World Food Patterns Online Course

World Food Patterns investigates cultural diversity by identifying social, cultural, religious, ethnic, and personal preferences on the food choices of individuals, families and societies.

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About N&D 335: World Food Patterns

Students learn that differential nutrition status, by making some people more fit that others, has widespread economic, political and social consequences.

This course explores the diets and nutritional behaviors and their influences on humans from around the world and try to figure out why people eat what they do. By learning why people eat the way they do, we can also understand many other things about them as well. Uncover the trail of understanding and how cultures are interconnected – using food as the guide. The approach will be holistic and studies all of the ways that human dietary practices are an outward sign of culture, focusing on the biological, sociocultural, and environmental factors that influence food consumption patterns.

Students have 3 to 9 months to complete this course from the time of enrollment. You may work at your own pace and complete lessons on your own schedule, submitting up to three items per week for grading. The Introductory and Cultural Exploration lessons have lesson objectives and a to-do list, required reading, instructor videos, and an assignment. 

Lesson Topics

• Food, Culture and Health Beliefs
• Intracultural Communication & World Religion
• Cultural Exploration: The Americas
• Cultural Self-E (Exploration) Assignment
• Cultural Exploration: Europe
• Cultural Exploration: Asia and the Pacific Islands and Oceania
• Cultural Conversation Assignment
• Cultural Exploration: Africa, the Balkans & the Middle East
• Cultural Exchange Assignment
• Cultural Exploration:  Regional America
• Expanding Horizons Portfolio Assignment

Course Textbook for World Food Patterns

Furstenau-Mukerjee, N., Waite-Safaii, S., Sucher, K., & Nelms-Nahikian, M. (2024). Food and Culture (8th ed.). Cengage Learning. ISBN: 978-0-357-72958-8.

How will the course appear on my transcript?

You may enroll at any time and have up to 9 months to complete this online course. The credits earned will be recorded on your UND transcript based on the date you registered for the course. It will appear on your transcript in the same way as a course taken during a regular semester. There is no indication that the course was taken online or that you completed it at your own pace. 

Why Take Online Classes at UND?

Here are a few reasons why you should take an online enroll anytime course at UND:

• Great customer service – Our registration team is ready to answer questions quickly so you can focus on your coursework.
• Affordable – UND's enroll anytime courses are priced at North Dakota's affordable, in-state tuition rate.
• Accredited – UND is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
• Easily transfer credits – Transferring credits is always at the discretion of the institution to which the credits are being transferred. In general, credits from schools/universities that are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission transfer to other regionally accredited institutions. UND's online courses appear on your UND transcript in the same way as other courses.

Flexible 100% Online Course

You'll take this online course at your own pace. Some students thrive in this environment, while other students may struggle with setting their own deadlines. If you have successfully taken an independent study or correspondence course previously, UND’s enroll anytime courses may be right for you. Still not sure? Take our online quiz to help determine if online enroll anytime courses are right for you.

Course information including tuition, technology requirements, textbooks, lessons and exams is subject to change without notice.