Food, Health and Environment
UndergraduateTAS-CXA3222024
Course information for 2024 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 14 weeks
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Food, Health and Environment
About this subject
Upon successful completion of this subject, the student should be able to:
- Explain the components of different food systems and their relevance for provision of healthy and sustainable diets at the regional, national and global levels.
- Develop a reflective stance in relation to your own food choices and its impact on the environment
- Distinguish the diverse influences affecting consumers’ ability or desire to consume a Sustainable Diet through the 4 domains of health, environment, economy and society.
- Evaluate opportunities to transform the health and sustainability of the Australian food system.
- Week 1 - Introduction to CXA322. Our food system
- Week 2 - Food production
- Week 3 - Food processing and manufacturing
- Week 4 - Food distribution
- Week 5 - Food retail, and food service
- Week 6 - Food consumption, ultra-processed food, and sustainable diets
- Week 7 - Overconsumption, junk food and food waste
- Week 8 - Challenges: climate change, drought, and salinity
- Week 9 - Drivers - problems, policy, politics, and interventions
- Week 10 - Opportunities for improving the food system through consumer level action and advocacy
- Week 11 - Opportunities to improve the food system for students and practitioners
- Week 12 - Creating a sustainable food system
- Week 13 - The future
This subject investigates the components of a healthy and sustainable food system (production to consumption) from a multidisciplinary perspective, focusing on the domains of health, environment, economy and society. Students will critically analyse the concept of the ‘Sustainable Diet’ and the changes needed to ensure that our food system is ecologically sustainable, healthy, and affordable. Students will be exposed to the views of the food industry, food producers and public health experts on food sustainability and will reflect on the implication their own food choices and their impact on the environment. This subject combines case-study and experience-based learning and exposes students to current and emerging trends and issues, equipping them with the essential knowledge and skills to improve our food system. The driving forces behind this subject is our commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development goals, the challenge of an increasing world population combined with increasing food insecurity, the rise of nutrition-related chronic diseases and the bi-directional relationship environmental change and the changes needed to ensure that the food system is ecologically sustainable, healthy, and affordable.
- Eco-friendly Food Challenge Blog (30%)
- Group project & 5-minute presentation ‘pitch’ (30%)
- Advocacy Discussion Paper (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Prior study
You must either have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject, or currently be enrolled in the following subject(s) in a prior study period; or enrol in the following subject(s) to study prior to this subject:
Please note that your enrolment in this subject is conditional on successful completion of these prerequisite subject(s). If you study the prerequisite subject(s) in the study period immediately prior to studying this subject, your result for the prerequisite subject(s) will not be finalised prior to the close of enrolment. In this situation, should you not complete your prerequisite subject(s) successfully you should not continue with your enrolment in this subject. If you are currently enrolled in the prerequisite subject(s) and believe you may not complete these all successfully, it is your responsibility to reschedule your study of this subject to give you time to re-attempt the prerequisite subject(s).
Additional requirements
- Other requirements - Teaching Arrangement (fully online): Tutorial – 2 hours (12 weeks), Workshop – 3 hours (2 weeks), Fieldwork – 3 hours (1 week).
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Bachelor of Psychological Science and Bachelor of Science
UndergraduateTAS-PSC-DEG
Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Science
UndergraduateTAS-BBS-DEG
Bachelor of Science (Sustainability)
UndergraduateTAS-SUS-DEG
Bachelor of Science (Geography and Environment)
UndergraduateTAS-SCG-DEG
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