The University of Oregon’s Food Studies Program is one of only a handful of university-based academic programs of its kind in the country. Our program is set apart by its broad interdisciplinary approach that spans the social sciences, the humanities, and the natural sciences.
Founded in 2013, the Food Studies Program aims to foster the kind of in-depth research and analysis that will establish our campus as a leading player in the developing field of food studies, making the UO a center for intellectual and policy work on matters of increasing local and global significance.
A huge thank you to Portland real estate developer, philanthropist and UO alumnus Jordan Schnitzer and the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, for a landmark $25 million gift to CAS that will empower future global leaders and problem solvers! The School of Global Studies and Languages is now named the Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages, and we are truly excited to be a part of it!
What You Can Do with a Food Studies Minor
The food studies minor complements many fields of study by helping students engage with pressing societal issues, which is crucial to any area of future employment. Food studies helps prepare students for a variety of potential careers, including:
- Food writer
- Nonprofit industry
- Environmental health specialist
- Food safety specialist
- Food justice advocate
- Filmmaker
- Journalist
- Academic
- Food advertising
- Urban farming
- Nutritional health coach
- Policymaker
- Sustainability
- Restaurateur
What Makes Food Studies Unique
“We are a rare food studies program with many different disciplines involved. Our affiliated faculty includes people from the social sciences, professional schools, humanities, and science. And that’s such a rare thing. And then you add two rare key elements in a food studies program: our Urban Farm and the School of Law. The Urban Farm is one of the oldest urban farms set at a university, and law schools rarely intersect with food studies. So I think we have something really exceptional here at the UO.”
—Michael Fakhri, Professor, School of Law, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food
Our Degree Program
The food studies minor is an interdisciplinary program.
Learn from Experts in the Field
Folks involved with the UO Food Studies Program conduct cutting-edge research in a wide variety of food topics, including food culture, food access, and food sovereignty. Learn about the contributions UO faculty, staff, and students are making to this burgeoning field—locally, nationally, and internationally.
Combat Food Insecurity
Our compendium of food-related resources includes services at UO and in Lane County for students facing food insecurity. It also offers a list of food-related organizations at UO and in the community. Students and faculty will find helpful resources for research on food topics, including a Food Studies Research Guide.
Scholarships and Funding
Students pursuing a minor or graduate specialization in food studies can apply for a variety of fellowships, programs, scholarships, and other opportunities to help fund their education.
Academic Support
Students in the Food Studies Program can seek academic support, career counseling, and other advising services through Tykeson Hall or by consulting our program advisor.
