The minor in food systems is designed to provide students from a range of disciplines with the knowledge and skills to understand how factors of the food system affect the health of a community (e.g., nutrition, food security, inequity, agriculture, food safety). Using a systems approach, students will study the interrelating components, drivers, and outcomes in the national and global food systems, including the obesity epidemic, food security, and the environmental impact of agriculture.
Policies
To complete the minor, students are required to pass at least 15 credits of undergraduate coursework. At least six credits must be completed at Mason, and no more than three credits of C- or D in the minor are accepted. Eight credits of coursework must be unique to the minor.
Students should be familiar with university-wide requirements for minors described in AP.5.3.4 Minors.
Minor Requirements
Total credits: minimum 15
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUTR 295 | Introduction to Nutrition (Mason Core) | 3 |
| NUTR 318 | Global Nutrition and Food Security | 3 |
| NUTR 326 | Food Systems (Mason Core) | 3 |
| NUTR 383 | Taste and Place | 3 |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Experimental Foods and Experimental Foods Lab | ||
| Introduction to Food Safety and Defense | ||
| Fundamentals of Cooking | ||
| Introduction to Wine and Beer | ||
| Urban Agriculture | ||
| Food and Human Evolution | ||
| Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering | ||
| Urban Ecosystems and Processes | ||
| Food Systems and Policy (Mason Core) | ||
| Sustainable Food Systems | ||
| Professional Pathways in Sustainable Food Systems | ||
INTS 402 | ||
| Global Environmental Ethics (Mason Core) | ||
or PHIL 343 | Topics in Environmental Philosophy (Mason Core) | |
or PHIL 358 | Ethics and Economics | |
| Food and Beverage Management | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |