X. Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture [B.Sc.(Agr.)]

Organic Agriculture (OAGR)

Department of Plant Agriculture and School of Environmental Sciences

The Major in Organic Agriculture encompasses agroecology, food safety and security, land stewardship, animal welfare, environmental health, and sustainable rural communities. It offers an integrated systems approach to the design and operation of crop and livestock production systems that are socially responsible, ecologically sound and economically sustainable. The program combines core courses in life sciences and modern agricultural practice with in depth analysis of organic production systems, soil and nutrient management, pest management and farm economies. Linkages between profitability and sustainability are explored through independent and group research projects, experiential learning, field trips and opportunities for study abroad. In addition to the core courses, students can incorporate experiential learning and independent research courses focusing on social, economic and scientific aspects of organic agriculture and sustainability to their program of studies. This innovative and flexible program will provide the knowledge and skills you will need for career success in this dynamic sector.

Semester 1

AGR*1110 [1.00] Introduction to the Agrifood Systems
BIOL*1050 [0.50] Biology of Plants & Animals in Managed Ecosystems
CHEM*1040 [0.50] General Chemistry I
MATH*1080 [0.50] Elements of Calculus I

Semester 2

AGR*2050 [0.50] Agroecology
BIOL*1090 [0.50] Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology
CHEM*1050 [0.50] General Chemistry II
FARE*1400 [1.00] Economics of the Agri-Food System

Semester 3

AGR*2320 [0.50] Soils in Agroecosystems
AGR*2350 [0.50] Animal Production Systems, Health and Industry
AGR*2470 [0.50] Introduction to Plant Agriculture
FARE*2700 [0.50] Survey of Natural Resource Economics
MBG*2400 [0.50] Fundamentals of Plant and Animal Genetics

Semester 4

ENVS*2040 [0.50] Plant Health and the Environment
OAGR*2070 [1.00] Introduction to Organic Agriculture
STAT*2040 [0.50] Statistics I
0.50 electives or restricted electives

Semester 5 to 8

Students must choose either Option A (Production and Management) or B (Research).

Option A- Production and Management

Semester 5
FOOD*3090 [0.50] Food Science and Human Nutrition
2.00 electives or restricted electives
Semester 6

2.50 electives or restricted electives

Semester 7
OAGR*4050 [1.00] Design of Organic Production Systems
1.50 electives or restricted electives
Semester 8
AGR*4600 [1.00] Agriculture and Food Issues Problem Solving
1.50 electives or restricted electives
Restricted Electives - Option A

Students should note that some restricted electives require other courses not included among the required courses for the major as prerequisites. Students should consult the most recent undergraduate calendar for specific requirements.

  1. A minimum of 1.00 credits from the list:

    AGR*2500 [0.50] Field Course in International Agriculture
    AGR*3010 [0.50] Special Studies in Agricultural Science I
    AGR*3450 [0.50] Research Methods in Agricultural Science
    AGR*3500 [0.50] Experiential Education I
    ANSC*4230 [0.50] Challenges and Opportunities in Animal Production
    ANSC*4610 [0.50] Critical Analysis in Animal Science
    CROP*4260 [0.50] Crop Science Field Trip
    EDRD*2020 [0.50] Interpersonal Communication
    EDRD*3050 [0.50] Agricultural Communication I
    EDRD*3140 [0.50] Organizational Communication
    FARE*3310 [0.50] Operations Management
    FARE*4220 [0.50] Advanced Agribusiness Management
    FARE*4310 [0.50] Resource Economics
    FARE*4360 [0.50] Marketing Research
    FARE*4550 [0.50] Independent Studies I
  2. Students must select a minimum of 3.50 credits from the following lists:

    Minimum of 2.50 credits from the following list

    ANSC*2340 [0.50] Structure of Farm Animals
    ANSC*3120 [0.50] Introduction to Animal Nutrition
    ANSC*3210 [0.50] Introduction to Animal Nutrition
    CROP*3300 [0.50] Grain Crops
    CROP*3310 [0.50] Protein and Oilseed Crops
    CROP*3340 [0.50] Managed Grasslands
    CROP*4220 [0.50] Cropping Systems
    CROP*4240 [0.50] Weed Science
    ENVS*2340 [0.50] Current Issues in Agriculture and Landscape Mgmt
    ENVS*3080 [0.50] Soil and Water Conservation
    ENVS*3210 [0.50] Plant Pathology
    ENVS*4090 [0.50] Soil Management
    ENVS*4100 [0.50] Integrated Management of Invasive Insect Pests
    ENVS*4160 [0.50] Soil and Nutrient Management
    HORT*3510 [0.50] Vegetable Production
    HORT*4420 [0.50] Fruit Crops
    PBIO*3110 [0.50] Crop Physiology
    PBIO*4100 [0.50] Soil Plant Relationships

    A minimum of 0.50 credits from the following list:

    EDRD*3400 [0.50] Sustainable Communities
    GEOG*3320 [0.50] Food Systems: Issues in Security and Sustainability
    PHIL*2070 [0.50] Philosophy of the Environment

    Students may also take the following courses:

    ACCT*2220 [0.50] Financial Accounting
    BIOC*2580 [0.50] Introduction to Biochemistry
    BOT*2100 [0.50] Life Strategies of Plants
    ECON*1050 [0.50] Introductory Microeconomics
    ECON*1100 [0.50] Introductory Macroeconomics
    ECON*2310 [0.50] Intermediate Microeconomics
    FARE*2410 [0.50] Agrifood Markets and Policy
    MBG*2040 [0.50] Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics
    MBG*3060 [0.50] Quantitative Genetics
    NUTR*3210 [0.50] Fundamentals of Nutrition
  3. A minimum of 7.00 credits must be at the 3000 level or higher, of which 5.00 credits must be in agricultural science and of which 3.50 credits must be at the 4000 level. Refer to Program Counsellor for list of agricultural science courses.

  4. A humanities or social science courses (0.50 credits) at the 1000-level or above from the College of Arts or College of Social and Applied Human Sciences. See Program Counsellor for acceptable list of courses.

Option B - Research

Semester 5
AGR*3450 [0.50] Research Methods in Agricultural Science
FOOD*3090 [0.50] Food Science and Human Nutrition
1.50 electives or restricted electives
Semester 6
2.50 electives or restricted electives
Semester 7
AGR*4450 [1.00] Research Project I
OAGR*4050 [1.00] Design of Organic Production Systems
0.50 electives or restricted electives
Semester 8
AGR*4460 [1.00] Research Project II
1.50 electives or restricted electives
Restricted Electives - Option B

Students should note that some restricted electives require other courses not included among the required courses for the major as prerequisites. Students should consult the most recent undergraduate calendar for specific requirements.

  1. Students in Option B must select a minimum of 3.50 credits from the following lists:

    Minimum of 2.50 credits from the following list:

    ANSC*2340 [0.50] Structure of Farm Animals
    ANSC*3120 [0.50] Introduction to Animal Nutrition
    ANSC*3210 [0.50] Introduction to Animal Nutrition
    CROP*3300 [0.50] Grain Crops
    CROP*3310 [0.50] Protein and Oilseed Crops
    CROP*3340 [0.50] Managed Grasslands
    CROP*4220 [0.50] Cropping Systems
    CROP*4240 [0.50] Weed Science
    ENVS*2340 [0.50] Current Issues in Agriculture and Landscape Mgmt
    ENVS*3080 [0.50] Soil and Water Conservation
    ENVS*3210 [0.50] Plant Pathology
    ENVS*4090 [0.50] Soil Management
    ENVS*4100 [0.50] Integrated Management of Invasive Insect Pests
    ENVS*4160 [0.50] Soil and Nutrient Management
    HORT*3510 [0.50] Vegetable Production
    HORT*4420 [0.50] Fruit Crops
    PBIO*3110 [0.50] Crop Physiology
    PBIO*4100 [0.50] Soil Plant Relationships
    A minimum of 0.50 credits from the following list:
    EDRD*3400 [0.50] Sustainable Communities
    GEOG*3320 [0.50] Food Systems: Issues in Security and Sustainability
    PHIL*2070 [0.50] Philosophy of the Environment
    Students may also take the following courses as restricted electives:
    ACCT*2220 [0.50] Financial Accounting
    BIOC*2580 [0.50] Introduction to Biochemistry
    BOT*2100 [0.50] Life Strategies of Plants
    ECON*1050 [0.50] Introductory Microeconomics
    ECON*1100 [0.50] Introductory Macroeconomics
    ECON*2310 [0.50] Intermediate Microeconomics
    FARE*2410 [0.50] Agrifood Markets and Policy
    MBG*2040 [0.50] Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics
    MBG*3060 [0.50] Quantitative Genetics
    NUTR*3210 [0.50] Fundamentals of Nutrition
  2. A minimum of 7.00 credits must be at the 3000 level or higher, of which 5.00 credits must be in agricultural science and of which 3.50 credits must be at the 4000 level. Refer to Program Counsellor for list of agricultural science courses.

  3. A humanities or social science courses (0.50 credits) at the 1000-level or above from the College of Arts or College of Social and Applied Human Sciences. See Program Counsellor for acceptable list of courses.

University of Guelph
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
Canada
519-824-4120