Students’ Suggestions for Food Systems Curricula at a Liberal Arts College

Abstract

Food systems and related programs are increasingly offered at postsecondary schools. The purpose of this study was to obtain student input useful to shaping the development of food systems curricula within the context of liberal arts education. We administered a survey to students at a public liberal arts college. We asked students about coursework, careers, and past experience in food systems. Among respondents, there was a demand for interdisciplinary food systems courses. Students were interested in a notion of food systems that is alternative to what is conventional with a strong emphasis on organic methods. Students were also interested in connecting food systems to health, affordability, environmental sustainability, and social justice. The range of career interests demonstrates a need for food systems curricula that are broad in scope.

KEYWORDS:

• agroecology
• interdisciplinary
• postsecondary education
• survey

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you to the students of Fort Lewis College for providing the data on which this research is based. Thank you to Rebecca Austin and Pete McCormick for assistance with survey construction and administration.

Additional information

Funding

This research was made possible through support from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture fellowship (2012-01320).