Sustainable Agriculture Institute

Fieldwork Hours Program

for

Permaculture Diploma and Permaculture Degrees

The Sustainable Agriculture Institute (SAI) was founded on the Principles of Permaculture and thus strives to provide low-cost education on Sustainable Agriculture and Permaculture Design.

The Fieldwork Hour Program awards Educational Credits for demonstrating hours of Applied Fieldwork. The Institute’s recognition of Applied Fieldwork Hours as an integral part of the Permaculture Design Education Experience.

The application of Applied Fieldwork Hours to the Academic Year for totaling of Credit Hours facilitates a broader learning pathway which supports the Institutes Permaculture Diploma and Permaculture Degrees Programs and the spirit of Permaculture Design as an Applied Design Science.

The Applied Fieldwork Hours reward an Applied Hands-on Experiential Education for fieldworks pertaining to Sustainable Agricultural Practices, Permaculture Design, and Sustainable Systems Implementation.

The motto of Permaculture is “Ingenio Patet Campus”,

Latin for the phrase “The Field Lies Open to the Intellect”.

This motto demonstrates Integrated Field Design as a Design Science.

Table Of Contents

Section 2 – What Sustainable Disciplines are used to support Fieldwork Hours

Section 3 – What criteria are applied by the Institute for the award of Academic Credits

Section 4 – Higher Level Education in Permaculture Design

Section 5 – SAI Credit Transfer and Award Process

Section 6 – Minimum Qualification Standards for Submission of Fieldwork Hours

Section 7 – SAI’s Nomenclature & Abbreviations Standards for Permaculture Diploma and Permaculture Degrees

What is the Applied Fieldwork Hours Program

Fieldwork Hours Program Assures the following:

• Submission Process for Fieldwork Hours Review to SAI Office of the Registrar;
• Review Process by SAI Administrator to Award or Reject Fieldwork Hours;
• Award Process of Credit Hours to SAI Official Transcript.

Fieldwork Hours for Hands-on Practicum equips the graduate with essential skills and practical experience that could lead to a Career in the Environmenta or Sustainabiltiy Sectors.

What Sustainable Disciplines are used to support Fieldwork Hours

The following Sustainable Disciplines are the basis of Applied Fieldwork and form an indication of the areas that can be covered by the Advanced Permaculture Diploma and Permaculture Degrees.

Fieldwork Hours are weighted to favor Applied Fieldwork, whereas Educational Credits are weighted towards Research (broad categories, covering all Permaculture-related disciplines, or Sustainability-related disciplines.) For a well-rounded Permaculture Design Education, a blend of Theoretical and Practical Education is ideal.

Permaculture and Sustainability Disciplines for Fieldworks Hours listed below:

• Natural Patterns
• Bio Mimicry
• Community Development
• Technical Development
• Agro-Ecology
• Free-Form Category

What Criteria are Applied by the Institute for the Award of Credit Hours

Sustainable Agriculture Institute’s Credit Hour Criteria

The Sustainable Agriculture Institute operates in accordance with the ISO Educational Quality Assurance Framework 21001: 2018(en) and follows strict International Credit Compliance Measures to assure that all the SAI Permaculture Diploma and Permaculture Degree Programs are at the highest level of Educational Excellence.

In order to assure a fair assessment of Educational Hours for the award of Credit Hours for application on a students Official Transcript the following rules apply:

1.   SAI follows a standard Academic Year which consists of two Semesters which consist of 15 Credit Hours per Semester totaling 30 Credit Hours per Academic Year.

2.   SAI calculates a Credit Hour with 15 Educational Hours per Credit Hour.

SAI calculates the Educational Hours per Academic Year as follows:

• a complete Academic Year consists of 30 Credit Hours times 15 Educational Hours per Credit Hour for a total of total 450 Educational Hours per Academic Year.

Formula = 30 CH x 15 EH = 450 EH

SAI applies a weighted value to calculate Educational Hours as follows:

50 minutes of Lecture plus two self-study activity hours outside of the classroom = 3 Educational Hours

OR

 1 hr of Fieldwork (hands-on practicum) = 2 Educational Hours

If you have any questions concerning the Submission Process and Qualification Standards used by SAI you can always contact the Office of the Registrar.

Higher Level Education in Permaculture Design

SAI Credit Transfer and Award Process

The Office of the Registrar can “Review and Transfer Credits” from other Colleges, Universities of Institutes to be used to support the Credit Hours needed to complete a Permaculture Diploma or Degree Program.

The Office of the Registrar can “Review and Award Credit Hours” for Applied Fieldworks.

The Office of the Registrar charges administration fees for the review process and Transfer or Award per Credit Hour for each SAI credit hour applied to the Official SAI Permaculture Diploma and Permaculture Degree Transcripts.

Transfer and Award Administrative Fees

1.   Transfer of Credits Review Fee

SAI charges a Review Fee of 5 USD for each Credit Hour that is reviewed from another College, University, or Institute. Approved Credits will be applied to an SAI Transcript.

Examples of Typical Credit Transfer Review Fees:

A.   Permaculture Design(er) Course to SAI Credits – 10 Credit Hours x 5 USD per Credit Hour Transfer Fee = 50 USD Credit Hour Transfer Fee

B.   Associate Diploma to SAI Credits – 30 Credit Hours x 5 USD per Credit Hour Transfer Fee = 150 USD Credit Hour Transfer Fee

C.   Associate Degree to SAI Credits – 60 Credit Hours x 5 USD per Credit Hour Transfer Fee = 300 USD Credit Hour Transfer Fee

D.   Bachelor Degree to SAI Credits – 120 Credit Hours x 5 USD per Credit Hour Transfer Fee = 600 USD Credit Hour Transfer Fee

2.   Award of Credits Review Fee 

SAI charges a Review Fee of 10 USD for each Credit Hour that is awarded for Fieldwork Hours. Approved Credits will be applied to an SAI Transcript.

Examples of Typical Fieldwork Hours Awarded to SAI Credit Hours Review Fees:

(15 Educational Hours = 1 Credit Hour)

A.   Submission of 150 Fieldwork Hours = 300 Educational Hours Awarded = 20 Credit Hours x 10 USD per Approved Credit Hour = 200 USD Credit Hour Award Fee

B.  Submission of 300 Fieldwork Hours = 600 Educational Hours Awarded = 40 Credit Hours x 10 USD per Approved Credit Hour = 400 USD Credit Hour Award Fee

C.  Submission of 450 Fieldwork Hours = 900 Educational Hours Awarded = 60 Credit Hours x 10 USD per Approved Credit Hour = 600 USD Credit Hour Award Fee

D.  Submission of 600 Fieldwork Hours = 1,200 Educational Hours Awarded = 80 Credit Hours x 10 USD per Approved Credit Hour = 800 USD Credit Hour Award Fee

E.  Submission of 750 Fieldwork Hours = 1,500 Educational Hours Awarded = 100 Credit Hours x 10 USD per Approved Credit Hour = 1,000 USD Credit Hour Award Fee

3. Permaculture Design Course Credit Transfer

Please Note: SAI operates as a Not-for-profit Education Institute and assures that fair pricing models are adhered to as a fulfillment of the Institute’s Mission. The cost of Credit Hours is a function of the Administration Fees and not a reflection on the Educational Value.

Credit Transfer Classifications to support Permaculture Diploma and Degree Programs:

1.   SAI supports the transfer of other non-SAI Earned Credits from Diploma or Degree Programs to SAI Diploma or Degree Programs;

2.   SAI awards Fieldwork Hours and Converts to Credit Hours to be used in support of SAI Diploma or Degree Programs.

Acceptance Conditions: 

• The submission of earned Credit Hours on non completed Diploma or Degree programs must be within the last ten (10) years.
• The submission of Fieldwork Hours for the award of Educational Hours and Credits must be within the last fifteen (15) years.
• The submission of awarded Credit Hours for Diploma and Degrees has no expiration date for transfer of Credit Hours to SAI Diploma and Degree Programs.

Minimum Qualification Standards for Submission of Fieldwork Hours

1. The applicant must be a graduate of a Permaculture Design(er) Course from a reputable Permaculture Design School/Institute.

Note: SAI accepts other schools/Institutes PDC’s for qualification.

2. The applicant must submit proof of their graduation from the Permaculture Design Course for review by the SAI Office of the Registrar. A high-quality scanned copy or photo of the Original Certification is acceptable in most instances. SAI reserves the right to contact the school/institute to further check the validity of the certification.

Note: if you have not yet obtained your Permaculture Designer Qualification you can take the SAI online Permaculture Designers Course.

If you have any questions concerning the Submission Process and Qualification Standards used by SAI you can always contact the Office of the Registrar.

SAI’s Nomenclature & Abbreviations Standards for Permaculture Diploma and Permaculture Degrees

The Sustainable Agriculture Institute follows International Nomenclature & Abbreviations Standards to assure that all programs shall have a set of Internationally Accepted set of Nomenclature and Post-Nominal Abbreviations.

Specifically, SAI Quality Assurance Program references the Guidelines set out by the U.S. Department of Education Structures.

Undergraduate Level Education Courses

• Level 1 – Free Permaculture Design Introduction (No Abbreviations) – No Credits Awarded
• Level 2 – Permaculture Design(er) Course, PDC – 150 Educational Hours –  10 Credit Hours
• Level 3 – Permaculture Master Planner Course, PMC – 150 Educational Hours – 10 Credit Hours
• Level 4 – Permaculture Consultant Course, PCC – 150 Educational Hours – 10 Credit Hours
• Level 4 – Permaculture Teachers Course, PTC – 150 Educational Hours – 10 Credit Hours

Undergraduate Level Education Programs

• Level 5 – Associate Diploma, A.S.P.D. – 450 Educational Hours – 30 Credit Hours
• Level 6 – Associate Degree, A.S.P.D. – 900 Educational Hours – 60 Credit Hours

Graduate Level Education Programs

•  Level 7 – Bachelors Degree, B.S.P.D. – 1,800 Educational Hours – 120 Credit Hours

Advanced Level Education Programs

•  Level 8 – Master Degree, M.P.D. – 450 Educational Hours – 30 Credit Hours

Doctorate Education Programs

•  Level 9 – Doctorate Degree, D.P.D. – 450 Educational Hours – 30 Credit Hours

Graduate Education Programs

•  Level 10 – Habilitation Degree, H.P.D. – 900 Educational Hours – 60 Credit Hours

If you have any questions concerning the Submission Process and Qualification Standards used by SAI you can always contact the Office of the Registrar.