The Plants, People and the Planet experience provides undergraduate students of all majors the hands-on experience, knowledge and skills to make a positive impact on the global ecosystem.
Experience at a glance
- Offered fall quarter
- Max. enrollment of 25 students
- Prerequisite: applicants must be in good academic standing
- Experience combines coursework at UC Davis with a regional internship
- 2-unit community engagement course, 1-3 unit internship
- Applications accepted on a first-apply, first-review basis through 11:59 p.m. June 5
- No program fees; students are responsible for their in-person internship transportation
Watch a recent information session video
Who is this experience for?
- Current undergraduate students of all majors interested in exploring the connections between plants, people, communities, environmental conservation and sustainability
- Students who seek a quarter-long experience that combines a community engagement course with an internship
- Students interested in learning how to apply the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
What do students do?
- Spend one day a week in coursework at UC Davis
- Experience field trips focused on food sustainability and community health
- Intern 3-9 hours a week in the Sacramento region
- Examine how plants, agriculture and sustainability contribute to human and environmental health
- Explore ways to create sustainable natural environments within urban and rural spaces that can contribute to healthy human development
- Understand historical challenges and opportunities to generate viable food systems in the U.S. and around the world
- Learn about political, social, institutional and environmental factors in health, nutrition, food and farming
- Learn how to apply the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in projects
The curriculum
- 2-units: Community Engagement
- 1-3 units: Internship with community partners such as Cultural Roots Nursery, Yisrael Family Urban Farm, Western Service Workers Association, Grocery Croppers or Communicare Health Center
- Field trips or guest lectures from community partners
Why the Sacramento region?
The focus on food and agriculture has defined UC Davis from the very beginning. The agriculture of the Central Valley, the rich biodiversity of the North Coast and the state’s capital city converge to make Sacramento a hub for plant-related science. The city’s diverse migrant, immigrant and Native American communities offer unique perspectives on responsible and sustainable plant production and consumption. Over the decades, UC Davis has emerged as a powerhouse of agricultural innovation, food science and environmental sustainability.
