For centuries, there have been concerns and predictions about population growth and its potential effects on the environment and the quality of life. Perspectives on population and environmental issues often vary based on such factors as gender, social class, culture, nation, race/ethnicity, and religion. In this group of courses, students will learn about the complex interplay among environmental, economic, and ethical issues through the study of global population patterns. They will learn how science addresses the use of natural resources by humans, along with the fundamentals of environmental impacts such as global warming. This option group of courses explores diverse perspectives on global population and environmental issues by examining biological, physical, and social processes that influence the everyday lives of people around the world.
Topics might include the social, economic, and environmental challenges of population growth; and the ethics and dilemmas of natural resource use.
| Global Population | |
| Atmospheric Science 5 [or 10] | SciEng, Wrt |
| Environmental and Resource Sciences 60 | SciEng, Wrt |
| Human Development 19 | SciEng, Wrt |
| Agricultural and Resource Economics 15 | SocSci, Div, Wrt |
| Science and Society 1 [or Fiber and Polymer Science 110 | SciEng or SocSci,Div, Wrt SciEng or SocSci, Wrt] |
| International Agricultural Development 10 [or Community & Regional Development 1 | SocSci, Div, Wrt SocSci, Div, Wrt] |
The nations with the greatest biodiversity often have tremendous ethnic and cultural diversity. This option examines diversity in many interrelated contexts: biological diversity and the impact of contemporary humans; values and cultural practices in regard to production and consumption; the clothes people wear; creation and use of social spaces; and the preservation of genetic resources for food, fiber, and pharmaceuticals
Topics might include conservation biology; integration of human and natural systems; cultural expression through clothing and appearance; and discussion of what are cultural and social rights.
| Biodiversity and Cultural Diversity | |
| Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology 10 | SciEng, Div, Wrt |
| Plant Biology 11 | SciEng, Wrt |
| Science and Society 105 | SciEng, Wrt |
| Textiles and Clothing 7 | SocSci, Div, Wrt |
| Community and Regional Development 2 | SocSci, Div, Wrt |
| Landscape Architecture 2 | SocSci, Wrt |
This option focuses on food and fiber systems, from their plant, animal, or synthetic sources to their ultimate use by humans for health, safety, communication, and pleasure. Understanding these systems enables students to see the connections between the food and clothes that are part of our everyday lives and the scientific, social, and cultural issues that make them so significant to society as a whole.
Topics might include food and clothing safety, quality, and availability; media and consumer perceptions; and cultural histories, values, and meanings.
| Food and Fiber | |
| Animal Science 1 [or Plant Biology 12 | SciEng, Wrt SciEng, Div, Wrt] |
| Nutrition 10 and Nutrition 11 [or Nutrition 20 [or Food Science and Technology 2 | SciEng SciEng, Wrt SciEng or SocSci] SciEng or SocSci] |
| Textiles and Clothing 6 | SciEng |
| Textiles and Clothing 107 | SocSci, Div, Wrt |
| Science and Society 1 | SciEng or SocSci,Div, Wrt |
| Viticulture and Enology 3-3W concurrently | SciEng or SocSci, Wrt |
Changing demographics, environmental issues, and social-political trends in California all play a role in public perceptions and policies related to our food and fiber systems, natural resources, and community values. These perceptions, policies, and values need to be critically examined in the context of larger global economic trends and environmental health and safety. In this option group of courses, students can explore a range of challenging issues related to the complex interplay between rural and urban needs and values.
Topics might include holistic approaches to agriculture; international migration and agricultural development; and how plants and animals influence the course of history.
| Changing Agriculture Theme Option | |
| Animal Science 1 [or 13] | SciEng, Wrt |
| Entomology 110 [or 111] | SciEng, Wrt |
| Plant Biology 12 | SciEng, Div, Wrt |
| Agricultural and Resource Economics 15 | SocSci, Div, Wrt |
| Environmental and Resource Sciences 10-10G concurrently [or Environmental & Resource Sciences 121* | SocSci, Wrt SciEng, Wrt] |
| Science and Society 2 | SciEng or SocSci, Wrt |
UC Davis 1999-2000 Online General Catalog. Posted July 30, 1999.
catalog-comment@ucdavis.edu
Molly Theodossy, Keitha Hunter and Barbara Anderson, Editors
We welcome your comments.