UC Online Course Highlight: Just Coffee
By Adriana Conte
July 7, 2020 3:12 p.m.
There is arguably nothing more satisfying than starting the day with a warm cup of coffee. From its pleasant aroma to its rich taste, drinking coffee has become part of the routine of millions of people worldwide. For sleep-deprived college students in particular, its caffeinated properties provide the extra boost of energy needed to get through the day. Needless to say, many students would not get to their 8:00 am classes without it.
Yet, despite its importance in our lives, many people are unaware of the history and multi-faceted influence of coffee. If you truly consider yourself to be a coffee lover, then “Just Coffee: The Biology, Ecology & Socioeconomic Impacts of the World’s Favorite Drink” is the perfect course for you! In this course, students will learn that their morning cup of joe is not ‘just’ a cup of coffee–there are complex biological, ecological, and social interactions that go into each brew. Students will come to understand how our food and agricultural systems interact with human wellbeing, as well as gain a more global perspective of the coffee value chain and how it relates to interdisciplinary themes of sustainability, ecology, and racial dynamics.
This highly demanded course is taught by Professor Patrick Brown, a Professor of Plant Sciences at the University of California, Davis. Through UC Online, students from any UC campus are permitted–and encouraged–to enroll in this class for the fall quarter (space permitting). This is the eighth time Professor Brown has instructed this course, and he is extremely well-versed in agricultural development and horticulture.
The inspiration for this course arose from a recognition of the need for more interdisciplinary learning that provides students with a deeper, broader perspective that extends beyond solely technical aspects. “Just Coffee” is unique in that the class expands across different disciplines and equips students of any major with the ability to integrate knowledge from different fields–a skill that is very valuable in the workforce.
“What employers keep telling us [professors] they are looking for is for people who can communicate, people who can integrate, and people who can think across different disciplines to solve problems,” Professor Brown explains. “Building the course around the theme of coffee was attractive, and you have all the different components of an integrated system.”
This class is conducted entirely online. Lectures are pre-recorded and divided into week-long modules released on Canvas, the online platform through which all course content is delivered. TAs will provide Cross Campus students access to Canvas and UC Davis Library Resources within the first week of instruction. Modules will open two weeks before assignments are due; it is highly encouraged that students complete the modules in the order they are arranged on Canvas and to keep up with all course material.
Students are expected to virtually attend live discussion sections via Zoom to further engage in the material through thoughtful and critical discussions. Attendance will be taken, so students must ensure they sign up for a section that aligns with their schedule. The coursework and grade breakdown consist of multiple components, allowing grades to be based on multiple assignments rather than solely test scores. This also gives students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the course materials and put their learning into practice through thoughtful and meaningful assignments. Students will be assessed on live discussion section attendance and participation, section assignments, short writing assignments, a research paper (rough draft, peer review, and final draft), and reading responses. See the course syllabus for more details about learning expectations and grading.
“Just Coffee: The Biology, Ecology & Socioeconomic Impacts of the World’s Favorite Drink” offers a unique and fun approach to studying the production of a key global agricultural commodity. From its African origins to its leading position as the world’s favorite drink, the development of coffee is a story rooted in biology, ecology, politics, and social interaction. By the end of this course, students will better appreciate the complexity and intricate history of the drink they formerly took for granted.
