MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY

NUFD 153-4 DYNAMICS OF FOOD & SOCIETY

FALL 2020

Important Notice: It is your responsibility to know the course requirements and policies.
Therefore, it is essential that you read this document very carefully.

TIME: Mon/Thurs, 11:15 AM-12:30 PM PROFESSOR: June Levine, MS, RD, CDN, CDE
LOCATION: Meets Synchronous Online OFFICE HOURS: By appointment
CONTACT: levineju@montclair.edu

COURSE OBJECTIVES: To give students an opportunity to explore national and global issues
related to food consumption through the study of:

A: Social Difference and Food System Processes: Apply analytical tools and theoretical
perspectives to examine how social distinctions (such as race, ethnicity, class, and gender) and
political, economic and environmental processes influence local, national and global food systems

B: Cultural and Ethnic Foodways: Investigate diverse cultural and ethnic foodways, and
interpret and explain research findings

C: US and Global Food System Change: Examine and evaluate the transformation of US and
global food systems from the 18th century through the present

D: Food System Policies: Describe policies pertaining to food safety, additives, advertising and
food insecurity, and identify and propose opportunities for local, national, and global engagement

E: Sustainability and Impacts: Evaluate the sustainability of the US food system, and its impact
on personal health, the environment, and ultimately the world food situation

F: Food System Alternatives: Formulate and critically assess potential solutions to local, national
and global food system problems, including new food technologies and organic farming

G: Hunger and Food Aid: Explain the underlying causes of world hunger and appraise food aid
programs available at local, national, and global scales

By the end of the course, students will have the conceptual tools to understand the problems with
the current food system and to assess how alternatives would further or hinder sustainable
development.

General Education: This course is a Gen Ed course in the Social Science Perspectives (K3)
Category. The Primary Gen Ed Learning Goal that the course will emphasize and spend substantial
effort towards is: National and Global Issues. Collectively, the courses you take in Gen Ed will
move you substantially towards the goal of becoming more knowledgeable and familiar with
international and global issues. You will demonstrate awareness of and appreciation for diverse
cultures, both within the US and transnationally, including the dynamic nature, consequences, and
global and national dimensions of such issues as gender, race, diversity, equity, class, and
ethnicity. You will understand the democratic underpinnings of our society and their relationships
to other cultures. You will understand world and national issues and their impact on our society.
You will develop and apply multicultural and transnational awareness to problem solving and
ethical deliberations. For more information on how taking NUFD 153 contributes to Gen Ed, please
go here: http://gened-
review.referata.com/wiki/What_is_the_Gen_Ed_for,_and_how_does_taking_NUFD_153_contr
ibute_to_it%253F

REQUIRED READINGS/VIDEO:
Millstone E & Lang T (March 2013). The Atlas of Food Who Eats What, Where and Why (with an
Updated Introduction). Los Angeles CA: University of California Press. ISBN: 9780520276420

Timmerman K (2013). Where am I eating? An Adventure Through Global Food Economy. Hoboken,
NJ: Wiley. ISBN: 9781118966525

The Apple Pushers (2012) film available for rent or purchase on iTunes or YouTube.

There will also be articles, videos, or podcasts posted to Canvas in the module section. Please
check the module section each week for possible required material. All readings will be due for
the MONDAY class session, unless otherwise notified. Please come to class prepared to discuss
any reading assignment. There will be quizzes on reading assignments throughout the semester
that will count towards your participation grade.

GRADING POLICY:
Class Attendance/Reading Quizzes (10%) 50 points
Food Access Research Paper (10%) 50 points
Global Food Response Paper (20%) 100 points
Ethnic Foodways assignment (20%) 100 points
Midterm Exam (20%) 100 points
Final Exam (20%) 100 points
TOTAL 500 points

1. Zoom meetings will be recorded. You are not required to share your video but are required
to have audio access.
2. Attendance is taken each week and class participation is highly recommended. Points will
be deducted from your class attendance grade after missing more than two classes.
Reading assignment quizzes will be part (25 points) of this grade.
3. No exam makeups administered or late assignments accepted without permission from
instructor.
4. There will no be makeups for Canvas discussion posts. Please submit them prior to or on
the day assigned.
5. CHEATING & PLAGIARISM WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF COURSE- All academic dishonesty
will result in disciplinary action & will be reported to Administration.
6. Use of (APA) American Psychological Association (6th edition) citation for all references.
7. Assignments & Course presentations/resources will be posted to Canvas prior to each
class.
8. There are several articles and outside readings posted to weekly modules in Canvas
throughout the semester. Make sure to readily check the module section on Canvas. All
reading material, unless otherwise indicated, will be required for the Monday class.

Date Topic Assignment

 8/27 Introduction to the Course

8/31 & 9/3 Determinants of food choice Weekly reading- Canvas

Food security &
9/7 (no class) & 9/10
Public health nutrition programming
9/14 & 9/17 Dietary guidelines & food policy
Cultural communication &
9/21 & 9/24
Influence on food choice
Weekly reading-Canvas
Reading assignment quiz 9/
Watch The Apple Pushers an
complete questions for 9/1
Weekly reading- Canvas
Discussion post due BEFORE
Monday’s (9/14) class
Weekly reading-Canvas
Reading assignment quiz 9/

History of American food culture Weekly reading- Canvas

9/28 & 10/1
Midterm Review Food Access Paper Due 10/
10/5 MIDTERM
10/8 The Atlas of Food
The American food system-Introduction
pages 7-13 & 33-49
The Atlas of Food
The American food system- production to
10/12 & 10/15 pages 50-63 & 79-101
access
Ethnic Foodway topic due 10
Where am I eating? (Introduction
10/19 & 10/22 Global food concerns ix-xvi & Part I pgs 3-60)
Reading assignment quiz 10/

10/26 & 10/29 COVID-19: Impact on the Food System Weekly reading- Canvas

Weekly reading- Canvas

11/2 & 11/5 Food Biotechnology
Reading Assignment quiz 11
Weekly reading- Canvas
The Age of Disbelief: Science, The Media &
11/9 & 11/12 Discussion post due 11/9
Climate Change
Global Food Paper Due 11/1
Where am I eating? Part VI pgs 2
11/16 & 11/19 Food and Nutrition Trends 284
Reading assignment quiz 11/
11/23 & 11/26 NO CLASS- HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Weekly reading- Canvas
Corporate Social Responsibility:
11/30 & 12/3 Ethnic Foodways Presentatio
Case Examples
Due 12/3

12/7 & 12/10 Course Overview and Final Exam Review

12/14
FINAL EXAM