Program Details | Sustainable Food Systems

Admissions Timeline
Total Credits	Estimated resident cost	Estimated Washington border cost	Estimated non-resident cost
18	$11,781	$12,771	$16,209
Program cost estimates are based on 2025/26 PSU tuition and fees only. This chart is provided to help you estimate the minimum tuition and fees for program completion. Additional fees may apply depending on the course of study that you choose to pursue and the specific courses for which you enroll, so you may also find it useful to review detailed tuition and fee information and the full cost of attendance for PSU programs. Financial aid and scholarship options may be available to offset program costs. Visit COE Scholarships for specific details on how to qualify and apply.

Admissions Timeline

Total Credits

Estimated resident cost

Estimated Washington border cost

Estimated non-resident cost

$11,781

$12,771

$16,209

Program cost estimates are based on 2025/26 PSU tuition and fees only. This chart is provided to help you estimate the minimum tuition and fees for program completion. Additional fees may apply depending on the course of study that you choose to pursue and the specific courses for which you enroll, so you may also find it useful to review detailed tuition and fee information and the full cost of attendance for PSU programs.

Financial aid and scholarship options may be available to offset program costs. Visit COE Scholarships for specific details on how to qualify and apply.

Curriculum

The graduate certificate in Sustainable Food Systems offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and transforming the complex relationships among food, health, environment, and society. Students explore diverse theoretical frameworks and ways of knowing, including non-Western perspectives, and examine systems of power and privilege that shape local and global food systems. Through community and field-based learning, participants apply their studies in real-world contexts such as urban farms, policy projects, or internships. Coursework integrates insights from environmental science, public health, urban planning, and political ecology to highlight the interconnected nature of food systems. Students also evaluate strategies for addressing food system challenges and complete an elective tailored to their professional goals, preparing them to advance equity and sustainability in their communities and careers.

Course descriptions

For full course descriptions, please consult the Bulletin or Class Schedule.

Program format

Modality

Flexible: This program includes options for in-person, hybrid, and online coursework. Students can choose to register for only online classes or mix and match modalities on a class-by-class basis.

Part-time or Full-time

Time to completion: 1 - 2 years

Scheduling

Variable: Classes are held both during daytime and late afternoon/evening hours. Experiential learning options generally require daytime hours.

Weekly Estimated Time Commitment

The PSU Credit Hour Policy defines 1 credit hour as requiring a minimum of 3 hours of student time per week over the course of the term. PSU operates on the quarter system, and terms last 10 weeks.

Graduate school is a big commitment; please consider this information as a starting tool to help you gain a sense of the time commitment. Students learn differently and you may find that it takes you more time to complete the coursework on a weekly basis. Generally, a graduate program is more intensive and should require more time on homework than undergraduate courses; therefore, we recommend planning for more time than the minimum.

In the certificate program, students have the flexibility to design a plan of study that fits their individual goals and schedules. Most students maintain employment while completing the program and typically enroll in 4–9 credits per term, adjusting their course load as needed. There is no requirement to register every term. Students who choose to participate in an optional internship experience should also plan for approximately 30 hours of daytime engagement over the course of a term.

Program of Study

Self-paced: This program is self-paced, meaning that students can take most or all courses on their own schedule, attend full-time, part-time or change their enrollment on a term-by-term basis. Classes follow the regular PSU academic calendar structure. Field experiences and related coursework/seminars may require a set sequence/pacing. All classes must be completed within 7 years of beginning the program.

Choose one course for each of the six learning outcomes:

Outcome 1: Theoretical Frameworks/Ways of Knowing Identify multiple frameworks and ways of knowing: Students will describe the complex and broad range of theories and perspectives, including non-Western epistemologies/traditions/ways of knowing, that exist in the sustainable food systems movement.	CR
GEOG 549 Geography of Food	4
HIST 592 Research in World History: World of Commodities	4
PHE 528 Stress, Food, & Health	4
PHE 522 Health and Social Inequalities	3
Outcome 2: Power and Privilege Explain systems of power and privilege in food systems: Students will give examples of how power and privilege affect the contemporary food system.	CR
ELP 548 Advanced Global Political Ecology	4
GEOG 549 Geography of Food	4
HIST 592 Research in World History: World of Commodities	4
PHE 522 Health and Social Inequalities	3
SOC 579/679 Food, Justice, and Social Movements	4
USP 568 Oregon Land Use Law	3
USP 576 Feeding the City	4
Outcome 3: Community and/or Field-based Learning* Engage in learning in a community based setting: Students will demonstrate knowledge of food systems through a community or field-based experiential learning opportunity. This outcome can be achieved through a relevant course on our course list or through an individual internship (only one internship can be used toward the certificate).	CR
ELP 518 Permaculture and Whole Systems Design	4
ELP 540 Urban Farm Education: Leveraging Policy and Research to Cultivate Garden-Based Education in Practice	4
Independent study or internship: Students must receive faculty approval to register for ELP 506, PA 509, PHE 504, USP 504, or other relevant courses to count the field experience toward the certificate.	Varies
Outcome 4: Interdisciplinary Linkages Examine the interdisciplinary and cross-sector nature of contemporary food systems: Students will critically examine the interconnected social, political, economic, and ecological components that influence food systems.	CR
ELP 540 Urban Farm Education: Leveraging Policy and Research to Cultivate Garden-Based Education in Practice	4
ELP 548 Advanced Global Political Ecology	4
ESM 527 Watershed Biogeochemistry	4
GEOG 549 Geography of Food	4
PA 574 Food and Agriculture Policy	3
PHE 522 Stress, Food, & Health	4
SYSC 513 Holistic Strategies for Problem Solving	4
USP 542 Land Use Implementation	3
USP 568 Oregon Land Use Law	3
Outcome 5: Strategies Evaluate strategies to address food system challenges: Students will critically examine strategies to address food system challenges.	CR
ELP 518 Permaculture and Whole Systems Design	4
ESM 527 Watershed Biogeochemistry	4
GSCM 558 Purchase Logistics in Food Systems Supply Chain	4
PA 574 Food and Agriculture Policy	3
PHE 527 Food Systems and Public Health	3
SOC 579/679 Food, Justice, and Social Movements	4
SYSC 513 Holistic Strategies for Problem Solving	4
USP 542 Land Use Implementation	3
USP 576 Feeding the City	4
Outcome 6: Elective Students will select a relevant course for their own learning and professional goals, and to enable specialization. Can be another certificate class, an independent study, an individual internship (only one internship can count towards the certificate), or a course from the list below:	CR
PA 525 Grantwriting for Nonprofit Organizations	3
PHE 517 Community Organizing	3
Total Program Credits (minimum)	18

Additional Information

In the event you aren't able to meet the learning outcome requirements with the current term's course offerings, you may petition to substitute a course not listed below by contacting the program coordinator. Substitutions are limited to no more than two for the duration of the program.

Other ideas? Obtain email confirmation from the Program Coordinator, Dr. Sybil Kelley, prior to enrolling.

Community Based Learning (CBL) is experiential learning that takes place beyond the classroom and traditional academic settings. CBL takes place through volunteering and internship placements, and compliments coursework and theoretical concepts, allowing you to apply your learning in a work setting. CBL is a venue for engaging your head, heart, and hands by developing relationships and networks in the community and working in the field. You can use your CBL requirement as an opportunity to build relationships with various organizations, to try something new, or to engage in a long term project with one group or organization.

CBL FAQ’s

How many CBL hours are required?

This will vary from course to course, but typically 30 hours per term are required.

What do I need to do or to know before getting started? The following questions and reminders are useful to bear in mind as you begin.

What do you hope to get out of your CBL experience?
Does the work that the organization/program is doing fit with your academic interests, career goals and/or personal values? Are you excited and invigorated by the work they do?
What time commitment does the program expect from volunteers, (hours/week, one-time, short or long-term)? Is this commitment expectation one you can fulfill?
Is the organization/program conveniently located for you? If not, are you willing and/or able to travel to get there?
Does the program/organization operate during hours that are conducive to your schedule?

Other CBL considerations to keep in mind

Be kind to yourself — find a place to volunteer and start volunteering early in the term. Many students procrastinate on finding a place to do their CBL hours, or wait until the end of the term to cram them in. This can be stressful for you and for the organization where you are volunteering.
Keep a record of the hours you have spent volunteering and what you did. Some instructors will provide guidance and requirements for CBL record keeping, and some will not.
Trying to recall from memory what you have done and how long you did it can be stressful. Find a method of tracking that works for you and keep up with it.
Be reliable, considerate and timely. Remember, volunteering is a service that organizations come to rely upon. Additionally, you are representing Portland State University and the Sustainable Food Systems program. On a personal level, leaving an organization with a good impression can often lead to future employment or very valuable references and connections.
Talk with your instructors and volunteer supervisor if you need to. Your CBL hours should be meaningful and educational. If you are experiencing difficulty with your CBL hours or experience, don’t be afraid to talk to your instructors, advisor, or the person supervising your volunteer time. You’ll feel better if you do, and things have a way of working out.