Learn how to produce food in a way that protects our soils, water, and air, how to manage biodiversity and habitat for the organisms we rely on to help us grow our food, and how to grow food in urban environments. This program will prime you for a professional career in shaping a more sustainable, food-secure future.
Why this program?
- Gain challenging, hands-on, and practical experience
- Tackle a range of environmental challenges within a single program
- Work toward a professional designation in your chosen field
Program information
Send details- Campus: Vancouver
- Faculty: Faculty of Land and Food Systems
- Degree: Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology
- Length 4 yrs
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Co-op
Yes
You can combine your studies with full-time, paid work at top local and international organizations.
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Honours
Yes
You can study intense specialization in a single field.
In the Sustainable Agriculture and Environment program, you’ll apply your thinking to a range of environmental challenges, including sustainable crop production, food security, biodiversity, soil and water resources management, and climate change. You can tailor your studies to focus on your particular interests too – whether they’re in agricultural production, integrated agro-ecosystem management, or plant or soil science.
Experiential learning and research
You’ll have a chance to integrate your classroom learning with real-world experience at the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at the UBC Farm, our rooftop garden, and community gardens across the city. You’ll also have opportunities to develop your research skills and build out your competencies through research experiences, internships and practicums, co-ops, and job placements.
Campus features
The Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm is an on-campus living laboratory for experiential learning. The UBC Farm is located on the Vancouver campus – virtually uniquely among North America research universities – and offers a wide range of interdisciplinary learning, research, and community programs.
Send detailsYour future
Graduates from the Sustainable Agriculture and Environment program are equipped to pursue a wide range of careers and may go on to earn any of the following professional designations:
- Professional Agrologist with the BC Institute of Agrologists (BCIA)
- Registered Professional Biologist with the College of Applied Biology
- Applied Biology Technician with the College of Applied Biology
- Professional Geoscientist with Engineers and Geoscientists of BC
Program requirements
English-language requirements
English is the language of instruction at UBC. All prospective students must demonstrate English-language competency prior to admission. There are numerous ways to meet the English Language Admission Standard.
General admission requirements
IB Diploma Programme
- Completed IB Diploma, including at least three Higher Level courses.
IB Certificate Courses
- IB Certificate courses (Standard and Higher Level) may be used in an admissions average if you are graduating from a recognized high school curriculum that can be used as your basis of admission.
- IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, do not satisfy the math requirement for admission to UBC’s science-based programs, the Faculty of Management, the UBC Sauder School of Business, or the Vancouver School of Economics.
Degree-specific requirements: Applied Biology
- IB Math Analysis and Approaches SL or HL, or IB Math Applications and Interpretations HL. (IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, are not acceptable.)
- One of IB Biology, IB Chemistry, or IB Physics
- Grade 11 or equivalent Chemistry
- Grade 11 or equivalent Physics (may be waived with grades of 5 in IB Chemistry and in your IB Mathematics course)
Note: Grade 11 Chemistry and Physics requirements listed are only relevant to students who are not completing the equivalent IB Diploma Chemistry and/or Physics courses.
For students studying outside of Canada, some examples of courses that may be accepted as Grade 11 equivalents are junior-level courses for American students, and IGCSE and O Level for those following British-patterned curricula.
Related courses
The following subject categories are particularly relevant for this degree. Consider taking courses in these areas in your junior year and senior year.
- Language Arts
- Mathematics and Computation
- Sciences
- Social Studies