Course Curriculum

AFE students learn about one of Massachusetts' most traditional crops—apples—during a field trip to University of Massachusetts' Cold Spring Orchard Research and Education Center.

So far the AFE program has had its greatest impact for me in dispelling the romance and mythology of farming in America. Only when we acknowledge the present place of agriculture in American culture can we begin talking about what we want its status to be.

—Jody Biergiel (AFE '06)

Nutrition Science and Policy Core

The nutrition science and policy core provides students with an understanding of basic and applied nutrition in its broadest sense, including factors affecting food production, supply, and consumption. Courses in the area reflect the school's mission of integrating science and policy related to the food supply, with particular emphasis on environmental aspects of food systems.

The following courses are required:

• Fundamentals of Nutrition Science (NUTR 201)
• Nutrition in the Life Cycle (NUTR 301)
• Fundamentals of Policy Policy (NUTR 203)
• Agricultural Science and Policy I (NUTR 212) 
• Agricultural Science and Policy II (NUTR 213)
• Fundamentals of U.S. Agriculture  (NUTR 215)

Environmental Policy Analysis

Each student must take at least one course in environmental policy analysis, such as:

• Natural Resource Policy and Planning (UEP 263)
• Methods in Environmental Impact Assessment (UEP 267)
• Chemicals, Health and the Environment (UEP 281)
• Agriculture & Rural Development in Dev. Countries  (prerequisite, EIB E201 Introduction to Economic Theory) (EIB E243)
• Economic Development and the Environment (EIB E248)
• International Environmental Negotiations (DHP P251
• Elements of International Environmental Policy (DHP P250)

Food Policy and Programs

Each student must take at least one course in food policy, such as:

• Determinants of U.S. Food Policy (NUTR 303)
• Nutrition, Food Security, and Development (NUTR 304)
• Food and Nutrition Policy: Institutions, Analysis and Action (NUTR 319)
• Agriculture and Rural Development in Developing Countries (EIB E243)

Professional Skills Course

Each student must select at least one course that develops a professional skill in such areas as program monitoring and evaluation, GIS, non-profit management, epidemiology, or community organizing.

Directed Study

Each student must complete a directed study under the supervision of a faculty member.

Research Skills Core

The research skills core provides students with the knowledge to critically evaluate scientific studies, collect data using simple experimental designs, and perform basic statistical analyses of primary or secondary data sets.

The Research Skills Core includes:

• Statistical Methods in Nutrition Research I (Policy) (NUTR 207)
• Regression Analysis for Nutrition Policy (NUTR 307)
• Survey Research in Nutrition (NUTR 210); required of Ph.D. students only
• Nutrition Data Analysis  (NUTR 311); required of Ph.D. students only

In addition to these full courses, a standardized training in the ethical treatment of human subjects is a requirement for graduation.

Specialization

One of the most positive aspects of AFE is the flexibility for each student to mold a specialization around the academic and professional interests that motivate our individual visions of sustainable food systems.

—Nyssa Schloyer (AFE '06)

Each AFE student chooses to specialize in a topic area related to future employment. Examples of topic areas include agricultural development, community development and organizing, food risk assessment, and resource economics. The specialization requires a minimum of three courses. The professional skills course and directed study may be among the three specialization courses.

Participation in the Water: Systems, Science and Society (WSSS) program may serve as an approved specialization, with the added benefit of a professional certification.

Cross Registration

In addition to the courses offered at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, there are hundreds of cross registration possibilities within the many graduate programs at Tufts University, as well as at neighboring institutions in the Boston area, including Boston University, Brandeis University, and Boston College.

Sample schedules of recent students are available.