Urban Food Systems Program

M.S. in Horticulture with an emphasis in Urban Food Systems

Connect with your local communities as you use a deep skillset to increase the availability and nutritional quality of locally grown food.

Program Webinar | March 26

Join us on Zoom at noon on March 26 for a 30-minute, in-depth look at this unique master's degree program. Questions are welcome.

The Master of Science in Horticulture with an emphasis in Urban Food Systems degree provides you with a solid foundation in horticultural science and food crop production as well as an understanding about how urban food systems impact economic development and provide a source of safe, nutritious food grown locally/regionally.

This master's degree program focuses on sustainable urban food production, local food accessibility, food systems project management, grant writing, public and farmer education, horticultural science and safe food production in an urban environment.

The field of urban food systems is a unique specialization in horticulture. It involves the science and art of sustainably growing food in cities and urban environments with the cultural, political, environmental and economic factors and influences in those communities. The specialized emphasis is part of K-State's broader M.S. in Horticulture and Natural Resources degree.

$462.96 per credit hour*

30 credit hours

Two track options

*This estimate is for illustrative purposes only. This number is for in-person courses at the K-State Olathe campus and does not include any course, department or college fees; online fees; and also my vary depending on your transfer hours, course choices and your academic progress.

Ready to Apply?

If you're ready to become a student at K-State Olathe, complete the application documents in the link below. We're here if you have questions.

Apply to K-State Olathe

Have Questions?

Connect with Nicole, your student success coach for this program. She can answer your questions about the application process, classes, scholarships, careers and more.

Schedule with Nicole

Bring your passion to fruition

Careers

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

Program Features

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.

Curriculum and Tracks

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.

Admissions Guide

	Eleni Pliakoni, Ph.D. Program Director for the Urban Food Systems Initiative
	Nicole Bedard Student Success Coach 913-307-7349 Email Nicole Schedule an appointment with Nicole
	Tricia Jenkins, Ph.D. Urban Food Production and Postharvest Handling
	Cary Rivard, Ph.D. Fruit and Vegetable Production
	Manreet Bhullar, Ph.D. Produce Safety
	Ravneet Sandhu, Ph.D. Fruit Crop Production

Scholarships Available

Claim Your Scholarship

Note: Graduate students must be seeking a degree to qualify for federal financial aid loans.

Campus Options

A M.S. in Horticulture and Natural Resources is offered at K-State's Manhattan campus. For those seeking a more traditional campus experience, please see our Manhattan program.

Follow Kansas State University Urban Food Systems on Facebook.

Related Programs

Contact Us

Nicole Bedard

Student Success Coach

913-307-7349
Email Nicole

Schedule an appointment with Nicole

Office Hours

Mon-Fri: 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. CST

Master's in Urban Food Systems