Food Studies Major

Program Coordinator: Mohammed Esa, Ph.D.

Description

The Food Studies major explores the connections between food, culture, social policy, and the environment in the bachelor’s degree program at McDaniel College. Drawing on a number of disciplines, including environmental studies and public policy, history and languages, cinema studies and literature, sociology and kinesiology, the program prepares students to implement positive changes in food systems by engaging them with processes of production, distribution, consumption, and regulation.

The degree in Food Studies is a pathway to careers and graduate study in food policy research and advocacy, environmentally sustainable agriculture, urban policy analysis and management, food marketing and distribution, public relations, and business administration for governments, NGOs, culinary journalism, and culinary businesses.

Requirements

Core (16 credits):

Content Areas (26-28 credits):

Students must complete seven courses from the following three areas, at least two courses from each area AND at least two of the seven courses in the content areas must be at the 3000-level.

Food, Culture and Media (take at least two courses)

Food, Health and the Environment (take at least two courses)

Food, Policy and Society (take at least two courses)

Total Program Hours: 42-44

Departmental Writing:

The Departmental Writing requirement will be met by taking the two writing intensive courses, FST-3325 - Food Studies: Research Methods and FST 4401 - Capstone in Food Studies, as notated by the # symbol.

Requirements for Departmental Honors

To receive departmental honors, students must earn at least a 3.50 GPA in the FST major and do one of the following:

complete an independent studies research project in consultation with the coordinator of the FST program OR
volunteer for 2 semesters in a hunger fighting institution in the Westminster area such as soup kitchens or the Carroll County Food Sunday OR
serve as an officer for at least one year in the Culinary Club or in any other student club that focuses on the environment, food or fighting hunger.