Frequently Asked Questions
Declaring your minor is simple. All you need to do is contact the Food Studies adviser ([email protected]) and let them know that you would like to enroll. She will submit your request electronically to the Registrar.
Because the Food Studies program uses courses from a number of different departments, we do not have our own courses listed in the regular course schedule. This means that you will need to look up each department separately in the course schedule to determine what courses are available.
Each semester, the Food Studies adviser prepares a list of courses offered in the next two semesters and shares it with students via the Food Studies homeroom on Canvas.
Yes, Food Studies is an interdisciplinary and flexible program where we encourage students to pursue courses that meet their interests and prepare them for future careers. However, before you take a course that is not listed in the curriculum, be sure to get approval from the Food Studies adviser who will need to complete and sign a RAAR form to make sure credits are applied properly.
Yes! If you have already taken courses that are part of our curriculum, you will be able to count them towards the minor. However, there is no “double counting” (except for GE requirements). So if you are already planning on using these courses as credit for your major, you will need to take additional courses for the minor.
In their senior year, students are expected to complete a capstone project. This consist of the submission of a brief report about one of your most meaningful learning experiences in the program and a self-evaluation survey, all via the Food Studies Homeroom on Canvas. The purpose of this requirement is to reflect upon the knowledge, skills, and experience you have acquired during your studies and help us make the program as successful as possible.
You may find an internship almost anywhere, including abroad. Contact SDSU Career Services’ Internship Central, search online, talk to professors on campus, look at the bulletin boards in departmental offices, talk to your Food Studies advisor, and check announcements on the homeroom on Canvas. You should find an internship that matches your interests and career aspirations. Discuss your options with the Food Studies adviser, who will approve your internship and help you register for GEOG 595. Remember that you are expected to work 150 hours with an organization involved in food work and that you will need to write a report at the end of the internship in order to receive 3 units of credit. Some internships are offered as courses at SDSU. These may also be used for credit towards your major as long as you receive prior approval from the Food Studies adviser.
Talk to your adviser and check the announcements on the Food Studies homeroom on Canvas. All of the core faculty are engaged in a variety of research projects that often center on food-related issues. Reach out to them to see if there is an opportunity for you to join and contribute to one of their projects as a special study (i.e., 499 courses). Several classes, including GEOG 590 are designed specifically to guide students through a community-based research project. Other similar courses may be available in other departments—talk to you adviser about options and substitutions.
At this point, there is not yet a dedicated Food Studies student organization. If you are interested in creating one, information on how to get started is available here from Student Affairs. The website also includes information about many existing organizations that may be of interest to you. Please talk to your adviser in Food Studies about your plans and ideas.
The Food Studies Director/Adviser is Professor Pascale Joassart-Marcelli. Please email her at [email protected] for any questions about the minor or to set up an appointment
