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Master's degree (2 years)
Full time
Urban Agriculture

How do we get greener and more sustainable cities? Which social, technological and economical aspects are connected with urban food production? How may urban farming become more than plants grown in the city?

Apply here

Application deadline:

April 15th
International applicants:
December 1st

Start of Studies:

Autumn

Number of students:

20

Requirements:

Admission requirements is a Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS)

  • Requirements in detail

    Admission requirements is a Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS). To get proper, interdisciplinary student groups, students with backgrounds from different fields of study will be combined in a class. Many fields of study might be interesting, some examples may be Plant Sciences, Nature Sciences, Area Planning, Technology, Economy, Social Sciences (etc.). A background from all study programs at Bachelor's level at NMBU, or equivalent, is relevant.

    A motivation letter is mandatory for the admission process and must follow your application.

    All relevant candidates will go through a minor interview before admission.

    A weighted, average grade of minimum C (from the Bachelor's degree) is required at NMBU to be qualified for applying to Master's degrees.

    English language ability in accordance with the NMBU regulations

Ivrige urbane gartnere dyrker mat på et tak i storby
Urban agriculture with plants growing in a rooftop garden in a Chinese city.

Join us for the first Master's degree in urban farming in Scandinavia.

Urban farming is complex, and this education will make you capable at working with these complex and "wicked" problems, both within the public and private sector. Urban farming and sircular economy combine many fields, eg:

- green and living cities
- social integration
- public health
- spatial planning
- food production and organic farming
- the use of plants for both food and decoration
- husbandry in the city
- water and sanitation
- pollution
- sustainable environment and ecology
- the spread of pathogens (diseases)
- economy, business and entrepreneurs

The focus of urban agriculture is sustainable and green development of urban areas, circular economy (reuse of resources) and the ability to see the big picture in complex projects, where many different areas and professionals are involved. A succesfull cooperation between people within different areas of expertise, are getting more and more important, and this Master's degree will train you in communication, problem solving and cooperation.

Students are expected to be an active part of a group, contributing with their background knowledge to support the learning of all participants, and solving complex "wicked" problems relevant to urban farming. Learning the techniqes to achive a positive, rewarding interaction between all participants in a project will be an impotant part of this degree.

The education involves, and combines, different scientific areas, which gives you a good range in your knowledge and experience. As a student you also get the opportunity to focus on your specific interests with your choice of elective courses. The Master's degree is a cooperation between the University, the community, the public and the private sector, and will bring the students opportunities for closer cooperation with relevant connections.

 

Education plan

Download education plan for the master program 

Career opportunities

This Master's degree give the students training as problem solvers and knowledge within a huge range of different scientific areas, which make them relevant within all businesses related to the utilization of circular ressourses, spatial planning and urban farming. The students field of knowledge from their Bachelor's degree, and their choosen spesialization from their Master's degree, will be of importance for where they might find themselves in their future employment. Both positions as leaders and advisors/consultant within private and public sector are possible, both Nationally and Internationally. The Master's degree may also provide a good foundation for future entrepreneurs. Students may also be qualified for Ph.D's within relevant fields after their graduation.

  • Learning outcomes

    A candidate with a Master's degree in Urban Agriculture are expected to have the following learning outcomes, depending on specialization, defined in knowledge, skills and competences:

    Knowledge:

    The student/candidate will have further developed his/her specialisation from the bachelor’s degree, and are able to expand his/hers competence within other areas, related to relevant problems within the field of urban agricultureThe student/candidate should be able to map and analyse different dimensions of complex systems in urban agricultural environments, especially related to plants and food production (safety and security). He/she should have knowledge of water, energy, pollution, urban planning, public health issues, blue-green structures, biological diversity, experiences, innovation, social sustainability, etc.The student/candidate should be able to understand and develop the role of his/her area of expertise within complex urban agricultural systems

    Skills:

    The student/candidate should have practical skills within urban cultivation of plants, and have knowledge about the significance of urban agriculture in all aspects of society and social developmentThe student/candidate should have developed the ability of independent learning, and to analyse the necessary need of knowledge to be able to solve complex and 'wicked' problemsThe student/candidate should be able to analyse relevant problems, and decide the best methods and needs of knowledge to find good solutions to the problemThe student/candidate should have good and constructive skills to solve relevant problemsThe student/candidate should be able to adjust his/her own competence to fit into an interdisciplinary collaborationThe student/candidate should be able to critically evaluate the benefits and disadvantages with urban agriculture in a social context and in a sustainable, environmental perspectiveThe student/candidate should be able to discuss with, and make himself/herself understood by, specialists within other areas of expertise, that use different terminologyThe student/candidate should have the ability to reflect over one’s own, and others, disciplines and workThe student/candidate should be able to understand the importance and use of interdisciplinarity, and be able to plan, develop and implement processes adjusted to the assignment/taskThe student/candidate should have ability to critically evaluate the importance and use of transdisciplinarity (the universities interdisciplinarity in collaboration with the society) in development and planning processes

    General competences:

    The student/candidate should be able to use his/her knowledge and skills in new areas, to communicate with professionals within other disciplines, and in a constructive way cay out projects togetherThe student/candidate should be able to contribute to a sustainable development within urban environment and other issues connected with urban agricultureThe student/candidate should be able to read, understand and make use of knowledge from different sources, and critically evaluate its use and authencityThe student/candidate should under guidance be able to explore and carry out smaller, independent research projects/development projects in connection with urban agriculture, draw conclusions, suggest, and present the results in a constructive/appropriate wayThe student/candidate should be able to understand, appreciate and make use of the need for diversity in competence in the associates and group members in a given project
  • Exchange possibilities
    The students plan their own study and composition of courses, and may get guidance from the study coordinator and leader of the program board if they wish. The first and second semester there is both mandatory and elective courses at NMBU. The third semester may be used for exchange if the student chooses a 30 ECTS Thesis. The fourth semester will in its entirety be used on the Thesis at NMBU.
  • Program structure

    The master's degree consists of 120 credits, spread over two years. Two transdisciplinary courses in urban agriculture, totalling 25 credits, form the basis of the master's degree (MUA300 and MUA301). In addition, it is compulsory to have one method course and one economics course (to be chosen from a specified list). The Master's Thesis can be 30 or 60 credits. The remaining courses are elective, and are decided in collaboration with the student advisor, supervisor of the master's thesis, and the course coordinator.

    When choosing a 30-credit master's thesis, it is possible to go on an exchange or to take an internship in the third semester.

  • More about the program
    • Societal relevance

      The world is facing significant challenges such as climate change, overuse of resources, loss of biodiversity, land use, and urbanization, with complex issues that require multidisciplinary expertise. In the world's growing cities, there is a growing interest and concern among residents for food production, self-sufficiency, food security, circular use of resources, and sustainable development, challenging society to find innovative solutions. Currently, about half of the world's population lives in urban areas, a number expected to rise to 70% by 2050. This will increase the pressure to provide enough healthy and nutritious food for the urban population. The pressure on the Earth's land resources is significant, aiming to avoid using land areas that house rich biodiversity. Utilizing various types of land suitable for both small- and large-scale food production is a possible solution, requiring broad interdisciplinary expertise in collaboration with private and public stakeholders in a transdisciplinary interaction.

      NMBU has a long tradition of finding good, interdisciplinary solutions at the intersection of agriculture, urban and landscape planning, circular wastewater management, water and fertilizer handling, other technological innovations, and entrepreneurship. Experts from the university's seven faculties, in collaboration with NMBU's learning center and external actors, have built upon this by jointly offering a transdisciplinary master's program in urban agriculture. Transdisciplinarity here is understood as "a new form of societal knowledge development that brings societal actors in and combines interdisciplinary with an active user perspective" according to Nenseth et al. (2010 p. 4). Here, students learn collaboration methodology and communication across academic environments, as well as between academic environments, business, and society. Students should have the opportunity to develop their own competence within and between different fields. Students are prepared for professional life with various methods that reflect what they may experience in a work context, with a holistic mindset, through actual, complex issues. Graduates from this program will be highly relevant to the job market in public and private administration and business, where collaboration skills and interdisciplinary expertise are becoming increasingly important.

      NMBU has developed a learning philosophy that provides the basis for an educational transformation with increasing emphasis on student-active learning. The master's program in urban agriculture is based on this mindset and will bring together both students and teachers from all NMBU environments that emphasize sustainable development, interdisciplinary collaboration, transdisciplinarity, cooperation, student-active learning, and continuous development of effective teaching methods as the basis for lifelong learning.

    • Learning activities

      Student courses in the master's program are structured around research-based learning methods and are based on pedagogical principles used in several award-winning learning environments at NMBU. This will enable students, in addition to traditional lectures, exercises, semester assignments, field courses, and laboratory work, to engage in new learning activities such as:

      • "Transdisciplinary collaborative group work" (TSG)
      • Mentoring
      • Digital teaching, -group work and -seminars
      • Student active learning
      • Facilitated learning
      • Reflection
      • Exchange
      • Internship

      The teaching methods will at all-time be under evaluation, and be developed based on the current issues that is worked on, the students feedback and the teachers/facilitators experiences with the courses over time.

    • Examination

      Throughout the study, important forms of assessment are reflection (reflection diary), group evaluation, self-evaluation and 'mentoring', mid-term evaluations and portfolio assessment. Academic feedback throughout the semester and exchanges of experience, are important tools in both teaching and assessment. In addition, the students will encounter the traditional forms of assessment, such as oral and written exams, compulsory activities and exercises, term papers and reports.

      The master's thesis is defended and discussed with the student and examiners before a final grade is determined.

    • Information for students from partner universities
      The master courses in Urban Agriculture are offered in English. It will be possible for incoming exchange students from our partner universities to participate in these courses.

Study advisor(s):

Cathrine Strømø

Cathrine Strømø

Senior Advisor

Nina Rosita Hansen

Senior Executive Officer