Description

Contents

The Master's in Food, Culture and Territory is made up of two mandatory specialisations, two elective specialisations and a final research project.

The two mandatory specialisations are:

* Food and Society The Specialisation in Food and Society proposes an interdisciplinary exploration of the role that food plays in society and the role society and culture play in shaping food choices. The way we produce and eat food has shifted rapidly over the last century, spurred on by new technologies, industrialisation, urbanisation and globalisation. But some things remain the same: food is one of the first essentials of life, the world's largest industry, a frequently indulged pleasure and is often at the core of our social relationships.
Focus in this specialisation is on the role that food plays in our communities and societies, how we are influenced and impacted by food and in turn, how food is impacted by us.
* Geographic Indication In this course, students consider the socio, cultural and political implications of geographic indication. Geographic indication (GI) protects local products and provides interesting marketing strategies, but they also run the risk of restricting and limiting change. Students review the history of GIs and use case studies to consider the benefits and limitations of this type of certification. We then turn our attention of tourism and GIs, focusing on the importance of geographic indicators for tourist destinations and vice versa. Here we will examine specific cases, including Wine tourism in Napa Valley (California) and the Oleoturism Olive Oil Route (Jaén, Spain).
Finally, we consider the legal considerations of geographical indicators including definitions, GIs as a form of intellectual property and a review of legal frameworks that govern GIs.

You may then select two from:

* Food and Migration Innately biological and fundamentally social and cultural, food is like no other aspect of life: it straddles nature and culture and is intimately tied to place while increasingly distributed around the world. When people move or are displaced, their relation to food inevitably shifts. Indeed, migration processes lead individuals to redefine their food culture in foreign social contexts, bringing into play a transformation of dietary behaviour and nutritional aspects associated with these changes, as well as challenges, such as difficulties attaining specific products from one's place of origin.
The Specialisation in Food and Migration offers an interdisciplinary approach to analysing the relationship between food and international migration. The goal of this specialisation is to address food processes related to migration from a social and cultural context while focussing on nutrition and diet.
* Community-Based Food Markets This Specialisation in Community-Based Food Markets proposes a specific and in-depth exploration of the role of food markets in societies and local cultures. Community-based food markets (e.g., farmer's markets) play a central role in local and regional food trade and have also become spaces of social relations, cultural and personal expression, economic activity and enhancement and connection with territory.
The focus of this master's level specialisation is to observe the role played by these commercial spaces in feeding our communities and societies. It thus offers a broad view and understanding of the phenomenon that impact markets as well as small businesses and pays particular attention to practical and technical aspects of management.
* Mediterranean Food and Diet For several decades, the Mediterranean diet has been studied and generally praised as a healthy nutrition-pattern based on some of the dietary heritage of Mediterranean peoples. More recently, increased medical, social and institutional awareness and interest has led to the widespread adoption of these dietary guidelines. Also, an application for the "Mediterranean Diet" as intangible heritage of humanity has been submitted to UNESCO.
This master's level Specialisation in Mediterranean Food and Diet offers a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to an analysis of regionally-based food arrangements which not only define a particular dietary pattern characteristic of the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, but also extends to lifestyle. Therefore, this course considers broad and comprehensive phenomenon that affects medicine, nutrition, and the culture and lifestyles of individuals.

To review the course content of the specialisations that make up the Master's in Food, Culture and Territory and when these specialisations are offered, please visit the specific programme pages.

Requirements

The Master's in Food, Culture and Territory is open to everyone with a good grasp of English.

The UOC is an open university which means that even if you do not have a high school diploma or university degree you can still take our courses.

However, to be eligible for the Master's Degree you must have a recognised university degree. If you do not have a recognised university degree then you will receive an equivalent certificate instead of a degree.

Prior knowledge

The course materials and teaching language is English. A strong grasp of English is required for this programme.

Degrees

Once the overall assessment process has been successfully completed, the UOC will issue 60 ECTS credits and a Master's in Food, Culture and Territory to those participants with an accredited university qualification that is valid in Spain.

Should you not have such a qualification, a Food, Culture and Territory Certificate will be issued.
*ECTS refers to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System. The UOC is a fully accredited university and our courses are part of the ECTS.