OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-25
Food and Society Certificate Program |
Certificate code CTFSCU
College of Arts and Sciences
Sociology and Anthropology Department
Bentley Annex 162
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.1350
Fax: 740.593.1365
socanth@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/cas/sociology-anthropology
Dr. Stephen Scanlan, contact person
scanlans@ohio.edu
Program Overview
Food, its production, consumption, and meaning, is of deep social, political, and economic consequence. Food is at the heart of debates about globalization, science, technology, and social progress. The Food and Society Certificate program allows students to think critically about an aspect of their lives that is at once personal, public, and political, and to which they can readily relate. The certificate promotes an interdisciplinary understanding of the cultural significance of food; how food is grown, treated, harvested, sold, purchased, consumed, shared, and disposed of; and the impact these practices have on suppliers, consumers, and the environment. The certificate emphasizes both food culture and food systems.
Admissions Information
Freshman/First-Year Admission
No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Change of Program Policy
No selective or limited admission requirements.
External Transfer Admission
No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Opportunities Upon Graduation
Students with a Certificate in Food and Society and an appropriate undergraduate degree can go on to do graduate work in the area of food studies. Possible employment opportunities with students whose interests are more in food culture would go on to find related jobs in the following areas: publishing, public relations, marketing, nonprofit work, and food operations. Students whose interests focus more on food systems would go on to find job opportunities in the following areas: local and national government, non-governmental organization work in advocacy and policy, development organizations, food production companies, and food distribution companies.
Requirements
Certificate Hours Requirement
The Food and Society Certificate program requires a minimum of 19 hours. Students who enroll in the certificate must meet with the director to plan their program of study.
Exploring Food Across the Liberal Arts
Complete three courses, one from each of the following areas:
Humanities
- CARS 2170 - Food, Drink and Identity in the Ancient World Credit Hours: 3
- HIST 2540 - Bread, Wine, Salt, Fat: History of Food before Refrigeration (500-1600) Credit Hours: 3
- RHT 1200 - Food and Culture Credit Hours: 3
Natural Sciences
- PBIO 1000 - Plants and the Global Environment Credit Hours: 3
- PBIO 1030 - Plants and People Credit Hours: 3
- PBIO 2060 - Sustainable Agriculture Credit Hours: 3
Social Sciences
- ANTH 2210 - Animals and Human Society Credit Hours: 3
- CAS 2411 - Food Matters! Explorations in Food Across the Liberal Arts Credit Hours: 3
- ECON 2510 - Global and Local Food Economies Credit Hours: 3
- NUTR 1100 - Introduction to Food Systems Credit Hours: 3
- SOC 2350 - Food Justice Credit Hours: 3
Area Specializations
Complete three courses from the areas listed below. Students must complete courses in at least two of the three areas and in at least two different subjects.
Agricultural Systems
- ANTH 3595 - Hunting & Gathering Societies Credit Hours: 3
- CHEM 4501 - Brewing Science Credit Hours: 3
- ES 4740 - Strategies for Resilient Agriculture Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3440 - Agricultural Ecosystems Credit Hours: 3
- PBIO 3301 - Plant Breeding Credit Hours: 3
Food Policy, Politics, & Movements
- ECON 3510 - Agricultural Development Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3410 - Geography of Hunger and Food Security Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 4560 - The Just and Sustainable City Credit Hours: 3
- NUTR 4000 - Nutrition in the Community Credit Hours: 3
- SOC 4810 - Environmental Sociology Credit Hours: 3
Food & Culture
- ANTH 4730 - Human Evolution Credit Hours: 3
- CAS 4413 - The Art of Craft Brewing: The Athens Case Study Credit Hours: 3
- SOC 3561J - Writing in Food, Hunger, and Inequality Credit Hours: 3
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In consultation with the certificate director, students can also complete a Study Away Experience relating to food and society to satisfy this requirement. Some recent examples include:
- Italy: Food in Sicily
- Ireland: Food, Hunger, & Inequality
- Kenya: Climate Change, Conservation, & Environmental Justice
Culminating Experience
In consultation with the certificate director, complete at least one hour in one of the following courses in an internship related to food and society:
- ANTH 4910 - Anthropology Internship Credit Hours: 1 - 3
- CAS 4911 - Internship in How Food Works in the Community Credit Hours: 1 - 8
- ECON 4910 - Internship in Economics Credit Hours: 1 - 3
- GEOG 4910 - Internship Credit Hours: 1 - 12
- PBIO 4910 - Internship Credit Hours: 2 - 15
- SOC 4910 - Internship in Sociology & Criminology Credit Hours: 3 - 9