| Course ID: | CRSS 4020S/6020S. 3 hours. |
| Course Title: | Social Sustainability in Agricultural and Food Systems |
Course
Description: | What is social sustainability? Why should we care? How can we
develop agricultural and food systems that are socially, as well
as environmentally and economically, sustainable? How can we
support food systems that are healthy and equitable for producers
and consumers? These questions are explored through coursework
and service-learning. |
| Oasis Title: | Social Sustainability in Ag |
| Nontraditional Format: | Course includes a service-learning project during the semester
that either employs skills or knowledge learned in the course or
teaches new skills or knowledge related to course objectives.
Students will be involved in the planning and implementation of
the project(s) and may spend time outside of the classroom.
Students will be engaged in the service-learning component
for approximately 25-50% of overall instructional time. |
| Grading System: | A-F (Traditional) |
|
| Course Objectives: | 1. Students will develop an understanding of social
sustainability and its relationship with environmental and
economic sustainability.
2. Students will develop an understanding of key facets of social
sustainability in agricultural and food systems.
3. Students will develop the ability to critically examine how
environmental, economic, political, and moral frameworks impact
the social sustainability of agricultural and food systems.
4. Through service learning, students will develop an
understanding of the impact of social sustainability on the lives
of producers (farmers and laborers) and consumers. |
| Topical Outline: | 1. SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY (Relationship to environmental
and economic sustainability)
2. KEY THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS (Sustainability; Service-
learning theory)
3. SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY IN AG/FOOD SYSTEMS (overview)
4. CONSUMPTION (Key issues facing consumers: Food and
cultural identity; food (in)security and feeding programs;
alternative food movements)
5. PRODUCTION (Key issues facing farmers, farm workers, and
other laborers: land issues, labor inequalities, workplace
health/safety)
6. TECHNOLOGY (What’s the appropriate role of technology?
Who gets to decide?)
7. SOCIAL MOVEMENTS |