• Food Studies (Minor)

  • Overview

    The Food Studies minor is offered through the Schools of Public Engagement.

    The minor in Food Studies allows students to supplement their main area of study with a theoretical and practical understanding of food systems and food systems design. The minor builds basic understanding of culinary, political, social, managerial and agricultural issues in relation to food and urban sustainability.

    Course availability may vary from semester to semester. Some courses may be in development and offered at a later time. Students must select one introductory course from one of three concentrations. They then must follow the course curriculum of their chosen concentration. Students seeking to pursue alternative coursework to fulfill the minor should consult with their advisors.

    Curriculum

    Subject AreaSample CoursesCredits
    Introductory Courses

    Introduction to Food Studies
    NFDS 2050 Food, Culture, and Society

    Food Culture, Media, and Communication
    NFDS 2101 American Culinary History From the Erie Canal to the Food Network
    NFDS 2615 The Language of Food

    Food Health, Science, and the Environment
    NFDS 2720 Food and the Human Body

    Food Policy and Politics
    NFDS 2121 The Global Food System
    NFDS 3300 Food Fights! Food in Advocacy and Socio-Political Communication

    6
    Elective CoursesFood Culture, Media, and Communication
    NFDS 2102 Drinking History
    NFDS 2110 Culinary Luminaries: A Celebration of Those Who Have Changed the Way We Eat
    NFDS 2120 The Sweet and the Bitter: A Historical Perspective on Sugar in Culture and Society
    NFDS 2625 Food and Media
    NFDS 2906 NYC Eats
    NFDS 3110 Cultural History of Nutrition and Dieting
    NFDS 3300 Food Fights! Food in Advocacy and Socio-political Communication
    NFDS 3401 Eating Identities: Food, Gender, and Race in Media
    NFDS 3505 Food and the Senses: An Exploration of Embodied Knowledge
    NFDS 3615 Feast Your Eyes: Food and Film
    NFDS 3601 Professional Food Writing
    NWRW 3346 Food Narratives
    NFDS 2611 The Language of Food
    NFDS 4530 Food History and Globalization

    Food Health, Science, and the Environment
    NFDS 2400 From Nuggets to Nourishment: Kids and Food
    NFDS 3203 Alternative Food Networks
    NFDS 3300 Food Fights! Food in Advocacy and Socio-political Communication
    NFDS 3700 The Science of Food, Flavor, and Farming
    NFDS 4375 Food, Tourism, and Sustainable Development

    NFDS 4715 Food and the Environment
    UENV 4520 Urban Food Systems
    NFDS 2230 Global Food Systems
    NFDS 2957 Zero Food Waste
    NFDS 3202 Food, Power, and Paradox

    Food Policy and Politics
    NFDS 3201 Food Policy for the Local Food Revolution
    NFDS 3203 Alternative Food Networks
    NFDS 3255 Social Justice in the Food System
    NFDS 3300 Food Fights! Food in Advocacy and Socio-political Communication
    NFDS 3410 Food and Migrations
    UENV 4520 Urban Food Systems
    NFDS 2230 Global Food Systems
    NFDS 3202 Food, Power and Paradox
    NFDS 4530 Food History and Globalization

    12

    Learning Outcomes

    A student who has completed this minor should be able to demonstrate:

    • Knowledge of the complex network of issues around food and food systems, particularly in an urban environment.
    • An understanding of the historical, political, cultural, environmental, and economic structures influencing food and food systems.
    • An understanding of global systems and the ability to think critically and creatively about these systems, and problem-solve with an entrepreneurial approach.
    • The ability to incorporate his/her skills and knowledge of food systems with other areas of interest such as design, writing, management and media.
    • The ability to work collaboratively or individually with different stake holders to address issues that intersect academia, business, and the nonprofit sector.
    • In-depth knowledge of a particular area of food and food systems, e.g., food health and the environment, in the student's chosen concentration.

    Eligibility

    The Food Studies minor is available to undergraduate students across The New School, with the exception of students enrolled in the BA, BS, or AAS in Food Studies.

    Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all courses taken for the minor.

    For questions regarding this minor's curriculum, including requests for course substitutions, please email [email protected] or call 212.229.5119.

    How to Declare or Change a Minor

    General guidelines for declaring a minor are available here. Current students can declare or change a minor by logging in to my.newschool.edu, clicking on the Academics tab, and then clicking on the link to Major/Minor Declarations.

  • Take the Next Step

    Contact your Student Success advisor to discuss how a minor will fit with your degree requirements.

    Declare or change a minor on my.newschool.edu in the Academics tab. 

  • Take The Next Step

Submit your application

Undergraduates

To apply to any of our undergraduate programs (except the Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs) complete and submit the Common App online.

Undergraduate Adult Learners

To apply to any of our Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

Graduates

To apply to any of our Master's, Doctoral, Professional Studies Diploma, and Graduate Certificate programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

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