What Courses Are in the Program?

Professional Masters Core: 15 creditsPROF 505 Strategic Management of InnovationPROF 510 Communication for Environmental ProfessionalsPROF 515 Ethical Practice and PolicyPROF 590 Capstone IPROF 690 Capstone IIMajor Program Core: 15 creditsSUST 540 Food Systems Analysis and TransformationSUST 545 Sustainable Food Production and Resource ManagementSUST 625 Sustainable Food Policy and GovernanceSUST 630 Food Entrepreneurship and InnovationSUST 635 Community Food Systems and Food JusticeFor course requirements and a better look into your program, view our full course catalog. Then apply online for free to get started.

What is the Difference Between an MPS and an MS?

The Master of Professional Science (MPS) is a graduate degree designed to combine scientific knowledge with practical skills relevant to the workforce. Unlike traditional science degrees, the MPS emphasizes hands-on experience and professional development, preparing students for careers that require both expertise in science and the ability to apply that knowledge in real-world contexts. MPS programs focus on a range of skills that are directly applicable to the workplace:Project Management: Students learn to plan, execute, and manage projects, often in scientific or environmental settings.Communication: Emphasis is placed on effectively communicating complex scientific ideas to diverse audiences, including policymakers, stakeholders, and the general public.Policy Analysis: Students gain the ability to understand and analyze policies related to their field, making them valuable assets in governmental and organizational decision-making processes.Technical Proficiency: Students develop a range of specialized skills and techniques relevant to their discipline, such as animal training, conservation advocacy, environmental monitoring, or other tools essential to their field.The MS degree is a traditional graduate program focused on deepening scientific understanding through research and academic study.

Sustainable Food Systems

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Transform Food Systems

The Sustainable Food Systems master’s degree offers skills-based learning in organic farming, regenerative agriculture, and food policy reform, preparing students for careers in sustainable agriculture, food policy, and environmental advocacy.

Career Outlook: Social and Community Service Managers in the U.S.

231 K

Number of jobs in 2025*

7 %

Est. job growth through 2035*

$ 80 K

Median annual salary in 2025*

*Source: O*Net/U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unity Environmental University cannot guarantee employment. Salary data represents averaged earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience.

Career Outcomes

What Can I Do With a Master’s Degree in Sustainable Food Systems?

Food Systems Director

Lead city, nonprofit, or institutional programs for sustainable food access.

Sustainable Agriculture Policy Analyst

Develop policy that supports ecological and equitable farming.

Food Security Program Manager

Design programs to improve food access for underserved communities.

Regional Food Supply Chain Strategist

Connect local producers to markets through sustainable networks.

University Extension Specialist

Advise farmers and communities on sustainable food production systems.

Farm-to-Institution Program Director

Bring local food sourcing into schools, hospitals, and campuses.

“…with (Unity) being totally online, it helps create flexibility for my schedule.”

Jordan A.
Unity Alum

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Jordan A.
Unity Alum

“It was tough to be able to go in person in the class but now with (Unity) being totally online, it helps create flexibility for my schedule. I was able to get my degree while having a newborn baby and working 40 hours a week.”

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FAQ

Learn More About the Master’s in Sustainable Food Systems

Sustainable Food Systems involve eco-friendly practices like organic farming, mitigating environmental damage, and promoting social equity.

This graduate degree prepares you to lead the transition toward environmentally sustainable, socially equitable, and resilient food systems. You’ll explore organic farming, regenerative agriculture, and food policy reform through an interdisciplinary lens spanning environmental science, economics, and social science, learning to design strategies that promote equity and resilience across food production, distribution, and consumption. Graduates go on to careers in sustainable agriculture, food policy, community-supported agriculture, and environmental advocacy.

Your online education should be affordable and manageable. Thanks to our promise to keep tuition flat through 2030, you won’t be burdened with unexpected increases or fees.

Our team of distance education concierges will work with you through the admissions process to help you plan and pay for your degree. Learn more about the costs here.

The timeframe for completion is up to you! Enroll in 6 credits per term and complete the program within just one year. Alternatively, opt for part-time study by taking one course at a time. Whichever path you choose, we’re here to support your educational journey every step of the way. Contact your concierge or advisor to create your personalized plan.

Professional Masters Core: 15 credits

PROF 505 Strategic Management of Innovation
PROF 510 Communication for Environmental Professionals
PROF 515 Ethical Practice and Policy
PROF 590 Capstone I
PROF 690 Capstone II

Major Program Core: 15 credits

SUST 540 Food Systems Analysis and Transformation
SUST 545 Sustainable Food Production and Resource Management
SUST 625 Sustainable Food Policy and Governance
SUST 630 Food Entrepreneurship and Innovation
SUST 635 Community Food Systems and Food Justice

For course requirements and a better look into your program, view our full course catalog. Then apply online for free to get started.

The Master of Professional Science (MPS) is a graduate degree designed to combine scientific knowledge with practical skills relevant to the workforce. Unlike traditional science degrees, the MPS emphasizes hands-on experience and professional development, preparing students for careers that require both expertise in science and the ability to apply that knowledge in real-world contexts. MPS programs focus on a range of skills that are directly applicable to the workplace:

Project Management: Students learn to plan, execute, and manage projects, often in scientific or environmental settings.
Communication: Emphasis is placed on effectively communicating complex scientific ideas to diverse audiences, including policymakers, stakeholders, and the general public.
Policy Analysis: Students gain the ability to understand and analyze policies related to their field, making them valuable assets in governmental and organizational decision-making processes.
Technical Proficiency: Students develop a range of specialized skills and techniques relevant to their discipline, such as animal training, conservation advocacy, environmental monitoring, or other tools essential to their field.

The MS degree is a traditional graduate program focused on deepening scientific understanding through research and academic study.

WHAT YOU WILL STUDY

Sustainable Food Systems
Course Examples

Distributor scanning barcodes for inventory.

Food Systems Analysis and Transformation

This course explores the transition to sustainable food systems—from production to consumption—covering supply chains, food security, justice, waste, and policy, developing systems thinking through case studies and group projects.

Farmer, woman and vegetables box in greenhouse, agriculture and sustainability with farming portrai.

Sustainable Food Production and Resource Management

This course guides you through sustainable food production—from vertical gardens to marine food production—analyzing the interplay between production systems and resource management, with a focus on food security, biodiversity, and climate resilience.

Lady with a diet plan sitting at a table.

Sustainable Food Policy and Governance

This course explores the influence of policy on sustainable food systems—international, national, and local regulations covering finance, trade, land use, safety, and labeling—and builds skills to advocate for policy change through case studies and analysis.

Learn from Leaders

Learn from Leaders

EdD in Leadership and Innovation, MEd in Educational Leadership, BA in Government and Leadership

Michael Peel
Global Expert in Community-Driven Sustainability Planning and Equitable Climate Action

More Info

Michael Peel
Global Expert in Community-Driven Sustainability Planning and Equitable Climate Action

Dr. Michael Peel is a member of the Distance Education Graduate Faculty team. He received an EdD in Leadership and Innovation from Arizona State University, an MEd in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University, and a BA in Government and Leadership from Claremont McKenna College. Dr. Peel’s research and teaching interests focus on collaborative climate justice and action, equitable community engagement, and sustainability project implementation. He also specializes in capacity building and planning methods. For his mixed-methods dissertation and study, he developed a toolkit titled the “Climate Justice Collaborative Toolkit” that is designed to be a holistic and action-based framework for improving community engagement and equity processes to increase intersectional climate justice-based outcomes including community capacity-building efforts. Dr. Peel has 17 years of experience in community-driven climate planning, including a series of applied and collaborative climate educational programs in California, Arizona, and elsewhere where he implemented community-based climate courses for community colleges in partnership with the EPA, and led a coalition that successfully competed for federal funds for an energy conservation jobs program supporting low-income individuals through the California Energy Commission’s Clean Energy Workforce Training Program. Dr. Peel’s experience conducting research and planning has been done in partnership with a diverse range of community partners to advance equitable, resilient climate solutions through sustainability projects and programs. Dr. Peel is a proud parent to his daughter Emma with his partner Dr. Cassandra Peel. He enjoys reading, running, film, music, and especially time with family, including his dogs Jesse and Rudie.

Learn from Leaders

Isaac Mpanga
Global Expert in Food Solutions and Corporate Sustainability

Learn More About Professor Mpanga

Isaac Mpanga
Global Expert in Food Solutions and Corporate Sustainability

Isaac Mpanga is a husband and father that enjoys traveling, games, biking, gardening, and other outdoor activities with family.

He is currently the Sustainable Food Solutions Director at Yara North America where he is supporting food and value chain companies understand how Yara’s low emissions fertilizer products fits into their agricultural sustainability programs strategy.

Isaac grew up on the farm in Ghana and still consider himself farmer. He holds trained a teacher in agricultural science education in Ghana. After over ten years of teaching, he moved to Germany where he trained as agronomist. He has research and extension experiences from the University of Arizona as a faculty where he supported farmers implement sustainable agriculture practices with partnerships from USDA as grants projects Director and Principal Investigator. Isaac moved to industry and is a PepsiCo alumnus who led the implementation Lay’s brand regenerative agriculture road mapping for North America potato farmers.

As part of his academic contribution to training the next generation of food systems transformation agents, he recently developed this master level course in Sustainable Food System Transformation for Unity Environment University. Also, He loves writing peer-review articles and making presentations on sustainable and circular agriculture with focus on emission reduction, soil health, sustainable water management, and farmer’s livelihood. He wrote a book on circular agricultural systems and contributed to book chapters.

Learn from Leaders

Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Higher Education at the University of Nebraska

Jono Anzalone
Global Expert in Youth-Focused Climate Action Leadership

More Info

Jono Anzalone
Global Expert in Youth-Focused Climate Action Leadership

Jono is the Executive Director of The Climate Initiative (TCI), a nonpartisan organization that inspires to educate, empower, and active 10 million youth around climate action by 2025. Prior to starting TCI, Jono had a long tenure at Red Cross, where he started as a youth volunteer in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska.

Most recently, Jono served as the Head of Disaster and Crisis, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for the Americas and Caribbean region, based in Panama, Panama and also served as the Vice President of International Services at the American Red Cross based out of Washington, DC.

Jono’s hundreds of national and international disaster assignments with the American Red Cross, IFRC, and ICRC have led him to serve in places such as Mexico, Belize, Suriname, Jamaica, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Liberia, and Haiti, to include being detailed to the United States Agency on International Development (USAID) during the 2010 Haiti Earthquake and assigned to their Response Management Team to lead the agencies donations management activity.

Jono served as the Advocacy Committee chair for the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD) from 2012-2015.

Jono graduated from Creighton University with a BA in Political Science, the University of Nebraska with an MS in Economics, a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Higher Education at the University of Nebraska, and the Harvard School of Public Health and Kennedy School of Government National Preparedness Leadership Initiative, and has earned the International Association of Emergency Management Certified Emergency Manager (CEM®) credential and was awarded the Meta-Leader of the Year from Harvard School of Public Health and Kennedy School of Government National Preparedness Leadership Initiative in 2017.

Jono and his husband Andy, Associate Director of Gender Equality at Save the Children, live in Maine with their Golden Doodle, Penni.

Why Unity Distance Education?

Learning Flexibility

Balance life, work, and education by studying when and where you want.

High Educational Value

Nationally recognized educational quality at an affordable price.

Multiple Start Dates

Up to 5 terms each year let you take breaks without affecting financial aid.

Real Career Outcomes

Ranked in the top 1% of universities nationwide by the Social Mobility Index.

Accelerated Path

Fast-track your Master’s degree and finish your program in as little as one year.

Personalized Guidance

Dedicated to turning career and academic aspirations into tangible achievements.

Inspiring Faculty

Connect with experts who’ve built real careers in the field.

Sustainability Core

Focused on sustainable practices for an environmentally aware future.

Sustainable Food Systems
Master of Professional Science