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Graduate Certificate
Advanced Food Systems Studies

A Bridge to Advanced Food Systems Leadership

The Graduate Certificate in Advanced Food Systems Studies provides a flexible entry point into advanced study of the global food system. Across four graduate-level courses, this certificate prepares you to create leadership impact across the food system — from policy to advocacy, education to entrepreneurship.

Gain practical insights into emerging food technologies, systems strategy and responsible industry leadership — and learn to address complex food system challenges that can’t be solved within a single discipline.

This program is a unique bridge from undergraduate learning to advanced food systems leadership; it also benefits career changers looking to advance opportunities for graduate study, research or professional specialization. Explore food systems before committing to a master’s degree and earn up to 12 credits toward master’s-level study.

Program Benefits

  • Differentiate yourself academically and professionally: Build advanced expertise in food systems, sustainability, policy, culture, and leadership — skills that stand out to employers and graduate admissions committees.
  • Explore food systems before committing to a master’s degree: Test the waters of graduate-level coursework while still completing your undergraduate degree.
  • Pathway to a master’s degree: Completed credits can be applied toward the M.S. in Food Systems Innovation & Leadership or select Food Safety graduate programs.
  • Gain systems-level perspective beyond technical skills: Learn how law, economics, culture, safety, and innovation intersect across the food system — knowledge increasingly demanded in leadership roles. 
  • Accelerate your career timeline: Reduce time and cost to complete a future master’s degree while strengthening your résumé.
  • Advance without committing to a full degree: Gain graduate-level credentials in food systems innovation, leadership, and sustainability through a flexible, four-course certificate.
  • Apply learning directly to real-world challenges: Coursework emphasizes systems thinking, policy analysis, food safety frameworks, and project-based problem solving relevant across the food sector.
  • Expand career mobility across the food system: Strengthen qualifications for roles in food policy, sustainability, food safety, advocacy, supply chains, education and leadership.
  • Stay current in an evolving food landscape: Explore emerging food system challenges and innovations, from regulation and economics to culture, equity and future food models.
  • Pathway to a master’s degree: Completed credits can be applied toward the M.S. in Food Systems Innovation & Leadership or select Food Safety graduate programs.

Next Generation of Food Leadership

This certificate helps you define and refine your career goals through exposure to multiple dimensions of the food system — policy, culture, safety, economics and innovation — with grounding in practical experience across a range of careers.

➔ Interdisciplinary curriculum integrates food safety, policy, economics, culture and leadership to address complex food system challenges.

➔ Stackable and flexible by design: Coursework applies toward select master’s programs, allowing you to earn an employer- and institution-recognized credential now while keeping pathways open for accelerated graduate study later.

➔ Project-driven applied learning: Engage in research, analysis, and real-world projects that connect theory to practice across local and global food systems.

➔ Grounded in ethics, equity and sustainability: Emphasizes responsible leadership by examining power, justice and sustainability alongside innovation and systems performance. 

Featured Faculty

Jason Evans
Jason Evans

Dean

Evans has developed and taught courses in agricultural economics and policy; food-related marketing and management; ecology and natural resources; and food systems.

Christine Stamm
Christine Stamm

Professor

Stamm strives to build student competency in her courses by utilizing expertise in curriculum and teaching while incorporating her own experiences as a livelong learner.

Rollie Wesen, M.Ed.
Rollie Wesen

Associate Professor

Wesen’s areas of focus and teaching expertise include culinary workforce development, food policy, food equity and environmental, economic and social sustainability within the food system.

Courses

Law, Economics and the American Food System

In this course, explore the American food system through the lens of (a) microeconomic theory; (b) the U.S. legal system; (c) policy and politics; and (d) history. Complete an extensive research project culminating in the development and presentation of a private market or public policy solution to the negative human health, ecological, economic and/or outcomes of agricultural/food market failures. 

Eating Identities: Food, Culture and Social Justice

Drawing on ethnographic, historical, and interdisciplinary perspectives, this course offers a critical, anthropologically informed exploration of the cultural, social, economic, and historical forces that shape food systems. Investigate how practices of production, preparation and consumption are embedded in relations of power, identity and meaning, with particular attention to foodways and foodscapes as analytic frameworks.

Shaping the Future of Food

This project-based course provides students with the opportunity to explore the local food system from the unique perspective of a chef. Meet local food producers, sample products and investigate systemic issues related to the longterm viability of local food systems. Analyze the impact chefs have within the food web and begin to research approaches to creating local, sustainable and more regenerative food systems.

Introduction to Food Safety Systems

This course examines the voluntary and regulatory frameworks that exist to support a safe domestic food supply. Explore food safety systems that address the biological, chemical and physical hazards as they relate to various aspects of the food industry. Expect to dissect the complex challenges in today’s food supply chain.

A catalog link will be added once it becomes available.

Related Programs

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Sustainable Food Systems

Grounded in professional kitchens, farms and community-based action, this interdisciplinary bachelor of science (B.S.) program examines the connections between food, culture, policy, the environment and public health.

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Food Systems Innovation & Leadership

JWU Providence’s Food Systems Innovation & Leadership master of science (M.S.) combines applied research, food web analysis and organizational leadership to train the next generation of food leaders.

Analyzing nutritional content at JWU’s Ecolab Center.

Food Safety

JWU Online’s Food Safety M.S. degree program examines food safety from a variety of perspectives, including regulatory, retail and food processing.

Faculty Contact

Providence

Professor Branden Lewis, Ed.D., CEC
401-598-1972
Email

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