As consumer, industry, and society engagement with organic agriculture expands, the Certificate in Organic Agriculture provides undergraduate students excellent opportunities for learning on a variety of levels, including hands-on experiences. While the certificate focuses on the production and processing approaches that define organic agriculture, students can also explore other dimensions including economic, environmental, health, food systems, and policy. This interdisciplinary certificate can help UW students from various majors to develop employment opportunities in organic agriculture businesses (farm to fork), policy, public and non-governmental agency work, individual wellness and health initiatives, and sustainable development efforts.

How to Get in

Undergraduate students in any major from any school or college may earn this certificate. There are no prerequisite courses for declaring the certificate; however, there may be prerequisites for individual courses in the certificate. Students will be informed of these prerequisites through Guide and advised to fulfill those requirements. Students pursuing the program are encouraged to declare as early as possible so that they can best align the coursework with their interests.

Students wishing to declare the Certificate in Organic Agriculture must meet with one of the advisors (listed in the Contact Information box) to declare the certificate.

Students cannot declare the Certificate in Food Systems along with Certificate in Organic Agriculture.

Requirements

• Minimum of 15 credits and successful completion of all course requirements
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in certificate coursework is required
• Courses in which a student elects the pass/fail option will not count toward completion of requirements.

Certificate Completion Requirement

This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe the history of current organic systems and how it influences the way that organic farms and industries work.
2. Explore the biological, ecological, and agricultural underpinnings of organic production systems
3. Examine how organic systems, social initiatives, and regulations are developed and how they shape business activities, community development efforts, and human and environmental health outcomes.
4. Evaluate the benefits and limitations of organic systems, social initiatives, and regulations from environmental, social, economic, and racial justice perspectives
5. Apply knowledge of organic production through experiential opportunities within local, national and/or international communities.

Advising and Careers

Advising

Advising is an essential resource for students in the Certificate for Organic Agriculture and helps students shape their unique Wisconsin Experience and career path by making the most of their time at UW–Madison. Advisors can help students make well-informed decisions about coursework and academics, share strategies for success, support them as they encounter challenges, connect them to resources, and provide information about campus policies and procedures. Students are encouraged to regularly meet with their advisor to help ensure that they are aware of opportunities and are progressing in their academic and career goals.

Advising is typically done through individual in-person appointments, but advisors are also able to meet with students over the phone or through video conferencing if needed.  Quick questions can be answered via email, but an appointment should be scheduled if a conversation is needed.

Careers

The knowledge and skills developed through the Certificate in Organic Agriculture equip students for success in a range of career paths. Some certificate graduates may use this background to go into organic production, while others may choose a career path in relation to economics, policy, environmental stewardship, health, food systems, and beyond. This certificate has the potential to positively impact the employability of UW students across a variety of disciplines that intersect with organic agricultural production, policy, marketing, business, management, wellness, and community development.

Because an interest in organic agriculture can lead to many different careers, students are encouraged to begin the career exploration process early in their UW–Madison journey by working with advisors, faculty, and career resources on campus. These resources can help students reflect on their values and goals, identify career paths, and outline strategies for pursuing their goals.

Wisconsin Experience

Students who are engaged in the Certificate in Organic Agriculture can be involved in an array of opportunities across campus.  In addition to the hands-on experiences in the certificate program, students are highly encouraged to complement their coursework with out-of-classroom experiences such as research, volunteering, and study abroad.

The following opportunities can help students connect with other students interested in organic agriculture, build relationships with faculty and staff, and contribute to out-of-classroom learning:

• Association of Women in Agriculture
• GreenHouse Learning Community
• Women in Science and Engineering Learning Community
• The People's Farm
• Slow Food UW
• Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences - MANRRS
• CALS Study Abroad
• Badger Volunteers
• UW Student Organic Farm
• UW Organic Collaborative
• Badger Crops Club