Main Field of Study and progress level:
Food and Nutrition: Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Grading scale: Three-grade scale
Responsible department: Department of Food, Nutrition and Culinary Science
Contents
Food is not just something we eat because we are hungry. From the farm to your table, it has great social, economic and political importance. In many parts of the world people do not have enough food and, in others, the problem is that too much of the wrong kind of food is eaten. There can be problems also with the ethics of mass market food production and long-distance transportation. The kind of food we eat, where it comes from and what it does to us are some of the biggest questions of our time. Broadly, in this course, we look at:
- food and the balance of power between producers, retailers and consumers.
- the globalisation of food supply, environmental concerns and consumer expectations.
- consumption patterns in western and developing countries.
- the politics of food safety, food labelling and food advertising.
Expected learning outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
demonstrate an understanding of the social and economic factors that influence relationships between food producers, retailers and consumers.
demonstrate an understanding of the social pressures that influence consumers food choices and eating patterns.
critically discuss the role of governments in overseas food aid and the regulation of, for example, food safety, food labeling and advertising.
Required Knowledge
Univ: Courses at least 90 ECTS in one subject.
Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English A (IELTS (Academic) with a minimum overall score of 5.5 and no individual score below 5.0. TOEFL PBT
(Paper-based Test) with a minimum total score of 530 and a minimum TWE score of 4. TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test) with a minimum total score of 72 and a minimum score of 17 on the Writing Section).
Where the language of instruction is Swedish, applicants must prove proficiency in Swedish to the level required for basic eligibility for higher studies.
Form of instruction
Lecture documents, reading requirements and discussion will be web-based. You must have Internet access. All teaching materials will be in English.
Examination modes
Assessment is based on individual written assignments (essays, home tests and an individual project). All assignments must be written in English. To pass the course, all work must be graded pass (G). To pass the course with distinction (VG), the individual project, and the majority of other assignments, must be graded VG.
For rules and regulations about the examination/assessment see the Umeå University Code of Rules and Procedures.
Academic credit transfer
The equivalence of course credits (completely or partially) can be assessed (see the Umeå University Code of Rules and Procedures). An application can be made on a special form according to the Student Services directive.
Literature
The literature list is not available through the web.
Please contact the faculty.
