Master's in Urban Food Systems

The demand for professionals with a background in urban food systems continues to increase as city populations grow larger, inequality widens among urban residents and climate change affects food production.

Graduates with this background often work in the following positions:

• Food systems project management
• Urban farming or food production management
• Nonprofit management
• Food aggregation and distribution
• Urban planning and landscape design
• Farmers market organization and management
• Municipal (city/county) horticulture
• Community garden coordination
• Extension and public education
• University faculty
• Research scientist at a lab or unit

• This is a highly flexible program for people from a variety of backgrounds.

• Kansas City offers a vibrant urban agriculture scene with numerous community food-based projects, nonprofits and local urban and peri-urban farmers working to provide access to fresh, healthy food.

• K-State Olathe's location provides opportunities to work at the Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center as well as other institutions in the metro region.

• You'll have opportunities to participate in many professional development and networking opportunities that will connect you with network leaders and stakeholders both locally and regionally.

• Work with an interdisciplinary cohort of students and faculty in Olathe and Manhattan.

• Courses in controlled environment agriculture techniques

Unique Resources
As a student in the program, you'll have access to several unique resources and opportunities that provide an in-depth farm to fork experience. These include:

• The Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center, or OHREC, is a research farm located about 20 minutes from the Olathe campus. Here, you can conduct hands-on experiments in grafting, growing and harvesting fresh produce.

• The Postharvest Physiology Lab and the Food Safety Lab at the Olathe campus are where a lot of the OREC produce is analyzed for safety and quality.

• On-campus greenhouse.

The Professional Track is for working professionals who want to increase their knowledge about urban food systems and the topics within these systems. This track is 100% online and consists of coursework and a report.

The Thesis Track is designed for those conducting empirical research typically associated with a specific grant or research project. This track is the right option if you want to pursue a Ph.D. This track includes a research project and can only be done in-person at either K-State's Olathe or Manhattan campus.

The Professional and Thesis Tracks are both 30 credit hours and designed for people with a variety of educational backgrounds. In either track, you can customize your program to your area of interest with eight to 18 elective credit hours. Students also have the opportunity to work on commercial farms, in the on-campus greenhouse, at research stations and other nearby food projects in the practicum course.

The urban food systems faculty specialize in the following topic areas:

• Urban food systems
• Sustainable food production systems
• Food safety of fruits and vegetables
• Urban food production and postharvest handling
• Controlled environment agriculture

See the full course catalog.

See the departmental requirements for this master's program and detailed program information.