Food Studies Courses

Major Courses

FOST A205: Introduction to Food Studies  3 crs. 

This course is designed to give students an overview of important contemporary issues in food studies, and a taste of a variety of ways to approach those issues. We will study the social, economic, psychological, and cultural impacts of food and cooking, in homes, schools, and professions, and the social contexts for our relationships with food.

FOST A210: Foundations in Food Systems and Commerce  3 crs. 

How can we understand the system that brings food from the field to the plate? What characterizes our current food system? What alternatives have existed in the past and might exist in the future? This course will examine these questions, using a variety of investigative tools to better understand food systems and commerce.

FOST A211: Foundations in Food Culture  3 crs. 

This course examines the cultures of food, exploring how people use food to define themselves as individuals, groups, and societies, and how cultural concerns shape food. The course investigates the meaning and significance of food in different cultures, and how race, ethnicity gender, socioeconomic status and religion influence food choices.

FOST A212: Foundations in Food Policy  3 crs. 

Foundations in Food Policy addresses normative questions about food policy: how should we make decisions about our food system?; and descriptive questions about food policy: How do we make these decisions, in practice? The course looks at food policy through the perspectives of its stakeholders to investigate what food policy is and what it does.

FOST A497 Internship/Practicum credits vary

An internship is a supervised practical experience. A practicum is a supervized practical application of previously studied theory. 

FOST A498 Research Project credits vary

This project focuses on an empirical or historical investigation, culminating in a written report. 

FOST A499 Independent Study credits vary

Independent work done under professorial supervision.