I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 9/15/09)
Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change existing
gen ed courses and to remove designations for existing gen ed courses.
Note: One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses
(X91-previously X95), granted only for the semester taught. A NEW request must be
submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status.
Group
III. Language
VII: Social Sciences
X
(submit
III Exception: Symbolic Systems * VIII: Ethics & Human Values
separate forms
IV: Expressive Arts
IX: American & European
if requesting
V: Literary & Artistic Studies
X: Indigenous & Global
more than one
VI: Historical & Cultural Studies
XI: Natural Sciences
general
w/ lab  w/out lab 
education
group
*Courses proposed for this designation must be standing requirements of
designation)
majors that qualify for exceptions to the modern and classical language
requirement
Dept/Program Sociology
Course #
191
Course Title
Prerequisite
Food & Society in a Globalized World
none
Credits
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Instructor
Phone / Email
3
Date
Teresa Sobieszczyk
X4868,
teresa.sobieszczyk@umontana.edu
Program Chair Dan Doyle/James Burfeind
Dean
Chris Comer
III. Type of request
New
X
One-time Only
X
Change
Remove
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
This is a new Global Leadership
Initiative course, which is supposed to
have Gen Ed credit.
Description of change
Add experimental course for Global
Leadership Initiative, Spring 2012
IV. Description and purpose of new general education course: General Education courses
must be introductory and foundational within the offering department or within the General
Education Group. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/archives/minutes/gened/GE_preamble.aspx
Drawing on materials from Sociology, Gender Studies, Economics, Ecology, and Political
Science, this interdisciplinary course will give freshman an opportunity to explore some of the
social, political, and ecological dimensions of food, from production to consumption. Food
will serve as a mechanism through which we will examine larger social, political, and
economic issues. As we examine where our food comes from and how it gets to our table, we
become aware of how little knowledge we have of the processes involved in producing, trading,
and distributing our food. How do food production and distribution relate to structures of
power and inequality nationally and in the global system? How is our disconnection from food
production, distribution, and consumption impacted by and reflected in our disconnection from
the communities within which we live?
I am requesting Social Science General Education credit for this introductory, interdisciplinary
course on food and society. It will provide a broad overview to some of the social, political,
economic, and ecological dimensions of food production, trade, and consumption. The course
content relates to students’ future lives in that we are all food consumers throughout our lives.
V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
1. Systematically study individuals, groups, or We will systematically study the US food
social institutions;
system, some of its links with the global
food system, and governmental agencies
regulating the US food system.
2. Analyze individuals, groups, or social
We will analyze institutions and social
problems and structures; and/or
problems associated with the global food
system, agricultural subsidies, and industrial
agriculture. We will also examine and
critique individual and community responses
to social, economic, and environmental
problems associated with food and
agriculture.
3. Give considerable attention to ways in
We will explore some basic differences in
which conclusions and generalizations are
the ways different disciplines (e.g.
developed and justified as well as the
Sociology, Environmental Studies, Women’s
methods of data collection and analysis.
and Gender Studies) draw conclusions and
make generalizations through careful
analysis and discussion of readings.
VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
Students taking courses in the Social Sciences
Perspective will be able to:
1. Describe the nature, structure, and historical
development of human behavior, organizations,
social phenomena, and/or relationships;
2. use theory in explaining these individual,
group, or social phenomena; and/or
3. understand, assess, and evaluate how
conclusions and generalizations are justified
based on data
Learning outcomes for the course include:
-- Students will be able to understand and
assess the social meanings and the structural
relations of power regarding the production,
distribution, and consumption of food in the
world today.
--Students will demonstrate a sociological
understanding of the structure of global
agriculture and the global food system and
their impacts on farmers, consumers, and
communities.
--Students will be able to analyze the
organization of a global food system that
links the production and consumption of
food and assess how this system generates
abundance for some and poverty for others.
--Students will be able to understand and
critique current individual, community, and
governmental responses to social problems
regarding food and agriculture.
--Students will be able to articulate and
critique some of the ethical, social,
environmental, and economic aspects of
different food production systems, including
hunting and gathering, industrial agriculture,
organic farming, and the modern food
processing system.
Students will demonstrate a basic
understanding of how concepts, theories,
and data from various social scientific
disciplines can be applied to the study of
food.
Students will demonstrate a basic
understanding of how concepts, theories,
and data from various social scientific
disciplines can be applied to the study of
food.
VII. Justification: Normally, general education courses will not carry pre-requisites, will carry
at least 3 credits, and will be numbered at the 100-200 level. If the course has more than one
pre-requisite, carries fewer than three credits, or is upper division (numbered above the 200
level), provide rationale for exception(s).
Not applicable
VIII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.  The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
Please see attached syllabus!
Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall.
*NOTE: Per request of the Vice-Provost, I am submitting this to become a new, one time
only Gen Ed course for SPRING 2012! If it is successful and if I have the opportunity to
teach it again, I will request General Education Social Sciences credit at that time.
General education instructors will be expected to provide sample assessment items and
corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.