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:
Each student must take at least one course in environmental policy analysis, such as:
Each student must take at least one course in food policy, such as:
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.
In addition to these full courses, a standardized training in the ethical treatment of human subjects is a requirement for graduation.
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.