O’Neill’s MPA-MSES dual degree Food and Farming Sustainability concentration will prepare you for a variety of careers in food or agriculture in order to effect change in your home community or around the world. This concentration delivers an in-depth understanding of the social and ecological complexities of our food system, equipping you with tools to lead through challenges related to nutrition, poverty, climate change, and more.
Our signature dual degree program combines rigorous scientific training with one of the nation’s best master's programs in policy and management for a powerful and flexible combination of skills—positioning you at the crucial intersection of science, policy, and society. All dual MPA-MSES students must take the core requirements from both the MPA and the MSES degrees program.
Both social science and natural science courses will inform your study of a critical social-ecological system, providing a diverse understanding of problems facing both developing and developed countries and their citizens. You will also have a host of courses to develop hard skills, such as soil science, horticulture, animal husbandry, food systems and community development, economic and statistical analyses, policy development, and GIS.
Your education and training will give you the tools to work for nonprofits and NGOs, government agencies, and innovative startups tackling the world’s most pressing food and agricultural challenges.
Core courses (12 credit hours):
Natural Sciences
Social Science, Policy, and Governance (choose two of the following three courses):
Electives (12 credit hours): Work with your advisor to select 12 credits from the list below or from core courses not used to satisfy the core requirements
The above are examples of your course options. For a complete listing, see the official Indiana University Graduate Bulletin and work with your advisor as you make your schedule.
The O’Neill MPA-MSES program offers far more than traditional lectures and lessons. You'll benefit from experiential learning, typically through an approved internship. What's more, your concentration's course work will culminate in a project-oriented course— an O’Neill Capstone—that lets you apply the knowledge you gained throughout the program, gaining practical career experience before you graduate.
Check out the Career Hub’s Explore Careers & Outcome page.
Lecturer
Associate Professor; Director, Food Institute; Co-director, IU Campus Farm
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
O’Neill has truly changed the way I see the world and its environmental problems. I feel better equipped to manage for our current and future needs with the skills I’ve gained during my years here.
