Courses

The Hunger Center offers a number of different for credit opportunities, including an introductory course in Hunger and Poverty, opportunities for independent study, internships, and a minor in Hunger Studies.

HSS / PSY 130 G (Grand Challenge)

The Problem of Hunger in the U.S.
3 credits, Spring course
The purpose of this course is to provide students an opportunity to learn about the problem of hunger from a multidisciplinary perspective. Students are exposed to information about the prevalence of hunger as well as to the research on the effects of hunger in populations at risk. Further, the course requires that students develop skills to critically assess and analyze the various causes of hunger. Finally, students are challenged through practical experience as well as through theoretical discussions to evaluate existing strategies used in the fight against hunger and to develop their own strategies for ending hunger in America. This course provides the foundation for those interested in completing a minor in Hunger Studies.  It is typically offered every Spring, and fulfils the new General Education requirement a Grand Challenge course and the learning outcomes Social & Behavioral Sciences and Civic Knowledge & Responsibility.

PSY 489/HSS 470 (Internships & Independent Studies)

Students may enroll in undergraduate and graduate level independent study courses to examine various topics related to hunger, malnutrition and poverty.  Individual topics are determined based on the student’s interest in consultation with faculty.
Examples of activities in which independent study/interns have participated include writing press releases, researching policy initiatives both locally and nationally, compiling data on specific hunger-related topics for publication, developing our web site, conducting literature reviews and/or data analysis of specific research related questions.

Students who have recently completed an internship, independent study, or Honors Project include (partial list):

  • Glenn Murphy, Fall 2021, Internship, SNAP Outreach Project
  • Kirstin Borczynski, Fall 2020, Internship, The Green School
  • Katelyn Branciforte, Spring 2019, Internship with Boys & Girls Club and Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale
  • Sarah Lagasse, Human Development & Family Studies, Hunger Center Community Eligibility Provision Intern, Fall 2015
  • Nicole Arruda, Nutrition & Dietetics, Farm Fresh RI Internship, Summer 2015
  • Songvath Nay, Human Development & Family Studies, Internship, Summer 2014
  • Duncan Stiller, Health Studies, Honors Project, 2014
  • Brianna Cihi, Writing Intern, 2011
  • Amanda Algarin, Psychology & Family Studies, Hunger Center Writing Intern, Spring 2010
  • Andrea Russell, Pharmacy, Honors Project, Fall 2009
  • Ana Orellana, Human Development & Family Studies, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Outreach Project Intern, Fall 2009
  • Jenny Allen, Human Development & Family Studies, Intern at Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale, RI, Summer 2009

For more information contact Professor Gorman, kgorman@uri.edu.

COURSES offered in the past include:

2004 HONORS COLLOQUIUM:  Food and Human Rights: Hunger and Social Policy

HPR 201

(Professors Lynn McKinney & Kathleen Gorman)  For a complete description, visit: www.uri.edu/hc/2004/index.html

HPR 310 –  Hunger and Food Policy

This  is an honors course offered on an occasional basis and attempts to answer the following question: Can the food system be economically viable and provide access to healthy and nutritious food for all?

Through the course, we explore different points of view regarding the causes and consequences of food insecurity and invite representatives of these different points of view to share their expertise and to provide students with the diverse and sometimes conflicting viewpoints inherent in creating community food security.  By the end of the course, it is expected that students will have an appreciation for the complexity of the food system, an in-depth understanding of one aspect of the food system and the ability to make either programmatic or policy recommendations regarding enhanced food security in RI.

Advocacy and Social Policy

PSC 375 – Field Experience In Practical Politics 

The class was designed to provide students with hands-on experience in the legislative process. Students are exposed to background information in a platform of issues, trained in some basic organizing skills, and provided with opportunities to use these skills. The platform content is focused on basic needs for low-income Rhode Islanders. Substantive background on these core issues and the policies currently in place that address these issues is provided. The skills and experiences, while focused specifically on these issues, are applicable to any issues so that students who complete this course will be knowledgeable about the advocacy process in general and hence, able to use these skills regardless of the issue.