Explore Food, Culture, Sustainability and Society

At Emmanuel, the interdisciplinary food studies minor explores how food shapes culture, health, the environment, business and society. Through courses spanning the liberal arts, natural and physical sciences, and business, you'll examine topics such as food production, sustainability, food security, public health, global food systems and the cultural traditions that influence what we eat.

You'll investigate how food intersects with identity, history, politics and social justice while gaining practical experience through experiential learning projects. Along the way, you'll develop the analytical, scientific and business skills to understand the environmental, economic and social challenges facing today's food systems and contribute to more sustainable and equitable solutions.

The Curriculum

View the 2024-2025 Academic Catalog to find course titles, numbers and descriptions.

This interdisciplinary Minor requires five courses, including one course from each area of study below and one additional elective from any course below, as well as one internship INT 1010 (to be approved by a coordinator of the Food Studies minor).

Business & Management

  • MGMT1101 Introduction to Business
  • MGMT2410 Entrepreneurship and Business Management 

Humanities

  • HIST1112 Food and Fermentation (HI) 
  • HIST3412  Immigrant Kitchens (SJ) 

Natural Sciences

  • BIOL1215 Intro to Nutrition (SI) (NS) OR BIOL2113 Human Nutrition
  • CHEM2106 Chemistry of Brewing with lab (SI-L) (NSL) OR CHEM2116 Chemistry of Brewing (SI) (NS)
  • PHYS2410/IDS2410 Sustainability Science (SI-L) (NSL)

Social Sciences

  • POLSC2705/SOC2705 Sustainable Development
  • POLSC2801 Food Policy & Social Justice (SA) (SS) (SJ) 

On completion of the Food Studies minor, students will learn:

  • The historical processes that influence culinary traditions and social frameworks, health systems, as well as the economic and political interests as they relate to food consumption and production.
  • How the political environments in the national and international arenas impact inequities in the food system, such as food insecurity, mal- and under-nourishment, labor in the food system, and the undermining of food sovereignty.
  • The sustainability of food systems.
  • The materials aspect of food such as the science of nutrition, agriculture, and food and beverage production.
  • Exposure to core skills that will support food-related business and program management.
  • The social, economic, institutional, and technological challenges and opportunities that exist for food-related businesses and social entrepreneurs.