minor at the University of California Davis. From the website:
Are you interested in the ways that culture, economics and technology affect agriculture? Do you want to build your skills and knowledge to help produce and distribute food to the people of emerging economies? Students in the international agricultural development major learn about how to improve food production, nutrition, marketing and health in less technically advanced countries. Students in this major are trained in technical and societal areas of agriculture that can be applied to the problems of world hunger and health.
Depending on your personal interests and goals, you may choose one of two core tracks in the program. The social sciences core gives you a background in the social and cultural roots of hunger and poverty and prepares you to work with agencies and missions seeking to help hungry people. The natural sciences core prepares you to help make technological improvements to food production and distribution systems in less developed countries. At the upper division level, you’ll further refine your specialization by taking courses to support your goals in agricultural production, economic development, environmental issues, rural communities or trade and development in agricultural commodities.
In addition to completing coursework within the major, students must also demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language.
Two Interesting Courses
ARE 015 — Population, Environment & World Agriculture
Economic analysis of interactions among population, environment, natural resources and development of world agriculture. Introduces students to economic thinking about population growth, its causes and consequences for world food demand, and environmental and technological limits to increasing food supplies.
PLS 150 — Sustainability & Agroecosystem Management
Interdisciplinary analysis of agricultural production and food systems with primary emphasis on biophysical processes. General concepts governing the functioning of temperate and tropical agroecosystems in relation to resource availability, ecological sustainability, and socio-economic viability. Comparative ecological analyses of agroecosystems.
Five Possible Complementary Majors/Minors at the University of California Davis
Unique Opportunities within the Major/Minor
Students are encouraged to study abroad via major-related programs.
Sample Similar Programs
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- Iowa State University: International Agriculture Secondary Major and Minor
- Pennsylvania State University: International Agriculture Minor
- University of Minnesota: International Agriculture Minor