Program Overview

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Food Studies (MA)

The MA program in Food Studies employs approaches from the humanities and social sciences to examine the ways in which individuals, communities, and societies produce, distribute, and consume food. Students analyze cultural, political, economic, environmental, and geographic approaches to food within local, urban, and global contexts. Impacts of critical issues such as immigration, equity, and climate change on food are studied through elective courses. Cities at the center of flows of people, produce, and media products are a focus of student and faculty investigations.

Program Description

• Focuses on policy and advocacy, business and social entrepreneurship, and media and cultural analysis
• Challenges students with core, specialization, and elective courses offered by the department and by New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development; Stern School of Business; Wagner School of Public Service; Graduate School of Arts and Sciences; and Tisch School of the Arts
• Gives access to experts working in food production companies, nonprofit food organizations, policy organizations, and advocacy groups, publishers, public relations and marketing firms, magazines, food distributors, food producers, and educational institutions, who enrich the program by serving as adjunct faculty and guest lecturers
• Emphasizes development of critical thinking and research skills that help students analyze and solve problems that may be encountered in professional work
• Offers experiential learning courses in global, domestic, and urban venues
• Broadens work experience through participation in optional internships in a vast array of potential employment sites

Dual Degree Option

Students may also pursue a dual degree in Library and Information Science offered in partnership with Long Island University's Palmer School. International students in the dual degree option may be able to work in the United States after graduation for an extended period of time through the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) OPT extension.

Admissions

Admission to graduate programs in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development requires the following minimum components:

• Résumé/CV
• Statement of Purpose
• Letters of Recommendation
• Transcripts
• Proficiency in English

Program Requirements

Course List: | Course | Title | Credits | | --- | --- | --- | | FOOD-GE 2033 | Food Systems | 3 | | FOOD-GE 2191 | Food and Culture | 3 | | FOOD-GE 2015 | Food Policy | 3 | | NUTR-GE 2215 | Nutrition in Food Studies | 3 | | FOOD-GE 2061 | Food Studies Capstone Seminar | 3 | Specialization Requirements: 18 credits from sample areas of specializations or from other courses across the University, by advisement. Experiential Courses:

• Individualized Study
• Electives: Students may opt to take up to 6 additional credits of electives, by advisement. Total Credits: 33-39

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid: 1st Semester/Term:

• NUTR-GE 2215: Nutrition in Food Studies (3 credits)
• FOOD-GE 2191: Food and Culture (3 credits)
• Elective Course (3 credits) Total Credits: 9 2nd Semester/Term:
• FOOD-GE 2015: Food Policy (3 credits)
• FOOD-GE 2033: Food Systems (3 credits)
• Elective Course (3 credits) Total Credits: 9 3rd Semester/Term:
• Elective Course (3 credits)
• Elective Course (3 credits)
• Elective Course (3 credits) Total Credits: 9 4th Semester/Term:
• FOOD-GE 2061: Food Studies Capstone Seminar (3 credits)
• Elective Course (3 credits) Total Credits: 6 Total Credits: 33

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:

1. Engage the study of food and its conventional and alternative systems using an interdisciplinary approach, allowing cultural, historical, political, and economic analyses of food.
2. Demonstrate mastery of the study of food and discuss the elements related to food sovereignty, sustainability, ethics, and culture.
3. Describe all aspects related to food, including how individuals and societies make food choices; how food is produced and distributed; policies that alter the food landscape; equity in the food system; cultural norms and values; and historical and contemporary issues.
4. Succeed in careers within policy and advocacy; media, social, and cultural analysis; and business & social entrepreneurship.

Policies

Program Policies

STEM OPT Benefits for International Students

If you’re an international student, you may be able to work in the United States after graduation for an extended period of time. Most students studying on F-1 visas will be eligible for 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) off-campus work authorization. F-1 students in this program may also be eligible for the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) OPT extension, allowing you to extend your time in the United States to pursue degree-related work experience for a total of 36 months or 3 years.

NYU Policies

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.

Steinhardt Academic Policies

Additional academic policies can be found on the Steinhardt academic policies page.