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Food Studies

Explore What We Eat and Why It Matters

Food touches every part of human life, including history, culture, health, economics, and the environment. The UMW food studies minor gives students the tools to understand those connections from multiple disciplinary angles, complementing virtually any major on campus.

Paths of Study

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

  • Minor

Explore:

What You’ll Study

Drawing on courses from the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and business, students explore the relationships between food and the human experience, from sustainable agriculture and nutrition to food history, storytelling, and policy.

Sample course topics include:
  • AMST 204 American Foodways
  • BIOL 415 Nutrition and Metabolism
  • MKTG 427 Alleviating Food Waste
  • HIST 471H1 Food in World History

For a full list of courses in acting, visit the Academic Catalog.

Why Food Studies Matters at UMW

Food connects us to questions of identity, sustainability, public health, and global culture. Understanding these connections is increasingly valuable across every field. UMW’s interdisciplinary approach lets students draw on coursework from anthropology, biology, environmental science, geography, history, marketing, and more, building a well-rounded perspective.

Program Highlights

An Interdisciplinary Foundation

With electives spanning anthropology, biology, environmental science, geography, history, marketing, and Spanish, students build a minor that’s flexible.

A Capstone of Your Own Design

Students complete an independent food studies capstone project under faculty guidance, allowing them to pursue a research interest that connects directly to their own major and career goals.

A Minor That Complements Any Major

Food studies adds a distinctive, real-world focus to your primary field of study — and looks great on a resume in an increasingly food-conscious world.

Career Outcomes

The food studies minor strengthens a wide range of career paths by adding depth and context to a student’s primary major. Many students also pursue jobs in nutrition, agriculture, anthropology, and environmental sustainability.