How and why did the foods we eat today get here? Who first thought of domesticating corn or wheat, and how did they do it? How have the ways food is grown changed over time and in different parts of the world? The central theme of this course is the relationship between human cultures and food systems over time. The course considers the ways in which the cultivation of food is both shaped by the ecosystems in which it is grown and changes that ecosystem, both positively and negatively. In addition the course asks how political and social forces affect how food is grown and distributed.

This course is designed for students with no background in Spanish. Students are introduced to basic grammatical structures (including present, preterit and future (ir + a + infinitive tenses) and by the end of the semester should be able to communicate in verbal and written forms about personal information, daily activities, future plans and past experiences. This class focuses on speaking and using the Spanish language. Topics of study are based on assignments from the course textbook, Vistas, current and global events and the students' experiences.

Sometimes translating ideas in your head into words on the page can be daunting. Sometimes you just don't feel "inspired." We'll learn strategies to work with those awkward moments, use writing prompts to generate the raw material of poetry and look at strategies for revision that keep the work alive. Most of all, we'll honor "mistakes" as a path to brilliance.

Today in American society we are inundated with questions regarding diet, wellness and longevity. Often used phrases such as low-fat, high fiber, no carbs, gluten-free, sugar-free, calcium-rich, anorexia, obesity, bone density, and supersize me, all offering complex messages to the public about health. At the core of this course is the interface between nutrition and the role of popular culture.

Agricultural sustainability is rooted in the viability of each individual farm. Ecologically and socially responsible farming practices can only be successful within the structure of a farm business that relies on effective resource management, efficient food production, and sales. Thus anyone interested in achieving sustainability through small scale, organic, local farming must first understand how farms function and then consider how to integrate sustainable practices to maximize positive impact.

Violence and Writing in Mexico's "Drug War": Over the past seven years brutal and intensely visible forms of violence have increased drastically in Mexico.

This course will provide an overview of climate science, current and predicted impacts of climate change, key sources of greenhouse gas pollution, and state and federal efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It will examine, in particular, the relationship of climate change policy and energy policy, and the social, ecological, economic, and humanitarian impacts of climate change. The course will review the primary policy tools available to governments to reduce emissions. Participants will develop a basic understanding of how laws have been developed and applied to reduce emissions.

This course will explore the concept of environmental human rights, focusing on the environmental justice movement in the United States and its global linkages to environmental human rights law. Course materials focus on the similarities and differences between legislative, administrative, judicial and international organization responses to toxic and hazardous environmental conditions. Who has power, and how do those in power interface with communities most affected by environmental injustices?