Are you passionate about food and its profound impact on our world? Do you want to understand the intricate connections between food, the environment, and society? If so, the Food Systems Minor at the University of California, Berkeley, offers an exceptional interdisciplinary program for you to delve into the world of Berkeley Food systems.
Hosted by the Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management (ESPM) within the Rausser College of Natural Resources, this minor provides a comprehensive exploration of food from a “whole-systems” perspective. It draws upon a diverse range of disciplines, from ecology and sociology to humanities, nutrition, history, and economics, to critically analyze contemporary food and agriculture issues.
This program is designed for undergraduate students from any major at UC Berkeley who seek a deeper understanding of the multifaceted nature of food systems. By enrolling in this minor, you will gain critical insights into the social, political, economic, environmental, cultural, nutritional, and public health dimensions of food and agriculture, both domestically and internationally.
Berkeley Food Systems Minor Requirements
To complete the Food Systems Minor at Berkeley, students must successfully finish five courses. One of these courses can be a lower division offering, and one course can overlap with their major requirements, providing flexibility in your academic planning. A key component of the minor is a required community engagement project, typically undertaken during the final spring semester. This hands-on experience allows you to apply your classroom learning to real-world challenges within Berkeley food and broader food systems.
The minor requires a minimum of 15 units, ensuring a substantial and enriching academic experience. All courses must be taken for a letter grade, and students need to maintain a C (2.0) average in minor coursework. It’s important to declare the minor no later than one semester before your Expected Graduation Term (EGT).
The minor’s curriculum is structured around three core components:
1. Core Courses: Foundational Knowledge in Food Systems
You will choose two core courses from different categories to build a foundational understanding. These categories represent the breadth of the food systems field:
Natural Sciences
These courses explore the scientific underpinnings of food production and its environmental impacts.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ESPM 118 | Agricultural Ecology | 4 |
| ESPM 120 | Science of Soils | 3 |
| ESPM 121 | Development and Classification of Soils | 3 |
| ESPM 177A | Sustainable Water and Food Security | 4 |
| PLANTBI 180 | Environmental Plant Biology | 2 |
Social Sciences
These courses examine the societal, political, and economic aspects of food systems.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ESPM 130 | Food Justice | 4 |
| ESPM 155AC | Sociology and Political Ecology of Agro-Food Systems | 4 |
| GEOG 130 | Food and the Environment | 4 |
| SOCIOL 139F | Selected Topics in Social Inequality: Social Problems of the Food Industry | 3 |
| SOCIOL 169F | Cultural Perspectives of Food | 3 |
Food and Community Health
These courses focus on the links between food, nutrition, and public health within communities.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ESPM 130 | Food Justice | 4 |
| NUSCTX 10 | Introduction to Human Nutrition | 3 |
| PB HLTH 196 | Special Topics in Public Health (Global Nutrition) | 1-4 |
2. Elective Courses: Deepening Your Food Systems Expertise
In addition to the core courses, you will select two elective courses to further specialize your knowledge. At least one elective must come from a category not chosen for your core courses, encouraging you to explore different facets of Berkeley food systems studies. Notably, core courses not used to fulfill the core requirement can be counted as electives, offering even more flexibility.
Natural Sciences Electives
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ESPM 113 | Insect Ecology | 3 |
| ESPM 117 | Urban Garden Ecosystems | 4 |
| ESPM 118 | Agricultural Ecology | 4 |
| ESPM 120 | Science of Soils | 3 |
| ESPM 131 | Soil Microbiology and Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| ESPM C148 | Pesticide Chemistry and Toxicology | 3 |
| ESPM 150 | Special Topics in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (Green Water, Brown Ground and Global Food Security) | 2-4 |
| ESPM 158 | Biodiversity Conservation in Working Landscapes | 4 |
| ESPM 177A | Sustainable Water and Food Security | 4 |
| ESPM 186 | Grassland and Woodland Management and Conservation | 4 |
| PLANTBI 40 | The (Secret) Life of Plants | 3 |
| PLANTBI 135 | Physiology and Biochemistry of Plants | 3 |
| PLANTBI 170 | Modern Applications of Plant Biotechnology | 2 |
| PLANTBI 180 | Environmental Plant Biology | 2 |
Social Sciences Electives
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| HISTORY 2 | Foodways: A Global History | |
| ANTHRO 140 | The Anthropology of Food | 4 |
| CY PLAN 119 | Planning for Sustainability | 4 |
| ENVECON 140AC | Economics of Race, Agriculture, and the Environment | 3 |
| ENVECON 142 | Industrial Organization with Applications to Agriculture and Natural Resources | 4 |
| ENVECON 154 | Economics of Poverty and Technology | 3 |
| ENVECON 162 | Economics of Water Resources | 3 |
| ESPM 5 | FROM FARM TO TABLE: FOOD SYSTEMS IN A CHANGING WORLD | 4 |
| ESPM 155AC | Sociology and Political Ecology of Agro-Food Systems | 4 |
| ESPM 163AC | Environmental Justice: Race, Class, Equity, and the Environment | 4 |
| ESPM 165 | International Rural Development Policy | 4 |
| ESPM 168 | Political Ecology | 4 |
| GEOG 130 | Food and the Environment | 4 |
| GEOG 170 | Special Topics in Geography (The Political Ecology of Land Grabs: Food, Resources, Environment and Development) | 3 |
| GLOBAL 123L | Perspectives For Sustainable Rural Development | 4 |
| HISTORY 2 | Comparative World History (Foodways: A Global History) | 4 |
| IAS 150 | Advanced Studies in International and Area Studies (Climate Change and Agriculture in Latin America) | 4 |
| UGBA 192T | Topics in Responsible Business (Edible Education) | 1-4 |
| NUSCTX 104 | Food, Culture, and the Environment | 2 |
| SOCIOL 139F | Selected Topics in Social Inequality: Social Problems of the Food Industry (Social Problems of the Food Industry) | 3 |
| SOCIOL 169F | Cultural Perspectives of Food | 3 |
| SOCIOL 185 | Global Sociology | 3 |
Food and Community Health Electives
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ESPM C167/PB HLTH C160 | Environmental Health and Development | 4 |
| NUSCTX 10 | Introduction to Human Nutrition | 3 |
| NUSCTX 103 | Nutrient Function and Metabolism | 3 |
| NUSCTX 104 | Food, Culture, and the Environment | 2 |
| NUSCTX 108A & 108B | Introduction and Application of Food Science and Course Not Available | |
| NUSCTX 135 | Food Systems Organization and Management | 4 |
| NUSCTX C114/ESPM C148 | Pesticide Chemistry and Toxicology | 3 |
| NUSCTX 160 | Metabolic Bases of Human Health and Diseases | 4 |
| NUSCTX 166 | Nutrition in the Community | 3 |
| PB HLTH 112 | Global Health: A Multidisciplinary Examination | 4 |
| PB HLTH 170C | Drinking Water and Health | 3 |
| PB HLTH 196 | Special Topics in Public Health (Global Nutrition) | 4 |
Note: Only one lower division class OR up to two units of relevant upper division DeCal credit can count towards the minor. Check with the minor advisor for details on course applicability and petitioning for other relevant classes.
3. Community Engagement Project: Experiential Learning in Food Systems
A defining feature of the Berkeley food systems minor is the required Community Engagement Project. This experiential learning component is fulfilled through ESPM 197FS, a 3-unit course offered exclusively in the spring semester and ideally taken in your final spring term.
This course combines classroom learning with hands-on experience. You will dedicate approximately 7 hours per week working with a community partner organization focused on food system change, alongside two hours of weekly in-class meetings. The Community Engagement Faculty Coordinator will assist you in finding a partner organization that aligns with your specific interests within the Berkeley food landscape and broader food systems. This project provides invaluable real-world experience, allowing you to contribute to meaningful initiatives and deepen your understanding of food systems in action.
Learn About Experiential Learning through Engagement in Food Systems
Connect with Berkeley Food Systems Experts
For further information about the Food Systems Minor at UC Berkeley, please reach out to the Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management.
Food Systems Minor, Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management
College of Natural Resources
Phone: 510-642-0542
Visit Program Website
Co-Faculty Advisors:
Kathryn De Master, PhD
[email protected]
Alastair Iles, PhD
[email protected]
Undergraduate Advisor:
Bodo
260 Mulford Hall
[email protected]
Explore the Berkeley food systems minor and become a part of the movement towards a more sustainable, equitable, and healthy food future!
