UC Online Course Highlight: ANTH 110Y- Feeding California at UC Santa Cruz

As one of the largest and most ethnically diverse states in the country, California foods reflect the cross-cultural influence of its inhabitants. Yet, very few actually know what constitutes “California” food culture; the local, regional, national, and economic interests that underlie food economies make defining a food culture difficult and highly contested. UC Online offers a multidisciplinary perspective of the anthropology of food in the course “Feeding California,” an online course designed to introduce students to the social practices, political processes, and cultural contexts that shape food production and consumption. 

Feeding California presents an anthropological approach to the study of food and human behavior. It uses case studies of food practices in California as a framework to understand the realities and debates of food insecurity and to gain insight into how food plays a role in shaping social issues. By considering diverse, multidimensional themes and topics, students will learn the key concepts, debates, theoretical approaches and methodological orientations that are fundamental to the anthropology of food. 

This course is open to all UC students and is conducted completely online through Canvas. It is organized into 8 units with individual modules for each unit; modules consist of a recorded video lecture that covers the materials, makes connections to reading and additional key texts, explains key concepts, and introduces questions for consideration. Students will complete reading assignments and brief quizzes at the end of each unit to ensure comprehension as well as submit a reading response and a creative food journal assignment. The grade breakdown for this course consists of competition of online materials and quizzes, reading responses, weekly food journals, a midterm exam, and a final exam. Late work will not be accepted, so it is the responsibility of the student to ensure timely completion of course materials. Please refer to the syllabus for more information on learning objectives, course expectations, and the grading scheme. 

Feeding California is an informative and eye-opening course for students looking to learn more about the diverse factors that shape food production and consumption. Enroll today for a chance to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for food and food culture!