Plants, People and the Planet curriculum

Courses 

This experience includes a 2-credit community engagement course and a 1-3-credit internship. 

PLS 198 or PLS 98 — Community Engagement Course (2 units) 

Community engagement is a key emphasis of our program. This two-unit course culminates with a discussion around food justice, health equity and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The course enables students to view their internship experience from a broader context and increase their understanding of sustainable solutions in local and regional food systems. It also includes guest speakers and field trips to urban farms and sites in the Sacramento area. Students prepare a pitch deck to promote their own selected organization or ideas related to themes of the class. At the culmination of the course, students invite their hosts to attend a symposium. The event includes student presentations, socializing and discussion.

Instructor: Will McMahan

PLS 192 or PLS 92 — Internship (1-3 units)

Students participate in internships with community partners to work on projects that build on the themes of people-plant relationships. Internship hours vary and may include research, field work, literature review, community outreach, workshops and other activities that build upon the course concepts and discussions. Previous community partners include Cultural Roots Nursery, Yisrael Family Urban Farm, Western Service Workers Association, Grocery Croppers and Communicare Health Center.

Instructor: Will McMahan

Engagement and networking opportunities  

The experience may also include field trips and guest lectures from organizations with which the students work. Such activities provide an opportunity for community building, a broad scope of the work of any given organization, consideration of additional career pathways, and the articulation of the work their organization does.