Program Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Agroecology prepares students in a diversity of fields to qualify them for work in sustainable agriculture, sustainable development, natural resources management, or food policy. It can also lead them to continue their education in graduate school and pursue careers in academia. The coursework outlined in this program provides a wide-ranging foundation in the course offerings of the School of Agriculture, as well as other departments.

Program Objectives

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Agroecology students will be able to:

  1. Design a farm or agricultural operation according to ecological principles.
  2. Explain the varied perspectives and definitions of agroecology.
  3. Identify the most serious threats to agricultural production in the future and the agroecological responses to these.
  4. Assess the potential impacts of agricultural expansion in the Virgin Islands, the benefits and the risks.
  5. Contrast the agroecological perspectives on conventional agriculture, organic agriculture, permaculture, and other alternative production systems.
  6. Integrate social, environmental, and economic concerns to produce recommendations for how agriculture in the Virgin Islands should expand.
  7. Adapt the international agroecological perspective to the Caribbean.
  8. Incorporate the concept of food sovereignty into Virgin Islands agricultural practices.
  9. Recommend scientific studies and practices that can meet the social, economic, and environmental demands of future agricultural development.  

Graduation Requirements

Bachelor of Science Degree: Agroecology (120 - 122 Credits)

Students in the BS program in Agroecology will fulfill General Education requirements outlined for the BS degree by: taking Freshman Studies courses (if required), taking a proscribed set of 3 humanities courses and 9 additional humanities credits to fulfill the 18 credit humanities requirement, taking 15 credits of proscribed science and math courses, and taking 9 credits of social sciences. Total credits earned must add to 120 credits. Other Requirements*.

A.    General Education Requirements                                                                                                          54 credits

B.     Agroecology Requirements                                                                                                                       50-53 credits

C.    Elective Courses                                                                                                                                                 13 credits

Total                                                                                                                                                                                    120-122 credits

*Other Requirements (2 Credits): Students are required to take 0.5 credit hour in Physical Education for every semester they are full-time students up to the required two credits. PLS 200 may be used to meet this requirement.

English Proficiency Examination

Computer Literacy Examination

Paradigm (Degree Plan)

First Year (Semester 1)

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
§ FDS Freshman Development Seminar 1
ENG 120 English Composition 3
MAT 140/ MAT 143 College Algebra/Pre-Calculus Algebra

4
BIO 141 General Biology I

4
AGR 101 Introoduction to Agriculture

3
   

Total: 15

First Year (Semester 2)

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
§ SSC 100 An Introduction to the Social Sciences 3
§ SCI 100 The Natural World: The Caribbean  3
BIO 142 General Biology II 4
  Humanities 3
AGR 225 Tropical Agroecology 3
    Total: 16

Second Year (Semester 3)

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
COM 119 Interpersonal Communciation and Leadership Skills 3
ENG 201 Research and Applied Writing 3
CHE 111 Principles of Chemistry for the Life Sciences I 4
  Social Sciences 3
  Humanities 3
    Total: 15

Second Year (Semester 4)

Course Number Course name Credit Hours
MAT 235 Introduction to Statistics with Applications 4
AGR 125 Plant Science 3
AGR 202 Agronomy 4
AGR 220 Soil Science 4
    Total: 15

Third Year (Semester 5)

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
AGR 201 Agricultural Economics 3
AGR 250 Forest and Nursery Management 3
AGR 341 Organic Farming 3
  Social Sciences 3
  Humanities 3
AGR 112 Careers in Agriculture 1
    Total: 16

Third Year (Semester 6)

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
AGR 223 Agricultural Policy and Reforms 3
AGR 230 Integrated Pest Management 3
  Social Sciences 3
  Elective 3
  Elective 4
    Total: 16

Fourth Year (Semester 7)

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
AGR 402 Advanced Agroecology 3
AGR 255 Agriculture Internship 3
AGR 340 Weed Science and Management 3
  Social Sciences 3
  Elective 3
    Total: 15

Fourth Year (Semester 8)

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
AGR 315 Climate Change and Agriculture 3
AGR 410 Plant Pathology 3
AGR 450 Special Topics on Agricultural Research 2
  Elective 3
    Total: 11

§: Required for all freshman students matriculating into the university with less than 24 credits.