Skip to main content

180.655.01
Baltimore Food Systems: A Case Study of Urban Food Environments

Location
East Baltimore
Term
3rd Term
Department
Environmental Health and Engineering
Credit(s)
4
Academic Year
2013 - 2014
Instruction Method
TBD
Class Time(s)
W, F, 10:00 - 11:50am
Auditors Allowed
No
Available to Undergraduate
No
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Contact Name
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Description
Students look closely at Baltimore City's complex food environment using discussion, experiential learning, discussion, lectures, service learning, and related texts. Students consider improvements to these systems to assure access to nutritious, adequate, affordable and sustainably produced foods, and to increase supply and demand of these foods; to address diet related disease; and to reduce food system environmental harms. Students "go backstage" with tour guides at sites around the city. Class sessions are primarily discussion-oriented, but also include lectures and guest visits. Students consider the relative impacts of access, demand, cost, stakeholder interests, administrative issues, history, and power, and consider the relative strengths of voluntary, governmental, legal and other strategies. They also consider applicability of lessons from Baltimore to other area food systems.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Discuss key factors that have shaped food systems in Baltimore and other urban locales, including within the domains of policy, business, agriculture, and society
  2. Describe from first-hand experience selected food system sites in Baltimore, including their offerings, clientele, and operations, and key opportunities and barriers to improving their healthfulness and economic and environmental sustainability
  3. Analyze responses to particular challenges and opportunities within Baltimore 's food systems, including considering the potential of innovative food system interventions being considered in Baltimore and elsewhere
  4. Conduct and document oral history interviews
  5. Provide assistance targeted to a community organization’s needs, and reflect on the experience.
Enrollment Restriction
No auditors allowed.
Special Comments

We provide time for students to arrange transportation with other students for the field trips, service learning; you do not need a car to participate.