SARE National Continuing Education Program in Sustainable Agriculture
for Cooperative Extension and other Agricultural, Natural Resource and Community Development Professionals

Project Home

National Continuing Education Program Components

Curriculum Framework

Defines essential topics and major learning objectives for development of:

  • national online course covering the basics of sustainable agriculture, and
  • in-depth trainings at the regional and state level

The framework covers the 5 Core Topics listed below, and for each topic, includes general learning outcomes/objectives for the national online course, followed by a list of essential sub-topics and subject matter areas in which ag professionals should be proficient, as appropriate to their job assignment.

Click on a topic below for details, or click here to print them all.
Your Web browser settings must have Java and pop-ups enabled in order to view these pages and use the drop-down lists.

Major Topics

National Online Course Series
First course available December ‘06 at
SARE Continuing Ed Portal

An interactive, Web-based course series for extension service providers and other professionals that:

  • Covers the fundamentals of sustainable ag and helps meet requirements of SARE Professional Development Program (PDP) legislation.
  • Includes 5 courses based on major topics in the Curriculum Framework with links to other sustainable ag PDP courses and programs.
  • Aims to develop basic knowledge and understanding, with some application.

Regional / State Trainings
ongoing
Click map at left to visit your region's PDP Web site

On-site programs that complement the national online course series by:

  • Exploring essential topics in greater depth, and covering additional basics as necessary.
  • Emphasizing practical, hands-on experience, with possible online components linked to national course.
  • Helping ag professionals to--
    • understand the complexities in ag and food systems;
    • apply knowledge in work with farmers, ranchers, and communities;
    • develop leaders and innovators working in sustainable ag.

SARE is a program of USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES)