BA in Regenerative Organic Agriculture

Regenerative organic agriculture restores soils and balances ecosystems.

Use regenerative principles to rebuild soil organic matter and restore soil biodiversity
Learn permaculture and organic farming practices, including conservation tillage, cover crops, crop rotation, and composting
Attain hands-on experience growing nutrient dense food on our 16-acre farm
Immerse yourself in ecosystem thinking and whole systems design while earning your Permaculture Design Certificate
Change the world through regenerative and biodynamic farming

Work with nature, not against it

We’ll teach you how to work with nature, not against it. You’ll study natural agricultural techniques that grow healthy food at no cost to our planet.

Our program combines natural agricultural methods with science to teach totally renewable and practical farming techniques. You’ll set up your own farm system and be selling your own produce locally before graduation.

Learn practical knowledge and skills

You’ll take one hands-on class per month, diving deeply into topics such as permaculture, soil ecology, integrative pest management, practical farm management skills.

Our program goes beyond agriculture, too — you’ll have the opportunity to study writing, journalism, environmental advocacy, sustainable community development and more.

Hands-on work experience

You’ll learn farm-to-market skills through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), Farmer’s Markets, and local restaurant sales. You’ll also gain valuable work experience through a 3-month farm internship.

Self-discovery

You’ll learn the Transcendental Meditation technique, an evidence-based technique that enhances clear thinking, reduces stress, and promotes creativity.

In addition, our unique system of Consciousness-Based education will help you to connect everything you’re learning to who you are at your core.

You’ll graduate with an internationally-recognized certificate, a BA degree, and all of the skills and connections you need to secure a job in the field of sustainable agriculture.

Three possible paths

Degree program

If you are just starting your college career, you can enroll in our standard 4-year BA in Regenerative Organic Agriculture program.

Degree program for transfer students

If you have an Associate’s degree and/or 60 transfer credits, you are eligible to enter the two-year track of our BA program.

Certificate program

Our Regenerative Organic Agriculture program is also available as a 9-month-long, non-credit certification program.
Learn more ➤

Student farm receives organic and biodynamic certification

Maharishi University is the first accredited university to achieve biodynamic certification, requiring that its farm produce its own fertility – locally sourcing all the potting soil, compost, and compost tea (a blend of microorganisms used to treat the soil).

The farm also has achieved organic certification, which disallows the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, and means the farm has been free of these chemicals for a transition period of three years.

The farm operates throughout the year, growing produce in the campus greenhouses during the winter months. Produce is sold at the farmers market and via a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program. Subscribers receive a box of produce each week.

Featured faculty

Yashaswini Sharma

Dr. Yashaswini Sharma is a visiting research scholar conducting post-doctoral research on medicinal herbs.

She completed her PhD (Horticulture) in Medicinal Herbs in 2012 from University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India.

She has been conducting research on medicinal herbs and conservation and quality analysis of herbs for 12 years. Dr. Sharma has published more than 25 research papers in peer-reviewed journals and participated and presented papers in many national and international seminars.

She teaches BA and certificate courses in regenerative organic agriculture, plant propagation, and essential oil extraction and utilization.

International partnerships

Featured courses

Permaculture Design

You’ll learn how to design and implement sustainable systems in harmony with the natural world. This class will teach you the principles and methodologies of sustainable design, how to read the landscape, and the basics of urban and rural homesteads, food forests and orchards, greenhouse operation, natural building, alternative energy techniques, and more.

Harvesting and Succession Planting

In this course, you’ll study harvest and post-harvest efficiencies, including cleaning and storage, packing shed efficiency and flow, succession plantings, and cover crops, through hands-on work in the field with your classmates. At the end, you’ll market your own crops at our local farmers market.

Science and Technology of Consciousness

In this class–which is totally unique to our university–you’ll examine how our brain constructs reality at every moment and how daily practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique can awaken creative potential. This course provides a framework for MIU’s unique system of Consciousness-Based education and connects to everything else you’ll learn here.

Internship

Your internship will send you head-first into the world of sustainable agriculture, setting you up for a promising career in the field after graduation. You’ll have the opportunity to work with industry experts in a variety of domestic and international locations.