Land, Farming and Community
Program Details
The Land, Farming and Community major combines business fundamentals, theological perspectives and economical systems with agricultural components on a biological, chemical and human level. Students evaluate the dominant global food systems and emerging alternatives from different angles to find optimal solutions to environmental issues.
Curriculum
The sample course sequence below illustrates class offerings for the Land, Farming and Community major. Consult the official Xavier University course catalog for detailed registration and advising information.
Fall
- Historical Perspective ............ 3cr.
- BIOLOGY 160/161 General Biology I and Lab............ 3cr.
- ENGLISH 101 English Composition............ 3cr.
- second language I............ 3cr.
- THEOLOGY 111 Theological Foundations............ 3cr.
- CORE 101: GOA Co-Curriculum Program I............ 0cr.
Spring
- BIOLOGY 162/163 General Biology II and LAB............ 4cr.
- SUSTAINABILITY 391 LAND Practicum............ 1cr.
- second language II............ 3cr.
- Mathematical Perspective............ 3cr.
- First Year Seminar............ 3cr.
- CORE 102: GOA Co-Curriculum Program II............ 0cr.
Fall
- SUSTAINABILITY 370/371 Agroecology and Lab............ 4cr.
- BIOLOGY 250/251 Ecology and Lab............ 4cr.
- ECONOMICS 200 Microeconomic Principles............ 3cr.
- ACCOUNTING 200 Introductory Financial Accounting............ 3cr.
- SUSTAINABILITY 391 LAND Practicum............ 1cr.
- MANAGEMENT 200: Management Behavior............ 3cr.
Spring
- HISTORY 398 History of Agriculture............ 3cr.
- THEOLOGY 389: Theologies of Food and Farming............ 3cr.
- MANAGEMENT 305: Creativity and Innovation............ 3cr.
- SUSTAINABILITY 391 LAND Practicum............ 1cr.
- PHILOSOPHY 100 Ethics as Intro to Philosophy............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Fall
- BIOLOGY 210 General Botany............ 5cr.
- BIOLOGY 270/271 Introduction to Entomology............ 5cr.
- ECONOMICS 320 Environment & Natural Resource Economics............ 3cr.
- SUSTAINABILITY 391 LAND Practicum............ 1cr.
- ENGLISH 205 Literature and Moral Imagination............ 3cr.
Spring
- ECONOMICS 421 Environment, Economics, and Policy............ 3cr.
- SUSTAINABILITY 393 LAND Practicum............ 3cr.
- Creative Perspective............ 3cr.
- ENGLISH 205 Literature and the Moral Imagination............ 3cr.
- PHILOSOPHY 290 Philosophical Perspectives............ 3cr.
- MARKETING 300 Principles of Marketing............ 3cr.
- ENTREPRENEUR 311 New Venture Planning............ 3cr.
Fall
- SUSTAINABILITY 399 LAND Practicum............ 9cr.
- SUSTAINABILITY 400 LAND Capstone............ 3cr.
Spring
- SUSTAINABILITY 399 LAND Practicum............ 9cr.
- SUSTAINABILITY 400 LAND Capstone............ 3cr.
Sample Courses
Xavier is known for providing an education that's both challenging and personal. Here are some courses that are part of the Land, Farming and Community major at Xavier:
New Venture Planning (ENTR 311) - Identification and screening of business opportunities; analysis of personal, marketing, financial, and operational factors for start-ups; writing a business plan.
Agroecology (SUST 370) - This course will examine the various ways that biological, chemical, and human systems influence agriculture. Agroecology is a whole-systems approach to agriculture and food systems development based on traditional knowledge, alternative agriculture, and local food system experiences.
History of Agriculture (HIST 398) - Agriculture is both viewed as essential to civilization and as the critical development in fundamentally altering the human relationship to the environment (its soil, air and water systems). It is the examination of these contrasting realities that is at the heart of this course. Using Mazoyer and Roudart’s History of World Agriculture, this course examines the 10,000 year trajectory of agricultural intensification in multiple places in the world with an emphasis in Africa, Europe and the United States.
Student Clubs
The following clubs are popular choices for students in the land, farming and community major.
Xavier Student Sustainability Club
Xavier Student Sustainability (XSS) provides students with opportunities to actively promote environmental initiatives on Xavier's campus and in the surrounding communities. Ongoing projects include move-in day recycling, office composting and educational events.
Animals, People & The Environment at Xavier
Animal lovers in this club host monthly events that advocate for animal rights. They also educate the wider Xavier community about animal rights and its impact on people and the environment.
Career Outcomes
97% of students from Xavier's College of Arts and Science programs, including the Land, Farming and Community major, are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduating.
Career Opportinities: Food Systems Entrepreneur, Farmer, Agricultural Education, Community Garden Coordinator, Food Policy Worker, Health Systems Advocate, Green Infrastructure or Sustainability Consultant
Take the Next Step
Cincinnati: A City of Opportunity
Cincinnati, Ohio is ranked the #1 Best City for College Graduates (smartasset.com) and the #15 Best Place to Start a Career (WalletHub). Students gain real-world experience working with sustainability directors from places like Procter and Gamble, city-level organizations like the EPA, political coalitions and cause-focused groups.
Practicum Experience
Students complete seven semesters of off-campus practicum, where they experience agriculture, farm to table practices, community gardening and more.
Study Abroad Programs
Xavier offers 30+ international programs in countries like France, Mexico, Italy, Spain, Japan, The Netherlands, Ireland, Greece, England, Germany and Costa Rica. Advisors work with students to make sure credits count toward their degrees.
Graduate With Honors
Are you looking for an academic challenge? The University Scholars Honors Program offers incoming students a more challenging curriculum and close support from professors while completing their undergraduate degree. Acceptance into the program is highly selective and includes a $2000 travel grant.
Land, Farming and Community Major at Xavier University
Today, opportunities in sustainability, horticulture and organic food production are among the fastest growing segments of the agriculture and farming industry. Xavier's Land, Farming and Community major prepares students to meet the demands of this vital and exciting field of study through a blend of ethics, professional connections and practical experience.
Xavier University’s College of Arts and Sciences challenges students to develop an integrated understanding of humanity, the world, and God by pursuing the questions raised in Xavier's core and departmental curricula. The College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest college at Xavier University. The college provides an excellent liberal arts education in the Jesuit tradition that prepares students for careers, professional or graduate school, and life in a global society.
Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."