Sustainable Food Systems in China
Understand food from a biological perspective in this unique online program.
Despite the geographical distance between China and Canada, many ecosystem processes with crop plants share surprising parallels. Integrating case studies from both countries, you will explore these shared patterns as you learn about agricultural practices, plant/organism interactions, the impacts of climate change, and the resiliency of food crops, all of which contribute to the nutritional value of our food supply.
This unique online program is enhanced by cultural interactions. You will exchange knowledge of Canadian and Chinese plants & wildlife through participating in guest lectures with researchers at Wuhan University and using community-based iNaturalist software to interact with Chinese nature lovers. By the time your program is complete, you will have new understanding of plant research techniques and cultural differences in the treatment of food crops – skills which may be used in your future studies or research.
Key information
Application information
Student experience
Loquat Flowers
Used with permission from iNaturalist
Have questions?
For program information, please contact Dr. Jana Vamosi at jvamosi@ucalgary.ca
For application and registration support, please contact the Group Study Team at group.study@ucalgary.ca.
Program details
Questions about these courses should be directed to the program instructor.
Please note: course descriptions are tentative and subject to change.
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Courses offered
Students on this program are required to enroll in the following course:
BIOL 599: Sustainable Food Systems (3 units)
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Prerequisites
The only prerequisite for course registration is by consent of the instructor.
As this is a 500-level course, students are recommended to have completed 2 years of courses (approx. 54 units) at UCalgary prior to the start of the program. See more details in the Eligibility section below.
This program runs from May 5, 2025 (class introduction) to June 16, 2025 (final assignment deadline). Click here for a detailed itinerary!
Note that many of the activities on this program are intentionally designed to be asynchronous. There will be options to attend live lectures and interact with your classmates, but all lectures will be recorded to maximize accessibility as you balance this course with other summer commitments.
Mondays will usually focus on an overview of the topic for the week, while Wednesdays will focus on the key parts of the readings and how they relate to the quizzes, assignments, and discussions. Therefore, Wednesday sessions will include “how-to” tutorial videos and end with a Zoom session to review material and expectations, work through pilot exercises, and answer questions.
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Costs
There are no additional fees required for you to participate in this amazing opportunity!
Participants will only pay tuition for 1 course, which is based on the regular tuition and fees affiliated with for-credit courses on campus.
For more information, please view the UCalgary Academic Calendar: Tuition and General Fees Section.
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Funding
As this program offers standard UCalgary course credit, you may wish to browse the UCalgary Awards Database. Any awards you are eligible for can, in theory, be used towards the tuition fees for this program. Please refer to the award details as some awards may have different criteria.
Student loans: If you qualify for student loans, your program should qualify. Please note that eligibility for student loans is determined by your loans provider.
This program is open to undergraduate students in good academic standing from all faculties. Students are recommended to be in second-year or higher at the time of application, i.e., to have completed at least 2 years at UCalgary before the program starts in May. (First-year students are welcome to apply if interested, but applicants in second-year standing and above may be prioritized.)
Applications will be considered after your online application and supplementary documents have been received in full.
Please read the sections below for information about what your application will include. The application is completed online. Because the online application will time out after 1 hour, we recommend writing out your answers to the application questions in a Word document and preparing any of the supplementary documents you may need in advance.
Once you are ready, click here to access the application system.
Announcements on whether you have been selected to the program will not be distributed until after the November 11 deadline.
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Written application questions
All Group Study Programs have general questions about how the program will meet your goals (academic reasons, personal interest, career prospects, etc.), how you plan to finance your program, and coping skills for travelling abroad. These questions are designed to help narrow down your motivation for applying and why you should be selected.
Note: Because the online application will time out after one hour, we recommend that you "save" your application, copy the questions into a Word document to compose your answers, check for spelling, grammar and word count, and then paste it into the online application.
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Unofficial transcript
Download an unofficial transcript from your Student Centre. Click here for a step-by-step guide to access your unofficial transcript.
You will be asked to upload your transcript as a PDF in the online application.
Q: What is the difference between this program and my regular online classes?
Throughout this program, you will be working in a cohort. This will ensure continuity of ideas, group dynamics, program themes, and schedules. With a smaller class size, you will have more opportunities to connect with your peers and professors compared to other online classes.
This program will also introduce you to faculty & researchers at our partners in China, as well as community researchers through iNaturalist. This will help you to develop your intercultural skills, increase your self-awareness within the program discipline, and make academic & professional connections abroad.
Q: Are there any resources to help me adjust to studying online?
Yes! Here are some of our recommendations.
The advisor for this program is: Sydney Guthrie
Getting started
Program-Specific Info Sessions
Info sessions are scheduled for every Group Study Program. Attending an info session is not required to apply, but strongly recommended as it will give you an opportunity to meet the instructor and learn more about the travel experience.
We also recommend watching Global Learning 101 for general information.
Global Learning Advising
If you have questions about this program, you can meet with one of our Global Learning Advisors by emailing group.study@ucalgary.ca or booking an appointment through the link below.
1. Select "Advising"
2. Select “Study Abroad”
3. Select “Book by Appointment Type”
4. Select your program advisor to view available times.
Academic Advising
Before applying to study abroad, you should ask your academic advisor how a Group Study Program might align with your degree.
After you are accepted, you should ask your academic advisor more specific questions about courses/credits. It’s also recommended to follow up with your advisor again once you return to Calgary.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.