BIOEE 4690 - [Food, Agriculture, and Society]

(crosslisted) BSOC 4691, STS 4691
(PBS-AS) (CU-SBY)

Fall. 3 credits. Student option grading.

Prerequisite: introductory ecology course or permission of instructor. Enrollment limited to: 20 students.

A. Power.

Multidisciplinary course dealing with the social and environmental impact of food production in the United States and developing countries. Agroecosystems of various kinds are analyzed from biological, economic, and social perspectives. The impacts of traditional, conventional, and alternative agricultural technologies are critically examined in the context of developed and developing economies. Specific topics include biodiversity and ecosystem services in agriculture, transgenic crops, biofuels, urban agriculture, and sustainable development.

Outcome 1: Students will be able to use conceptual and analytical knowledge to understand the complexity of food systems.

Outcome 2: Students will be able to identify biological, environmental, and social processes that influence agricultural systems.

Outcome 3: Students will improve their ability to develop and articulate a position on a controversial agricultural topic.

Outcome 4: Students will be able to participate actively in debate and appraisal of agricultural issues with peers.

Outcome 5: Students will be able to analyze, synthesize, and write about diverse disciplinary perspectives on agricultural issues.