TRANSFORM SOCIETY THROUGH AGROECOLOGY 

Fully online university accredited courses for community-based learners, professionals & graduate students

Our graduate and professional educational programming focuses on equipping students with the knowledge and competencies to transform food systems and society through agroecology. Rooted in theory from popular education and Participatory Action Research (PAR), our programs examine potential pathways, through agroecology, towards the transformation of food systems by integrating economic, social, and ecological perspectives.​  

These learning programs are designed for community-based learners, professionals & graduate students and provide unique opportunities to learn from and connect to UVM’s international work on transformative agroecology. UVM Graduate Students can enroll in any of these courses through the Graduate Course Catalogue. Graduate students from other institutions or professionals seeking non-credit registration, please contact Emily Hoyler at UVM’s Institute for Agroecology with questions and to enroll. 

Our courses use interactive and creative approaches to teaching that focus on creating learning communities amongst diverse cohorts of students, often participating from different geographies of the world. By learning through case studies, exploring the latest theoretical approaches, hearing from leading agroecologists as guest speakers and through meaningful projects and assignments, we aim to inspire, inform and skill-up students to become agents of change for a more just and sustainable food system.

  • In this program, you will:

    • Learn from examples of agroecology from around the world to draw lessons learned and to find inspiration
    • Learn directly from agroecology researchers and actionists working actively on in local, national and international contexts​ 
    • Explore and develop your own practice as an agent of change  
    • Integrate ecological, social, political and economic perspectives while investigating contemporary problems in our agrifood system​ 
    • Live in your own foodshed while learning lessons you can apply anywhere​ 
    • Connect theory to practice as part of a diverse and inclusive learning community​ 
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Choose Your Pathway

Full Certificate Program

Full Certificate Program: Our 15-credit, one-year Certificate of Graduate Study in Agroecology (CGSA) combines ecological, social, and economic perspectives in the pursuit of practical solutions to contemporary problems in our food system. The coursework consists of four foundational classes, and a final synthesis capstone course.

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Micro-Certificate Program

Micro-Certificate Program: Our 9-credit microcertificate of Graduate Study in Agroecology provides students with the fundamentals of agroecology with a smaller commitment of time. Starting with the required foundational course (Transformative Agroecology) students can then choose two additional courses from our course offerings based on their needs and interests.

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Stand-Alone Courses

Stand-Alone Courses: Professionals can also enroll in any of our individual courses to skill up on a particular area of agroecology.

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Instructors

Colin Anderson, PhD

Co-director, Institute for Agroecology

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Martha Caswell, M.P.P.

Co-director, Institute for Agroecology

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Katie Horner, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute for Agroecology

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Nils McCune, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences

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Ernesto Méndez, PhD

Co-director, Institute for Agroecology

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AT A GLANCE

  • Full Certificate or Micro Certificate Options
  • Standalone Courses for or not for credit
  • Fully online
  • For graduate students and professionals

Application Process

Request Information

Interested in learning more about the UVM Institute for Agroecology's courses and programs? Please fill out the form below and we will contact you.




 

 

"The courses I took for the Graduate Certificate in Agroecology at UVM were among the most thought-provoking I experienced, deeply embedded in principles of social and ecological justice. The program fostered a close-knit learning community that significantly enriched my understanding of sustainable food systems and community-based practices."

- Maya M., Former Student

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