Food and Society Minor

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The interdisciplinary minor in Food and Society at USC explores food as a complex social phenomenon, shaped by human knowledges, practices, and ecologies. Grounded in Anthropology, the minor in Food and Society examines the diversity that characterizes human relationships to food, and learn to apply the tools of social analysis to gain critical insight into the complex social forces that shape food systems.

Required:

ANTH 338g Food in Culture and Society Units: 4

One elective from the following list of lower-division courses:

ANTH 101g Body, Mind and Healing: Introduction to Medical Anthropology Units: 4
ANTH 201g Principles of Human Organization Units: 4
ANTH 205g Introduction to Global Studies and Overseas Research Units: 4
ANTH 263g Exploring Culture through Film Units: 4
BISC 102Lgx Humans and Their Environment Units: 4
BISC 115Lxg The Biology of Food Units: 4
HP 230 Nutrition and Health Units: 4
JS 258gp Food, Faith and Conflict Units: 4
REL 136g Sense and Sensuality in Indian Religions and Culture Units: 4

Three electives from the following list of upper-division courses:

AMST 343 Food, Health and Culture in Los Angeles Units: 4
ANTH 301g The Global Performance of Healing Units: 4
ANTH 302 Humans and Ancient Environments Units: 4
ANTH 333gm Forms of Folklore Units: 4
ANTH 338g Food in Culture and Society Units: 4
ANTH 360 Symbolic Anthropology Units: 4
ANTH 393 Directed Internship Units: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
ANTH 407 Peasant Society Units: 4
ANTH 460 Economic Anthropology Units: 4
HBIO 300 Evolution, Ecology, and Culture Units: 4
JOUR 458 Media, Food and Culture Units: 4
PPD 416 Food Policy and Planning Units: 2
REL 303g Exploring Ancient Ways of Living: Experimental Archaeology Units: 4
REL 475 Religion, Material Culture and the Senses Units: 4
SPAN 316x Spanish for the Professions Units: 4
SPAN 385 The Culture of Food in Hispanic Los Angeles Units: 4
SWMS 389 Gender, Sexuality and Food Cultures in the U.S. Units: 4

Electives by petition

Students may also identify elective courses that fit within the following four categories and petition for their approval toward the minor. Contact your academic or program adviser for information.

Culture and History

Courses that offer a cultural, historical, or humanistic perspective on specific communities, foodways or practices. Exemplary courses:

CORE 301 Modes of Inquiry Units: 4
(Section: We are What we Eat: Food & Class in Los Angeles. The course explores class issues embedded in LA’s international food scene.)
GESM 130g Seminar in Social Analysis Units: 4
(Sections: Food – Then and Now; Food and Charity)
GESM 131g Seminar in Social Analysis Units: 4
(Section: Food, Society and Health)

Nature and human life

Courses that examine the relationship between humans and nature; it pertains to food or nutrition, including topics in biology, ecology, sustainability, environmental studies, agriculture and civil engineering, etc. Exemplary courses:

BISC 115Lxg The Biology of Food Units: 4
CE 451 Water Resources and Coastal Engineering Units: 4

Politics and policy

Courses that provide insight into the relationship between food politics and policy including issues in economic development, trade and food security, food deserts, poverty and public health, etc. Exemplary courses:

ECON 344 Economic Development of Sub-Saharan Africa Units: 4
PPD 416 Food Policy and Planning Units: 2

Art, craft and practice

Courses that provide a perspective on food as art, craft or creative practice, including documenting or representing food in social experience. Exemplary courses:

COMM 400 Seminar in Communication Units: 4
REL 303g Exploring Ancient Ways of Living: Experimental Archaeology Units: 4