Graduate programs
Be an agent of change
Our graduate programs are built for rising stars from business, nonprofit, academia and government, modeling the community necessary for food systems transformation. Designed for working professionals, most coursework takes place online to accommodate students’ various schedules and geographies.
Equipped with sophisticated knowledge of how to advance food and agriculture policy in the public interest, program graduates pioneer innovative solutions on which the health of our communities and planet depend.
The Swette Center leads these graduate programs within the School of Sustainability, one of five schools in the College of Global Futures.
For priority consideration of Fall 2026 graduate scholarships, apply by May 1, 2026
Graduate programs
Graduate Certificate in food policy and sustainability leadership
This 1-year graduate certificate program explores the social, political, economic and environmental factors that impact food systems. Coursework focuses on food and agriculture policy, from understanding policymaking to developing specific, master-level skills to navigating legislative, budgetary and administrative governmental processes.
Master of Science in sustainable food systems
Students in this 2-year research-oriented degree program develop a practical and tactical understanding of present-day health, agriculture and environmental policy; formulate strategies to drive policy change; engage with a network of food and agriculture leaders and mentors; and apply their knowledge and skills to address real-world challenges in food systems.
What makes our graduate programs unique?
Our Master of Science and Graduate Certificate programs go beyond the online classroom with one-of-a-kind immersive experiences in Arizona and Washington, D.C.
At the end of the first semester, students, faculty, and staff spend a week traveling together across the desert, touring diverse farms, food processing facilities, and crop inspection sites to gain real-world perspectives directly from those producing and distributing our food. The following semester, we reconvene in our nation’s capital for a jam-packed week of meetings with policymakers, political appointees, lobbyists, and journalists to learn firsthand how food and agriculture policy is developed, influenced, and implemented.
Read about our graduate students
Questions? Contact us here
Explore more
Join us to create the future of food.