Extended Learning

Faculty of Agriculture

Organic Agriculture

Get ahead of the curve

Get a head start on an agricultural degree with the Certificate of Specialization in Organic Agriculture. You'll have the opportunity to specialize in the expanding area of organic agriculture.

There are also opportunities for self-employment on smaller farms that might not be profitable under conventional production.

All of the courses within the certificate are available only online. Students will have 3 years to complete this certificate.

If you are not currently a Dalhousie Student, please go to Applying for Undergraduate Studies and apply as a Faculty of Agriculture Undergraduate then choose the application type "Dal Undergraduates Certificates" option. Next select your planned course of study, which is the Certificate in Organic Agriculture. Once accepted, you will receive a letter and information on how to register for the upcoming courses.

Supplies/materials for the course can be ordered through our on campus bookstore. Please contact the bookstore for pricing information: bookstore.dac@dal.ca

Certification Eligibility

To receive a Certificate of Specialization in Organic Agriculture you must have an overall average of at least 60% in four of the eligible organic agriculture credit courses.  If you are a current Dalhousie student you must declare your organic certificate in Dal Online under Admissions > Declare your Major/Minor, then submit the certificate under the program options, with no major/minor (unless you are in a degree and want to update at that time).  If you are just beginning your organic certificate courses you must also apply for the certificate in organic agriculture  or declare your organic certificate in Dal online for a record to be processed and the system to notify you for when you can apply to graduate.  Dececember 1st is the deadline to apply to graduate in May and July 2nd is the last day to spply to graduate in October.  You can apply to graduate through Dal Online. 

AGRI 2000 - Transition to Organic Agriculture (Fall)

APSC 2003 - Composting and Compost Use (Fall)
HORT 2001 - Principles of Organic Horticulture (Fall) 
AGRN 2000 - Organic Field Crop Management (Winter)
ANSC 2004 - Organic Livestock Production (Winter)

You may substitute two of the courses with approved organic courses offered by external institutions. These alternate courses will be taken on a Letter of Permission.

Course Fees

Tuition is $833.70/course

An additional Distance Education Course Fee of $49.00 is charged for all distance education course sections.

Incidental fees are paid by all students at Dalhousie University. These are mandatory, non-academic fees, in addition to your tuition, that helps to fund various student programs. Incidental fees are outlined below.

Full-time Student Fee             $323.67 per term (3 or more courses)
Part-time Student Fee              $99.20 per term (2 or less courses)


*Please note that tuition and student fees are subject to change each year


Other institutions offering approved courses 

  • Key Indicators of Agroecosystem Sustainability - University of British Columbia 
  • Organic Crop Production on the Prairies - University of Manitoba
  • Organic Marketing - University of Guelph
  • Weed Control in Organic Agriculture - University of Saskatchewan

Students must register for their exam location two weeks prior to their exam date and time.  If a student is outside 100kms of the Truro or Halifax campus they are able to write their exam with a proctor.

Please register here for your proctor and exam location