POLS 222 - Agricultural and Water Policy

Credits: 5
LEC hours per week: 5
This course covers goals, methods, and results of government programs and policies in the agriculture and natural resource industries. This includes the study of international trade policies, domestic farm policies, food safety and quality issues, resource issues and how these affect agribusiness, locally, nationally and internationally. The course will also cover western water policy with an emphasis on Washington State water policy, water rights and how these policies affect natural resources and agribusiness. Formerly: PSCI 222.
Course Outcomes:

Review, analyze, and discuss published articles regarding policy issues relevant to the agricultural industry.
Describe historical trends, sociological basis and forms of policies related to domestic and international food situations.
Explain economic concepts as they relate to agricultural policies.
Explain process and influences on making laws in the U.S.
Describe world food situation and effect of trade and economic development policies.
Define the U.S. farm problem and structure of the agricultural production sector.
Describe tools used in domestic farm policies and their historical development process.
Describe tools used in resource policies and their historical development process.
Describe tools used in consumer food policies and their historical development process.
Summarize Western Water Law and compare difference between Northwestern states.
Interpret water right and legal property description.

Course Topics:

Basis for policy decisions
Forms of agricultural policy
Economic foundations of policy
History of U.S. agricultural problems and proposed solutions
U.S. policy and law making process
The world food problem
Trade and development policy
U.S. domestic farm policy
Environmental policy
Food safety policy
Food assistance and nutrition policy
Types of water rights
Interpretation of water rights
Western water law
State laws and policy
Native American treaties rights

Course Attribute(s): Social Science