NS 2450

Social Science Perspectives on Food and Nutrition

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2025-2026 Catalog.

Uses theories, concepts, and methods from the social sciences to examine food, eating, and nutrition. The food choice process model is used as a framework to examine the scope of social science aspects of nutrition. Assignments include examinations, short homework papers, and two research projects, one qualitative and one quantitative, for which students prepare proposals, collect and interpret data, and write reports.

Prerequisites REF-FA25/Corequisites REF-FA25 students must have taken another NS course prior to requesting enrollment. Corequisites: None.

Enrollment Priority REF-FA25 Enrollment preference given to: DNS, CHE, CALS students.

Area Studies (LAAREA)

Distribution Requirements (AFS-AG, SBA-AG), (SBA-HE)

Last 4 terms offered (None)

Outcomes REF-FA25

• Explain how social science concepts and theories apply to food and nutrition issues and explain individual, social, cultural, economic, and historical patterns of food, eating, and nutrition.
• Describe basic social facts about food, eating, and nutrition.
• Demonstrate basic principles and procedures for conducting qualitative and quantitative research to understand food choice, including protecting human participants in research.
• Demonstrate sensitivity and appreciation of individual, social, cultural, economic, and historical variations in food, eating, and nutrition.

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