Agriculture in the Classroom

Integrating agricultural literacy and sustainability into classrooms

Available for Credit | EDCP 329

Food is often taken for granted. Many students have a limited understanding of the sources, processes and issues related to food production, and this institute aims to change that.

The BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation works with educators to bring local agriculture to BC’s students. In partnership with farmers, teachers and agriculture specialists, they are committed to teaching students about the story of our food in British Columbia.

Agricultural literacy is associated with three broad educational movements:

  1. place-based education
  2. environmental/ecological education
  3. health literacy and healthy school initiatives

Systems thinking and sustainability are key concepts for consideration. This course explores practical ways to integrate concepts related to food production and consumption, food safety, agricultural issues and sustainability across the curriculum at all grade levels.


Integrate important concepts related to food, the agriculture industry and environmental sustainability into your classroom.

This course examines best practices in implementation, such as pedagogies of engagement, interdisciplinary/integrative studies and outdoor studies. Through active participation, field trips, guest speakers and video presentations, participants will expand their knowledge of agriculture and food concepts, and reflect on their own values and orientations.

Ways to incorporate this new knowledge into existing courses will be explored with ethical defensibility being the guiding principle. The goal is to develop a conception of agricultural literacy that provides the foundation for curriculum projects and professional practice.


Testimonials from 2018 participants:

  • “Engaging. What is better than chef demos, lunch, and field trips? Aside from being super fun, the content was really eye opening and has inspired me to change the way I shop, eat, and teach my students.”
  • “Field trips, guest speakers, EXCELLENT time management, meaningful projects, presentations and assignments that were valuable to my experience as a teacher. Chef presentations and catered lunches were AMAZING.”
  • “The multifaceted teaching and learning approach of guest speakers, field trips and hands on activities. It was excellent. A model of how we should be educating our students!”

Joe Massie

Born and raised in Chilliwack, BC, Joe Massie has been heavily involved in Agriculture for his entire life. He spent his childhood working and playing on a dairy farm and later, on a beef cattle hobby farm. He has owned and raised animals and plants for as long as he can remember. During his youth Joe was employed by a local greenhouse and worked in the floriculture industry for 8 years. He decided to enter the teaching profession and has worked hard to obtain his Bachelor’s Degree in Science and Education, as well as his Master’s in Education Technology.

Joe currently runs the Agriculture program at Sardis Secondary School in Chilliwack, which includes a working greenhouse and a new Agriculture Learning Centre that includes school gardens, research projects and community supported agriculture gardens. His department works closely with many community members to educate students on real-world Agriculture issues and opportunities.

Dates: Monday, July 26 – Friday, July 30, 2021
Time: 9am-5pm PDT
Format: Online

Registration & Fees: Non-Credit Registration

Non-Credit Registration & Fees

  • Non-Credit Registration Fee: $612.23

 

Full payment is required with your online registration in order to reserve your space. We accept payment by credit card or debit card. Please note that should UBC cancel the course, a full refund will be issued.

Refund Policy for Non-Credit Applications: If you would like to withdraw from a course, please submit written notice by June 21, 2021 to be eligible for a refund (less a $65 administration fee). No refund will be made for cancellations received later than this date, unless a course is cancelled by UBC Faculty of Education.

FAQs: Review the FAQs for Non-Credit Course Registration.

Registration & Fees: For-Credit Registration

UBC Student Registration

To register in the course for credit, students must be admitted to the UBC Faculty of Education (Vancouver campus); please see "Admission to UBC" below. Once admitted, students may register in the credit course.

Current UBC students can register for credit courses through the Student Service Centre, using their Campus Wide Login (CWL).

Registration opens in early March, see the Summer Session dates for the opening registration date for your student category. Many summer programs fill quickly, early registration is strongly recommended.

      • Undergraduate Course (3.0 credits)
        EDCP 329 | Agriculture in the Curriculum
        A limited number of seats are available for graduate students.
        Undergraduate student fees apply; see details below.

Non-UBC students

Please register via the Teacher Education Unclassified Student Form.

Credit tuition is calculated on a per-credit basis. Tuition fees are in Canadian dollars and are reviewed annually by the UBC Board of Governors.

For current UBC tuition, visit UBC Tuition Fees for the Education per credit tuition fees.

UBC Students

For current tuition information please refer to the UBC Calendar.

Visiting Graduate Students

Visiting graduate students who wish to take credit courses must register for those courses and will be assessed tuition fees at the prevailing graduate per credit rate, plus authorized student fees.

Tuition fees are subject to review by The University of British Columbia. The Western Deans Agreement does not apply to this course.

Student Assessed Fees

Certain additional fees apply to students who take courses on campus.

Students who meet certain requirements may opt out of the U-Pass and AMS Extended Health and Dental Plan, during the first two weeks of the term.

To see if you qualify for the U-Pass fee exemption, read the U-Pass FAQ information.

If you think you qualify for an exemption, login to the Student Service Centre (SSC) and click on the Financial Summary tab to navigate to the U-Pass fee exemption page.

If you already have medical/dental coverage (other than BC MSP), you may be able to apply for an exemption if you meet certain requirements and follow the opt-out procedures. Visit the Student Service Centre (SSC) for more information.

Students registered in on-campus courses in the summer session are not assessed Health/Dental Plan fees.

Tuition Fee Certificates

Current UBC students may use Tuition Fee Certificates toward tuition or non-credit fees. The certificates do not cover the cost of course materials, texts, or other fees. Contact Professional Development & Community Engagement for more information: 604.822.2013 | pdce.educ@ubc.ca

Undergraduate Students

To register in courses offered for credit you must be admitted to the UBC Faculty of Education, Vancouver campus.

      • If you were previously a student here, you will need to apply for re-admission. If you are not applying for a program, you can apply as an unclassified student to receive credit for this course.
      • If you are a UBC Okanagan student, or interested in a program offered by UBC Okanagan, please see Admission Categories on the Application & Registration page.

View the Application & Registration page for details, instructions and application forms.

Visiting Graduate Students

To be eligible for admission as a Visiting Graduate Student to UBC, you must be currently registered in a graduate program with good standing at the home university.

For assistance with the online admission procedures, contact the Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy Graduate Secretary: Alan Jay.


in partnership with:

This program is offered by the Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy. Learn more about EDCP programs.