In Sustainable Agriculture and Environment (SAGE), you’ll study the application of soil, plant and agro-ecological sciences in enhancing sustainable food production, while protecting and strengthening the land. Talk about a hero’s work! The Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at the UBC Farm is where you’ll integrate real-world experience with your classroom learning, as well as in our rooftop garden and in community gardens across the city.

SAGE combines your core academic courses with electives that allow you to focus on your individual interests. Uncork the science behind a good bottle of wine, learn how to grow food without soil, and explore the possibilities of insects as an increasingly important source of healthy, sustainable human sustenance. You’ll have opportunities to develop your research skills and build out your competencies through research experience, internships and practicums, co-ops and job placements. Upon graduation you’ll be prepared for professional employment or for further academic study.

In completing your Sustainable Agriculture and Environment degree, you will take a combination of degree requirements (required of all students) and restricted electives (courses selected from a curated list of approved electives). You’ll be able to round it all out with some unrestricted electives (courses you get to pick yourself).

You will need a strong science foundation as a Sustainable Agriculture and Environment student, so you’ll take first-year chemistry, math and biology before moving on to the subject-specific courses. There are too many exciting courses to list here, but some of the learning you can look forward to in this program includes:

• APBI 210: Vascular Plants
• APBI 260 & 360: Agroecology I and II
• APBI 327: Introduction to Entomology
• APBI 402: Sustainable Soil Management

To see the complete list of required courses for this program, please consult the UBC Academic Calendar. Current students, please use the ‘Degree Navigator’ tool in your Student Service Centre (SSC) to track your progress.

Honours

If you’re a high achiever, or have a deep and abiding interest in contributing to research, then the Sustainable Agriculture and Environment Honours program just might be the perfect fit. Admission to the Honours program is competitive. To learn more about this option, please consult the UBC Academic Calendar.

Minors

You may choose to supplement your Sustainable Agriculture and Environment major with a minor program, which involves taking courses in a subject area outside of your specialization. As an APBI student, you’re eligible to apply for a Minor in Arts, Commerce, Fermentations, Sustainable Food Systems, or Science. Learn more about minors, including application timelines, here.

Dual Degree with Master of Management

If you are interested in complementing your LFS degree with a strong foundation in management, consider applying for the Bachelor of Science (Applied Biology) – Master of Management Dual Degree. Please note: admission to this program is primarily available to students coming directly out of high school. Depending on enrolment, the UBC Sauder School of Business may release a limited number of spaces on a competitive basis to students who are going into their third year at UBC (or those who are transferring to UBC for their third year). For more details about this dual-degree program option and for information about how to apply, please see the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration section of the UBC Academic Calendar.

If you are a current APBI student interested in the Sustainable Agriculture and Environment major, you will be prompted to select your specialization through your Student Service Centre (SSC) when registering for second year. This major is not competitive.

If you are a high school, college or university student and you want to major in Sustainable Agriculture and Environment at UBC, you should apply for the Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology. You can learn more here.