Master of Food and Agriculture Law and Policy (MFALP)

The Master of Food and Agriculture Law and Policy (MFALP) degree program is designed to educate future leaders in food and agricultural law and policy. Through intensive study and practical training, students learn to effectively engage the institutions and individuals that influence food and agriculture law and policy and formulate law and policy solutions.

Program Description

MFALP students can choose from an array of over 50 residential and distance learning courses taught by world-renowned faculty, including those in our renowned Summer Session, as well as optional clinical training in one of the nation's first food and agriculture law clinics. The MFALP trains students in public advocacy and writing for a legal policy audience, offers opportunities for independent research with support from faculty, and opens doors to externships at organizations around the country and the world. All MFALP students choose between a "research track" to write a thesis, or a "practice track" to pursue an externship or on-campus clinic.

Our unique and comprehensive curriculum, developed by faculty of VLGS's Center for Agriculture and Food Systems, develops students' advocacy skills in the growing and dynamic area of food and agriculture policy.

This 34-credit degree program is also offered as a joint degree with Vermont Law and Graduate School's JD, and is open to students enrolled at other law schools who wish to combine it with their JD. Our online courses, Summer Session, and experiential learning opportunities offer flexibility to students pursuing these joint options.

For more information, please review the MFALP Program Planning Guidelines.

At A Glance

Program Center: Center for Agriculture and Food Systems
Location: Online, on-campus or a hybrid of both
Credit Requirements: 34 credits*

*Credit requirements are for students starting the degree in Fall 2023 and beyond.
Students who started prior to Fall 2023 should refer to the Academic Regulations for their catalog year.

Careers and Alumni

Vermont Law and Graduate School master's graduates are the leaders, policymakers, and professionals our communities and our world most desperately need. Master’s alumni careers include:

Max De Faria MFALP’22 was appointed to the Congressional Hunger Center’s Alumni Council. Additionally, Max is a 2022 summer intern at Harvard Law School’s Food Law and Policy Clinic.
Emily Hickey MFALP’22 was selected to the Congressional Hunger Center’s internship program.
Carrie Pezzuti MFALP’21 was recently hired by the Environmental Working Group to be their business development associate.
Lauren Wustenberg JD/MFALP’21 was an intern for the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and has been hired by US Senator Debbie Stabenow’s office as staff counsel.
Margaret Rossano MFALP’21 was hired by California Land Link as their new Senior Program Associate.
Suhasini Ghosh JD’21 was hired by Conservation Law Foundation as the Charlotte E. Ray Fellow.
Esther Akwii LLM’20 is the Clinical Teaching Fellow at Harvard Law School.
Johanna Doren MFALP’20 is the Local Food Access Coordinator at NOFA-VT.
Alyssa Hartman MFALP’19 is the Executive Director of Artisan Grain Collaborative.
Jesse Womack MFALP’19 is a Policy Specialist at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.
Emma Newton MFALP’18 is an Agriculture and Food Systems Consultant at State Innovation Exchange.
Shannon Rodeffer MFALP’17 is an Agricultural Economist. Dairy Marketing Specialist at the USDA Agricultural Marketing Services.
Carrie Scrufari LLM’16 is the Associate General Counsel at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Eva Moss MFALP’16 is the Farmer and Partner Development Manager at Farm Commons.
McKenna Hayes MFALP’16 is the Director of Food Connects.

Degree Details

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