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Sustainable Food Concentration

Man from local farm displays his fresh tomatoes from the back of a truck

At Smith we understand that one way to make a difference in the world is to grow knowledge. That is why, after demonstrated interest by students and faculty, CEEDS announced an environmental concentration in sustainable food. The Sustainable Food Concentration lets students engage in an interdisciplinary exploration of food and the many issues involved in sustainability. Whether you are interested in global food distribution systems, the economics of agriculture, food cultures around the world, agriculture policy or the various ways that gender and food intersect, you can explore your interests in a cohesive, directed and exciting way.

By studying sustainable food, students can capitalize on the many opportunities for engagement around food and agriculture-related initiatives happening right in their own backyard. The Sustainable Food Concentration helps you put theory into practice, gaining hands-on experience in a topic that is integral to both your surrounding community and the global community.

Eligibility

The concentration is limited to 15 students per class year. Sophomores, juniors and Ada Comstock Scholars are encouraged to apply. Selection of concentrators is based on academic performance, intentionality and commitment, and diversity of the cohort.

Requirements

Gateway Course

Choose one:

  • ENX 100: Environment and Sustainability: Notes from the Field (1 credit/offered each year)
  • LSS 100: Landscape, Environment, Design (2 credits/offered each year)

The Gateway Course may be taken prior to admittance to the concentration and is typically completed before senior year.

Path-Making Course

IDP 132: Designing Your Path
or
IDP 232: Articulating Your Path

These courses are intended to support students to develop self-agency in framing the area of their intellectual inquiry. Students must complete this requirement after they have been accepted into the concentration and normally after they have completed at least one practical experience. Students who choose to take IDP 132 prior to joining the concentration should plan to take IDP 232 to meet the program requirements.

Capstone Course

ENX 301: Environmental Concentration Capstone: Sustainable Food

This seminar course brings concentrators together as a cohort to engage in a community and team-based capstone project. This offering complements the 100- and 200-level Smith courses related to sustainable food to provide a deeper experience.

Practical Experiences

Practical experiences are an integral part of the Sustainable Food Concentration; they provide opportunities to integrate the knowledge gained from various courses in support of work related to the environment and the concentration, and to learn from and critically reflect upon those experiences outside of the classroom in a way that enhances your course of study at Smith.

Practical experiences may include internships and paid or volunteer work that aligns with your topic of sustainable food. To fulfill your requirements, you must complete two distinct practical experiences.

Minimum Requirements

You will complete two different practical experiences to fulfill the requirements for the concentration. Each internship, volunteer or work experience must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Consist of 100 hours of work—roughly equivalent to a semester-long campus commitment or a 2.5-week full-time internship. (In some situations, a work experience may be concomitant with academic study that bears credit. The work component should be distinct and, on its own, satisfy the 100-hour minimum.)
  • Focus on substantive, content-based work.
  • Occur after your arrival at Smith.
  • Be approved by your concentration adviser.

Note: If Praxis funding is used to support the experience, there may be requirements in addition to those outlined here.

Receiving Credit

To receive credit for your practical experience, you must:

  1. Receive preapproval from your concentration adviser using the Practical Experience Approval Form. (If you already completed a practical experience before entering the Environmental Concentration, you may be eligible to receive credit for one experience. Instructions on retroactive practicum experiences are below).
  2. Have your practicum supervisor complete the Supervisor Evaluation Form. Then meet with your concentration adviser to discuss your experience and sign the form.
  3. Participate in the Concentration Reflection Program (dinners, meetings, retreats, etc.) during both your junior and senior years.

Retroactive Practicum Experiences

With your adviser's approval, a practical experience completed before entering the Sustainable Food Concentration may be accepted provided that it consisted of at least 100 hours and took place after your senior year of high school and within two years of matriculating at Smith. Please consult your concentration adviser, and then document your experience by completing the Practical Experience Approval Form retroactively with your concentration adviser.

A deadline for submitting this paperwork to Joanne Benkley will be communicated to you after you have been accepted into the concentration.

Forms

Declaration of Concentration

Students who have been accepted into the concentration and received their adviser’s name need to fill out the
→ Program of Study Declaration Form.
This is the last step in making the concentration official in Workday.

Practical Experience Forms

After discussing a proposed practical experience with their advisers, students must complete the corresponding practical experience approval form in order to have the experience count towards the concentration requirements:

  • Summer Internship (100 hours or more) → Internship Credit Application
    All students undertaking a summer internship of at least 100 hours are eligible to receive academic credit (0.25 credits per experience) that will appear on their transcript. All concentration students preparing to undertake a paid internship should complete this form. Students completing an unpaid internship who are applying for Praxis funding support should use the “Praxis with Credit” form. See below.
  • Unpaid Summer Internship (220 hours or more) → Praxis with Credit Application
    All Smith students are eligible to receive a stipend payment for one normally unpaid internship through the Praxis program at the Lazarus Center. These internships must take place during the summer, and must comprise at least 220 working hours. When applying for a Praxis internship, the applicant must specify if the internship counts towards a concentration and should fill out the “Praxis with Credit” application.  
    Students in Concentrations are eligible to apply for Praxis a second time - Praxis Plus. Students applying for Praxis Plus should be in touch with Concentration Director Joanne Benkley about any required Praxis forms (e.g. the Concentration Director Completion Form).
  • Other Internships and Practical Experiences
    Students whose internships do not meet the above requirements because they take place during Interterm, during the school year, or for any other reason, should fill out the forms below.
    Prior to starting the internship please fill out the → Practical Experience Approval Form.
    Upon completion of the practical experience please fill out the  Practical Experience Completion Form.
  • Retroactive Credit for an Experience
    Students who completed a practical experience relevant to the concentration prior to being accepted into the cohort should discuss the experience with their concentration adviser as soon as possible after being accepted into the concentration. Once the experience is approved, and before the end of the semester they join, students must fill out the → Practical Experience Completion Form. Be sure to check the “Retroactive Experience” box on the form.

Advising Checklist for Graduation

Students are required to submit a completed Concentration Advising Checklist at the start of their final semester. This form documents the completed components of the concentration requirements, and must be signed by the student’s concentration adviser. Completed form should be sent to the Registrar’s office (registrar@smith.edu) and to the Administrative Coordinator for Concentrations (concentrations@smith.edu).


How to Apply

To apply for the Sustainable Food Concentration, log in and fill out the online application. You may apply to the concentration in your sophomore or junior year.

The next deadline to apply is March 6, 2020.

 

 

Contact CEEDS

Wright Hall 005

Smith College

Northampton, MA 01063