Stockbridge Sch of Agriculture 379 - Agricultural Systems Thinking

Systems thinking is a way of understanding complex real-world situations such as those often encountered in sustainable food and farming careers. Systems tools are needed to complement more traditional discipline-focused scientific approaches when a problem under study: 1) is complex; 2) involves multiple relationships; and/or 3) involves human decision-making. This course will introduce students to systems tools for unraveling complexity and integrating their learning from previous courses and experience. Case studies and real farms students learned about in STOCKSCH 265 (Sustainable Agriculture) will be used as model systems for application of integrative systems tools. Satisfies the Integrative Experience requirement for BS-PLSOIL majors in the Sustainable Food and Farming Subplan.

Open to junior and senior Sustainable Food and Farming majors only. STOCKSCH 265 Students who do not meet the pre-requisites, may seek permission of the instructor to enroll.