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41829-01 - Lecture with practical courses: Social Science Perspectives on Sustainability: The Food System (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Every fall sem. |
| Lecturers | Janina Grabs (janina.grabs@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | The course is offered within the scope of the program "Pathways to Sustainability": https://msd.unibas.ch/en/study-programs/pathways-to-sustainability-tqne/ The program consists of 3 introductory lectures with practical courses (lecture A and B are offered in fall semesters, C is offered in spring semesters) dedicated to conveying the foundations of sustainable development. An additional integration seminar (D, offered in spring semesters) engages with interdisciplinary work. The assignment and completion of D requires the successful completion of two lectures from the above mentioned lectures A, B and C. This lecture with exercises deals with the analysis of sustainability problems and problem solving from different social science perspectives. It seeks to clarify the prerequisites and conditions, as well as the possibilities and limits of dealing with sustainability problems and fostering societal transformations toward sustainability. The food system is analyzed from a social, cultural and political perspective in relation to sustainable development: What can social sciences contribute to a differentiated understanding of food-related sustainability problems and their solutions? (e.g., producer poverty and living incomes; health impacts of food production and consumption; food governance and governing a sustainable food system etc.). The course consists of weekly lectures alongside a practical exercise. The lecture provides systematic overview knowledge and introduces a set of specific social science concepts, approaches and theories. In the practical exercise, students will work in groups on a specific food product and value chain and apply the social science knowledge attained in class. These exercises will culminate in a final presentation where students will compare and contrast their findings across products and sectors. |
| Learning objectives | The lecture aims at the acquisition of the following competences: - Professional competences: Students are familiar with selected social science perspectives (concepts, approaches and theories) relevant to the analysis of the link between sustainability and food. In addition, they have exemplary empirical knowledge on selected sustainability problems in the subject area of food and sustainability. - Methodological competences: Students are able to develop and apply strategies and techniques for the research and structuring of information. They are also able to apply specific social science perspectives to the analysis of a sustainability problem and to reflect the knowledge gained thereby. - Social and self-competences: Students can organize group work and organize and carry out results-oriented activities. They can argue their own positions in a small group and in front of a larger audience, defend against objections and reflect on the basis of critical objections by others. |
| Bibliography | Will be provided through ADAM. |
| Comments | Kick off lecture: 15. September 2026: 14.15-18h, for details see section "Dates & Rooms". Kick-off practical course: 09. October 2026; follow-up session: 20.11.2026; 10.15-12h. Extra certificate Upon completion of the entire program “Pathways to Sustainability” AND the enrolled degree program at the University of Basel students may order an additional certificate. For this purpose, students send an email to coordination-msd@unibas.ch, attach their official final degree transcript (= graduation transcript = Zeugnis) and provide the postal address for the mailing. This course is offered by the programs "Pathways to Sustainability" and MSD. Prof. Dr. Alejandra Morán Ordóñez is member of the teaching committee MSD and head of the research group Landscape Ecology and Ecosystems Conservation/Dep. Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, and of "Pathways to Sustainability“. This lecture is offered by the programs "Pathways to Sustainability" and MSD. Prof. Dr. Janina Grabs is the head of the Sustainability Research Group, Dep. of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. |
| Admission requirements | This course is open to students of the University of Basel and EUCOR sustainability program who are at least in their third bachelor semester, or who are studying at Master or PhD level. MSD 2017 & MSD 2026 Students for whom this course is a mandatory class but who have already taken a similar course should contact Prof. Dr. Janina Grabs to arrange an alternative option. The final course selection is to be fixed in a learning agreement (template available on the website MSD; for both MSD curricula). |
| Course application | Course enrollment on online services should be completed by the beginning of the teaching period at the latest until Monday, 14. September 2026. Withdrawal possible until Monday of teaching week five. Please note entry requirements. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Tuesday | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Comments |
Kick-off: 15. September 2026: 14.15 - 18.00h (together with 41828) Practical course: Introduction Policy brief: 09.10.2026/10.15-12.00h; follow-up session: 20.11.2026/10.15-12.00h Final written exam date: 15. Dezember 2026. Repeat exam date: 19. January 2027. For details regarding time and room see below. |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 15.09.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 22.09.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 29.09.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 06.10.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Friday 09.10.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | --, -- |
| Tuesday 13.10.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 20.10.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 27.10.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 03.11.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 10.11.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 17.11.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Friday 20.11.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | --, -- |
| Tuesday 24.11.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 01.12.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 08.12.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 15.12.2026 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 118 |
| Tuesday 19.01.2027 | 16.15-18.00 | Vesalianum, Seminarraum (O2.02) |
| Modules |
Grundkurse (Transfakultäre Querschnittsprogramme im freien Kreditpunkte-Bereich) Modul: Vertiefung Landschaft und Umwelt (Bachelor's degree subject: Geography) Module: Complementary Knowledge in Social Sciences (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development (Start of studies before 01.08.2026)) Module: Complementary Knowledge Social Sciences (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development) Module: Electives in Data Science (Master's Studies: Data Science) Module: Fields: Environment and Development (Master's degree program: African Studies) Module: Inequality, Power, Conflict (Master's degree subject: Political Science – Inequality, Power, Conflict) Module: Resources and Sustainability (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources (Start of studies before 01.08.2026)) Module: Sustainable Societies: Inequality, Power, Conflict (Master's degree program: Changing Societies) Specialization Module Global Europe: Environment and Sustainability (Master's Studies - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences) Specialization Module Global Europe: Environment and Sustainability (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) |
| Assessment format | record of achievement |
| Assessment details | Compulsory attendance in presence of lecture and practical course, submission of learning portfolio according to the announced requirements. Final written examination/repeat exam (details acccording to information of lecturer): 90 minutes. For details regarding dates and room see online course directory/section "dates and rooms". Practical courses: Details about the task will be announced in class during the kick-off session of the policy briefs on 09. October 2026. A follow-up will take place on 20. November 2026. For details regarding the room allocation see online course directory/section "dates and rooms". |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | one repetition, best attempt counts |
| Scale | 1-6 0,1 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | University of Basel |
| Offered by | Departement Umweltwissenschaften |