St. Lawrence College
Part Time Studies
Online Credit

Program Description
This distance education certificate program is designed to meet the rising interest in, and need for, "how to" training for local food system development that is sustainable, socially just, economically dynamic and ecologically specific to the countrysides, cities and regions of Canada. The curriculum is being developed in collaboration with food and farm related organizations who have expertise to share, training needs to be addressed, and positions to be filled. 

Courses have a practical orientation and include problem-based and experience-based learning components. The focus is on how to change the food systems in the communities we live in. There is a particular emphasis on the challenges, lessons and successes learned in regions across Canada and beyond, with plenty of reading and discussion of models, concepts and ideas as participants analyze and compare problems over time and space and debate solutions relevant to specific communities, ecologies and economies.

Participants are welcome to take any individual courses they like. For the certificate, you will complete 3 required courses and 3 electives of your choice.

Human Ecology of Food Systems
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Who is this program meant for?
The courses and certificate are designed for people who are:

• Working, or hoping to work (as professionals and volunteers) directly in local food system development in communities and regions across Canada
• Wanting to learn more about this important area of sustainable development, for whatever reason
• Interested in a systems approach to sustainable food and farming
• Engaged by practical examples and innovative models, and critical analysis of food systems, informed by leading concepts and ideas
• Independent learners
• Excited about working in an online community environment that will facilitate new networks across the country while allowing participants to work from home with a flexibility study schedule

What can you do with this certificate?
Those who take this program will be participating in the first of its kind in Canada, and will thus have access to hitherto ungathered information and models. This will provide a cutting edge advantage when for competing for the dozens of local food jobs emerging each month in communities from coast to coast.

The range of jobs and contracts in the conventional and organic food system continues to grow. It includes opportunities in:

• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working on food issues
• Farm organizations, conventional and organic
• Economic development organizations
• Government – municipal, provincial, federal (agriculture and food, trade, natural resources, environment, health, policy, etc)
• The corporate sector, including food processors, distributors, retailers and industry associations
• Public health and food security, including Public Health departments, food banks, and meal providers
• Media and communications organizations, print and online
• Education, including schools, education centres and training programs

Certificate Requirements