Duration

1 semester
Credits

6 ECTS | 3 US
Start date

Fall: from September 14 to December 15, 2026
Modality

On-campus
Languages

English

The history of food: from ancient feasts to Mediterranean innovation

Since the beginning of time, food has been associated with sustenance but also with pleasure. This course will concentrate on the culture of food by focusing on how food binds families, nations and empires together, and how individuals and societies have challenged conventions and ingrained habits.

The course will survey the history of food from the bacchanalian pagan and religious festivals to the rise of high aristocratic cuisine to the coming of modern restaurants and cafés. Along the way, special attention will be paid to transformations that arose as a result of dthe “Old World” exchanges between Christian Europe, Islamic North Africa, and Asia, and the “New World” exchanges following the discovery and colonization of the Americas.

This cross-disciplinary course will make use of readings from history, art, cultural studies and sociology. We will pay particular attention to Barcelona and the Mediterranean world, which have been at the center of innovation.

Number of credits: 6 ECTS / 3 US
Duration: 1 semester
Spring Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m
You may enroll in a single course or several courses per semester.
Our courses are open to everyone; all applicants can enroll directly and will receive a Certificate of “Curso Superior Universitario” from the University of Barcelona upon successful course completion.

Experiential learning | Methodology

A key part of our mission at the Food Studies & Gastronomy Program is to provide students with immersive, hands-on learning as part of their study abroad experience.

We firmly believe that a study abroad experience strictly restricted to the four walls of a classroom makes no sense. That’s why our approach is rooted in experiential learning, an engaged learning process whereby students “learn by doing” and by reflecting on the experience.

We capitalize on Barcelona’s local traditions and privileged landscapes to enrich our experiential learning methodology – our students learn in action, first-handedly taking in the city’s vibrant history and culture to stimulate their personal and academic growth while abroad.

All our courses include field studies and opportunities for hands-on learning, and we make sure to reference the world outside the classroom in every single class.

Here are just some of the field studies and experiential activities our courses can include: