
GEOG 3N: The Future of Food
Summer, 2019
This syllabus is divided into several sections. You can read it sequentially by scrolling down the length of the document or by clicking on any of the links below to “jump” to a specific section.
- Course Overview
- Instructor
- Required Course Materials
- Assignments and Grading
- Course Schedule
- Course Policies
Course Overview
The Food and the Future Environment is an introductory-level science course that emphasizes the challenges facing food systems in the 21st century, and issues of sustainability for agriculture and other food production activities, as well as the challenges posed by food insecurity and modern diets to human health and well-being. Topics covered include introduction to the coupled-system perspective, historical development of food systems, socioeconomic aspects of the food system, interaction of the food system with the Earth's environment including soil, water, biota and climate, and the future of the food system considering potential changes such as in climate, urbanization, and demography.
Course Objectives
When you successfully complete this course, you will be prepared to:
- Analyze the land, biological, energy and water resources and climatic conditions in relation to food production systems.
- Analyze how human food systems significantly alter Earth's ecosystems, landscapes, surface processes, atmosphere, and waterways.
- Evaluate scenarios for the future of food, considering resilience in the context of climate change, human population growth, and socioeconomic, cultural and policy factors.
Expectations
On average, most students spend eight to ten hours per week working on course assignments. Your workload may be more or less depending on your study habits.
We have worked hard to make this the most effective and convenient educational experience possible. The Internet may still be a novel learning environment for you, but in one sense it is no different from a traditional college class: how much and how well you learn is ultimately up to you. You will succeed if you are diligent about keeping up with the class schedule and if you take advantage of opportunities to communicate with us as well as with your fellow students.
Specific learning objectives for each lesson and project are detailed in each lesson.
Instructor
Marie Louise Ryan
Department of Geography
Email: mldryan@psu.edu
Phone: Marie-Louise Ryan (Skype)
Office Hours (Skype): By appointment, please email to arrange a date and time
For Fall 2018, Marie Louise Ryan is your course instructor. Marie Louise is a PhD Candidate in the Penn State Department of Geography, currently researching the impacts of outmigration and social change on agricultural biodiversity in Nepal. Skype (Marie-Louise Ryan) office hours are by appointment. Emails to Marie Louise at mldryan@psu.edu will be returned within two days (please plan ahead of major deadlines!).
Teaching Assistant
Zach Goldberg
Department of Geography
Email: zag5022@psu.edu
Zach Goldberg is a Master's student in Penn State's Department of Geography. He is also a farmer with diverse experiences in food systems around the world.
Required Course Materials
The course relies heavily on readings provided online through our course website, and selected readings. The reading assignments for each module are listed in the course schedule below. Additional citations for further reading are also provided in each module.
Assignments and Grading
This course will rely on a variety of methods to assess and evaluate student learning, including:
- Formative Assessments will be completed as you read the materials.
- Summative Assessments will be completed as you read the materials.
- Capstone Activity will be introduced in the Orientation and at the end of the first Section (Module 2).
- Weekly Quizzes will cover course material for the week's module.
- Weekly Discussions will enable you to think about what you have learned.
It is important that your work is submitted in the proper format to the appropriate DropBox or Discussion Forum and by the designated due date. We strongly advise that you not wait until the last minute to complete these assignments. Give yourself time to ask questions, think things over, and chat with others. You'll learn more, do better...and be happier!
Due dates for all assignments are posted in the syllabus for your campus and below. Please make sure you are aware of the weekly deadlines. Please see below for late submission policy.
Grading
Assignment | Percent of Grade |
---|---|
Formative Assessments in Web Modules | 20% |
Summative Assessments in Web Modules (written and oral assignments, discussion) | 30% |
Weekly Quizzes | 10% |
Capstone Activity | 30% |
DIscussion (Class participation) | 10% |
Your scores for all assignments will be kept current in Canvas.
Discussions
Once you have read and engaged with the content on the course website, read or viewed the weekly readings or videos, and completed the other weekly assessments, you are ready to contribute to the Module Discussion.
The reaction portion is generally 200-300 words, but please follow each week's prompt for length guidelines specific to each week. You will submit your work to the Module Discussions for the respective week. You must then respond to at least 2 of your classmates' reactions by Sunday night at 11:59 pm Eastern Time while keeping in mind the rules of netiquette. No weekly discussions will be due on weeks when capstone stage projects are also due. Discussions will not be graded if submitted more than 3 days late without prior permission of the instructor (i.e. if submitted after 11:59 pm Eastern on Tuesday you will receive a zero).
The post should include three sections.
- Your reaction:
In 200-300 words, your reaction is expected to address at least two, and preferably all of the assigned materials. In your reaction, you should first consider the assigned material(s) and assessments on their own terms. Ask yourself: What have I learned about in this module? What does the material assume about coupled human-natural systems? How can I challenge or expand on what I have learned? Then, provide your own brief reaction. Submissions that do not meaningfully engage with the course material(s) will receive a zero. You must read/watch the material(s) and complete the weekly assessments before completing this assignment. When responding to your classmates, you may comment on something they said that you found interesting, answer one of the questions they posed, or pose another question. The instructor will be monitoring the board to make sure that discussions stay on topic, and that comments are respectful. - Questions:
Submit 2 questions following your reaction. Your questions should relate the readings/film/assessments to the key terms covered in that week or in previous weeks. This requirement is graded as all or nothing; so, if you do not submit two questions, you will receive no points for this portion of the assignment. - Citations:
You must also include full references for the assigned material. You can copy the references from the course syllabus. You must use APA style. For information on how to do this, visit this online Handbook. This requirement is graded as all or nothing; so, if you do not submit references for materials cited, you will receive no points for this portion of the assignment. - Respond to 2 Classmates:
Once everyone has written their Q&R, you will then be required to go back into the discussion and converse with at least two of your classmates. Make your posts meaningful. They will be graded.
Letter Grade | Percentages |
---|---|
A | 93 - 100 % |
A- | 90 - 92.9 % |
B+ | 87 - 89.9 % |
B | 83 - 86.9 % |
B- | 80 - 82.9% |
C+ | 77 - 79.9 % |
C | 70 - 76.9 % |
D | 60 - 69.9 % |
F | < 60 % |
X |
Unsatisfactory (student did not participate) |
GEOG 3N Course Schedule

Below you will find a summary of the primary learning activities for this course and the associated time frames. This course is sixteen weeks in length, with an orientation week preceding the official start of the course. There are 12 weeks of material each involving a lab meeting. Modules are one week long. For hybrid class only: Since you work in teams, lab meeting attendance is mandatory. You will lose credit for absence in proportion to the 15% allotted for participation for the total course grade.
Weekly schedule: Modules open on Friday, close on Friday right after the PSU class, assignments are due as in the table below:
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Formative Assessments Due | Summative Assessments Due | Discussion Post Due | Quiz and Discussion Comments |
Dates |
Due dates are in Canvas. |
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Topics |
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Readings |
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Assignments |
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Dates |
Due dates are in Canvas. |
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Topics |
Module 1.1: The Future of Food
Module 1.2: Food Systems combine Natural and Human Systems
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Readings | Materials on the course website and the following:
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Assignments |
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Dates |
Due dates are in Canvas. |
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Topics |
Module 2.1: Origin of farming as co-evolution and coupled human-nature interactions
Module 2.2: Development and spread of agriculture
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Readings |
Materials on the course website and the following:
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Assignments |
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Dates |
Due dates are in Canvas. |
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Topics |
Module 3.1: Diet and Nutrition Basics for Global Food Systems
Module 3.2: Food System Issues for Nutrition
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Readings | Materials on the course website. |
Assignments |
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Dates |
Due dates are in Canvas. |
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Topics |
Module 4.1: Water Resources and Food Production
Module 4.2: Impacts of Food Production on Water Resources
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Readings |
Materials on the course website and the following:
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Assignments |
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Dates |
Due dates are in Canvas. |
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Topics | Module 5.1: Soil Basics
Module 5.2: Soil Nitrogen and Phosphorus: Human Management of Key Nutrients What is Nutrient Cycling?
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Readings |
Materials on the course website and the following:
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Assignments |
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Dates |
Due dates are in Canvas. |
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Topics | Module 6.1: Crop Life Cycles and Environments
Module 6.2: Crop Plant Characteristics and Climatic Adaptations
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Readings |
Materials on the course website and the following:
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Assignments |
Dates | Due dates are in Canvas. |
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Topics | Module 7.1: Cropping Systems and Soil Quality
Module 7.2: Conservation Agriculture: A Systems Approach
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Readings |
Materials on the course website and the following:
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Assignments |
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Dates |
Due dates are in Canvas. |
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Topics |
Module 8.1
Module 8.2
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Readings |
Materials on the course website and the following:
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Assignments |
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Dates |
Due dates are in Canvas. |
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Topics |
Module 9.1: Understanding Global Climate Change and Food Systems
Module 9.2: Food production in a changing climate
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Readings |
Materials on the course website and the following:
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Assignments |
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Dates |
Due dates are in Canvas. |
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Topics |
Module 10.1: Food Systems
Module 10.2: Food System Impacts on Earth System Processes and Sustainability
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Readings |
Materials on the course website and the following:
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Assignments |
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Dates |
Due dates are in Canvas. |
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Topics |
Module 11.1: Resilience, Adaptive Capacity, and Vulnerability (RACV) and Biodiversity in Agri-Food Systems (Agrobiodiversity)
Module 11.2
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Readings |
Materials on the course website and the following:
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Assignments |
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Dates |
Due dates are in Canvas. |
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Topics |
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Readings |
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Assignments |
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Dates |
Due dates are in Canvas. |
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Topics |
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Readings |
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Assignments |
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Dates |
Due dates are in Canvas. |
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Topics |
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Readings |
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Assignments |
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Course Policies
Late Submission Policy
This course has many different components and has been designed to be followed in order. Each week students have a number of assignments to complete. To help facilitate time management all assignments must be turned in by 11:59 pm Eastern time on the date due unless otherwise indicated. There will be a 10% grade deduction for each 24 hour period that assignments are late. Discussions will not be graded if submitted more than 3 days late without prior permission (if submitted after 11:59 pm Eastern on Tuesday you will receive a zero). If this schedule does not work for you for personal and/or professional reasons please reach out to the instructor privately and let them know so other arrangements can be made. If you know you will be late turning in a specific assignment let me know 48 hours ahead of time so that it can be accommodated. All unapproved late submissions will receive grade deductions if not approved beforehand (except of course in the case of an emergency).
Technical Requirements
For this course, we recommend the minimum technical requirements outlined on the Dutton Institute Technical Requirements page, including the requirements listed for same-time, synchronous communications. If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the HelpDesk (for World Campus students) or the IT Service Desk (for students at all other campus locations).
Internet Connection
Access to a reliable Internet connection is required for this course. A problem with your Internet access may not be used as an excuse for late, missing, or incomplete coursework. If you experience problems with your Internet connection while working on this course, it is your responsibility to find an alternative Internet access point, such as a public library or Wi-Fi ® hotspot.
Mixed Content
This site is considered a secure web site which means that your connection is encrypted. We do however link to content that isn't necessarily encrypted. This is called mixed content. By default, mixed content is blocked in Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome. This may result in a blank page or a message saying that only secure content is displayed. Follow the directions on our Technical Requirements page to view the mixed content.
Equations
This course must be viewed using one of the following browsers: Firefox (any version), Safari (versions 5.1 or 6.0), Chrome (0.3 or later), or Internet Explorer with the MathPlayer PlugIn. If you use any other browser, there will be pages containing equations that do not render properly. If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the HelpDesk (for World Campus students) or the IT Service Desk (for students at all other campus locations).
Penn State E-mail Accounts
All official communications from the Penn State World Campus are sent to students' Penn State e-mail accounts. Be sure to check your Penn State account regularly, or forward your Penn State e-mail to your preferred e-mail account, so you don't miss any important information.
Academic Integrity
This course follows Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Academic Integrity Guidelines. Penn State defines academic integrity as "the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner." Academic integrity includes "a commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation, or deception." In particular, the University defines plagiarism as "the fabrication of information and citations; submitting others' work from professional journals, books, articles, and papers; submission of other students' papers, lab results or project reports and representing the work as one's own." Penalties for violations of academic integrity may include course failure. To learn more, see Penn State's Academic Integrity training.
Course Copyright
All course materials students receive or to which students have online access are protected by copyright laws. Students may use course materials and make copies for their own use as needed, but unauthorized distribution and/or uploading of materials without the instructor’s express permission is strictly prohibited. University Policy AD 40, the University Policy Recording of Classroom Activities and Note Taking Services addresses this issue. Students who engage in the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials may be held in violation of the University’s Code of Conduct, and/or liable under Federal and State laws.
For example, uploading completed labs, homework, or other assignments to any study site constitutes a violation of this policy.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. The Office for Student Disability Resources website provides contact information for Campus Disability Coordinators at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the Office for Student Disability Resources website
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled. You will participate in an intake interview and provide documentation. See documentation guidelines at Applying for Services from Student Disability Resources. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Inclement Weather
In case of weather-related delays at the University, this online course will proceed as planned. Your instructor will inform you if there are any extenuating circumstances regarding content or activity due dates in the course due to weather delays. If you are affected by a weather-related emergency, please contact your instructor at the earliest possible time to make special arrangements.
Reporting Bias-Motivated Incidents
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated (Policy AD29 Statement on Intolerance) and can be reported through Educational Equity via Report Bias.
Counseling and Psychological Services
Many students at Penn State face personal challenges or have psychological needs that may interfere with their academic progress, social development, or emotional wellbeing. The university offers a variety of confidential services to help you through difficult times, including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, consultations, online chats, and mental health screenings. These services are provided by staff who welcome all students and embrace a philosophy respectful of clients’ cultural and religious backgrounds, and sensitive to differences in race, ability, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Services include the following:
Counseling and Psychological Services at University Park (CAPS): 814-863-0395
Counseling Services at Commonwealth Campuses
Penn State Crisis Line (24 hours/7 days/week): 877-229-6400
Crisis Text Line (24 hours/7 days/week): Text LIONS to 741741
Military Personnel
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Connect Online with Caution
Penn State is committed to educational access for all. Our students come from all walks of life and have diverse life experiences. As with any other online community, the lack of physical interaction in an online classroom can create a false sense of anonymity and security. While one can make new friends online, digital relationships can also be misleading. Good judgment and decision making are critical when choosing to disclose personal information to others whom you do not know.
Deferred Grades
If you are prevented from completing this course within the prescribed amount of time for reasons that are beyond your control, it is possible to have the grade deferred with the concurrence of the instructor, following Penn State Deferred Grade Policy 48-40. To seek a deferred grade, you must submit a written request (by e-mail or U.S. post) to the instructor describing the reason(s) for the request. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested before the beginning of the final examination period. It is up to the instructor to determine whether or not you will be permitted to receive a deferred grade. If permission is granted, you will work with the instructor to establish a communication plan and a clear schedule for completion within policy. If for any reason, the coursework for the deferred grade is not complete by the assigned time, a grade of "F" will be automatically entered on your transcript.
Attendance
This course will be conducted entirely online. There will be no set class meeting times, but you will be required to complete weekly assignments with specific due dates. Many of the assignments are open for multiple days, so it is your responsibility to complete the work early if you plan to travel or participate in national holidays, religious observances or University approved activities.
If you need to request an exception due to a personal or medical emergency, contact the instructor directly as soon as you are able. Such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Disclaimer
Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus can be changed at any time, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. All changes will be communicated with you via e-mail, course announcement and/or course discussion forum.