Fall 2024 UF Quest 2 Courses
About UF
UF Quest invites students to consider why the world is the way it is and what they can do about it. Students examine questions that are difficult to answer and hard to ignore in a world that is swiftly changing and becoming increasingly more complex. In UF Quest 2, students draw upon the biological, physical or social and behavioral sciences to explore pressing questions about human societies and/or the planet.
The UF Quest 2 Requirement
Students who enter UF in or after Summer B 2021 are required take one UF Quest 2 course to complete the UF Quest 2 requirement and to satisfy 3 credits of the General Education requirement in the Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Biological Sciences, or the Physical Sciences (see the UF Quest Requirement page for more information). Students must first complete the UF Quest 1 requirement before taking a UF Quest 2 course. Some UF Quest 2 courses may also fulfill either the Diversity (D) or the International (N) requirement and/or count toward the Writing requirement.
UF Quest 2 Courses
Click on the links below to learn more about the individual courses and to access course syllabi, which will be posted at least 3 days before the semester begins. Click the Campus or UF Online button to filter by program or type in the search field to look for a particular subject, topic, instructor, etc.
For the day and periods that the classes meet, please consult the Schedule of Courses.
Course Themes
Culture
Built Environment
Literature
Music
Society
Art
Theater
Dance
General Education Requirements
Diversity
International
2000 words
4000 words
Campus
IDS 2935: Agritourism and Food Systems
IDS 2935: Authentic Leadership: How to Lead without Selling your Soul
- Instructor: Anita Anantharam, Religion
- Format: 100% Online
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2000 Words
- The Pressing Question:
IDS 2935: Bio & Food Justice
IDS 2935: Biotech Medicine & Agriculture
IDS 2935: Bite Me?
- Instructor: Tolulope Agunbiade, Entomology and Nematology
- Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question: What are the emerging issues in vector biology and disease epidemiology? What can be done to manage or prevent the occurrence of arthropod-borne diseases?
IDS 2935: Black Horror and Social Justice
IDS 2935: Can we design “better” humans?
IDS 2935: Chocolate Science and Engineering for a More Just Society
IDS 2935: Collaboration with AI for Better Communication
- Instructor: Won-Li Moon, Advertising
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social and Behavioral Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question: How can experts/scientists apply AI-powered services/programs in communicating (social) scientific problems for the public?
IDS 2935: Communication and Civic Engagement
IDS 2935: Communities and Climate Change
- Instructor: Stephen Mulkey, Biology
- Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- The Pressing Question: How can you and your community respond to climate change over the coming decades?
IDS 2935: Creating Enabling Technologies for Differently Abled People
- Instructor: Nigel Newbutt, Teaching and Learning
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2000 Words
- The Pressing Question:
IDS 2935: Culture & Health
IDS 2935: Empathy & Instagram
IDS 2935: Europe’s Food Environment
IDS 2935: Exercise as Medicine
- Instructor: Anna Gardner, Applied Physiology & Kinesiology
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences
- The Pressing Questions: If exercise is medicine, why is our society plagued by inactivity and its associated negative health consequences? What entities do or should play a role in promoting an active lifestyle among Americans? What should this role be?
IDS 2935: Exploring Our Genome
- Instructor: Jennifer Drew, Microbiology and Cell Science
- Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- The Pressing Question:
What insights can genetics provide us about ourselves? How do we navigate the study and analysis of our personal genome data? How can common genetic variations inform decisions related to disease risk, lifestyles, and behaviors?
IDS 2935: Ficcion vs Realidad?
- Instructor: Antonio Sajid Lopez Mendez, Spanish and Portuguese Studies
- Format: Hybrid
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question:
- How do shared fictions shape the political and socioeconomic associations of ethnic groups in regions dominated by Hispanic elites?
- In what ways do stereotypes and prejudices become embedded in popular culture, and how do they justify the exclusion of certain individuals or groups?
- How do fictions portray, embed, or question stereotypes, and what impact does this have on societal norms and behaviors?
- What are the implications of these shared fictions for democracy, citizenship rights, human rights, corruption, and violence in Latin America?How can a critical examination of fictions and social behaviors lead to personal reflection, cultural and political analysis, and the development of ideas to combat stereotypes and foster inclusive societies?
IDS 2935: Foundations, Principles and Applications of Sustainable Development
- Instructor: Maria Watson, Construction Management
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, International, 2000 Words
- The Pressing Question: What is the relationship between society, the built environment, and the natural environment, and what does it mean to develop in a sustainable way?
IDS 2935: Global Patterns of STIs
- Instructor: Gabriela Hamerlinck, Geography
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question: What factors influence the observable global patterns of viral, bacterial, and parasitic STIs?
IDS 2935: Hazards and Humans
- Instructor: Anita Marshall, Geological Sciences
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physcial Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question: How do science, culture and society impact the way we understand, prepare for and respond to natural disasters?
IDS 2935: How Do We End Poverty?
- Instructor: Xumin Zhang, Food and Resource Economics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question:
What is poverty, and how can we eradicate it by synergizing economics, human capital, the environment, and human well-being?
IDS 2935: Impact of Materials on Society
- Instructor: Kevin Jones, Anthropology
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences
- The Pressing Question: How do materials influence society and how does society in turn shape how we use materials?
IDS 2935: Is Animal Migration Disappearing?
IDS 2935: Knowledge and the Universe
IDS 2935: Linguistic Prejudice
IDS 2935: Living and Eating on Earth
IDS 2935: Love's Labor's Lost?
- Instructor: Emily Hind & Meg Weeks, Spanish & Portuguese
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, International, 4000 Words
- The Essential Question:
IDS 2935: Making Sense: Understanding the World with Data and AI
IDS 2935: Microbes without Borders
- Instructor: Monika Oli, Microbiology and Cell Science
- Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question: Why is it important to embrace global microbial literacy for your own health and the health of our planet?
IDS 2935: Our Oceans: Human Impacts
IDS 2935: People & Big Data
IDS 2935: People and Places in a Changing Climate
IDS 2935: Privacy in the Digital Age
IDS 2935: Probability & Implications ET
IDS 2935: Reproduction: A User's Manual
- Instructor: Justin Callaham, Animal Sciences
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- The Pressing Question:
IDS 2935: Astrophotography: Art & Science
IDS 2935: The Economics of Eating
- Instructor: Lijun Chen, Food & Resource Economics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question:
How are shifting global economies reshaping the food systems and consumption patterns of today?
What internal and external factors are driving consumers’ food choices in response to global challenges?
In a world where some societies struggle with obesity while others face starvation, how can economic policies address the imbalance of food and nutrition insecurity?
How are emerging technologies poised to revolutionize the food system and promote equitable and sustainable consumption, and how do consumers respond
IDS 2935: The Evolution of Eating
- Instructor: Rosalie Koenig, Agronomy
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question: Can science create new technologies that will address present bottlenecks in agricultural production while securing a healthy, equitable diet and minimizing impacts to the environment?
IDS 2935: The Future of Energy
- Instructor: Johanna Engstrom, Geography
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physcial Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question:
IDS 2935: Valuing Circular Food Economies
IDS 2935: What If There Was No Stigma in Mental Health?
- Instructor: Ritzy Ettinger, Human Development and Organizational Studies
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, Diversity, 2000 Words
- The Pressing Question: What if there was no stigma related to mental health problems in the U.S.? How would our lived experiences be changed and what outcomes would improve?
IDS 2935: Why Chemistry Matters
- Instructor: Gail Fanucci, Chemistry
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences, Diversity
- The Pressing Question:
IDS 2935: World Agricultural Policy
PHY 2032: Energy and Society
- Instructor: Gregory Stewart, Physics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences
- The Pressing Question: How will we meet our energy needs based on available resources in a way that is environmentally friendly, economically viable, fair, and politically attainable?
PLP 2311: What are Plants Talking About?
Honors
IDS 2935: Data is Everywhere
IDS 2935: Humans, Science, the Universe
- Instructor: Kathryn McGill, Physics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences
- The Pressing Question: How does Humanity perceive its place in the universe?
IDS 2935: Personalized Nutrition
IDS 2935: Robots: Threat or Opportunity?
- Instructor: Nasim Binesh, Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences
- The Pressing Question: In what ways are robots changing our society, and how can we prepare for a future of robots?
IDS 2935: Statistics and the Physical World
UF Online
IDS 2935: Authentic Leadership: How to Lead without Selling your Soul
- Instructor: Anita Anantharam, Religion
- Format: 100% Online
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2000 Words
- The Pressing Question:
IDS 2935: Bite Me?
- Instructor: Tolulope Agunbiade, Entomology and Nematology
- Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question: What are the emerging issues in vector biology and disease epidemiology? What can be done to manage or prevent the occurrence of arthropod-borne diseases?
IDS 2935: Black Horror and Social Justice
IDS 2935: Can we design “better” humans?
IDS 2935: Communities and Climate Change
- Instructor: Stephen Mulkey, Biology
- Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- The Pressing Question: How can you and your community respond to climate change over the coming decades?
IDS 2935: Exploring Our Genome
- Instructor: Jennifer Drew, Microbiology and Cell Science
- Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- The Pressing Question:
What insights can genetics provide us about ourselves? How do we navigate the study and analysis of our personal genome data? How can common genetic variations inform decisions related to disease risk, lifestyles, and behaviors?
IDS 2935: World Agricultural Policy
- Instructor: Jared Gars, Food and Resource Economics
- Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question: How can agricultural and environmental policy be used to address emerging food security and environmental threats around the world?
IDS 2935: Bite Me?
- Instructor: Tolulope Agunbiade, Entomology and Nematology
- Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question: What are the emerging issues in vector biology and disease epidemiology? What can be done to manage or prevent the occurrence of arthropod-borne diseases?
IDS 2935: Reproduction: A User's Manual
- Instructor: Justin Callaham, Animal Sciences
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- The Pressing Question:
IDS 2935: Bio & Food Justice
IDS 2935: Personalized Nutrition
IDS 2935: Exploring Our Genome
- Instructor: Jennifer Drew, Microbiology and Cell Science
- Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- The Pressing Question:
What insights can genetics provide us about ourselves? How do we navigate the study and analysis of our personal genome data? How can common genetic variations inform decisions related to disease risk, lifestyles, and behaviors?
IDS 2935: Living and Eating on Earth
IDS 2935: Biotech Medicine & Agriculture
IDS 2935: Global Patterns of STIs
- Instructor: Gabriela Hamerlinck, Geography
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question: What factors influence the observable global patterns of viral, bacterial, and parasitic STIs?
IDS 2935: Can we design “better” humans?
IDS 2935: The Evolution of Eating
- Instructor: Rosalie Koenig, Agronomy
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question: Can science create new technologies that will address present bottlenecks in agricultural production while securing a healthy, equitable diet and minimizing impacts to the environment?
IDS 2935: Our Oceans: Human Impacts
IDS 2935: Communities and Climate Change
- Instructor: Stephen Mulkey, Biology
- Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- The Pressing Question: How can you and your community respond to climate change over the coming decades?
IDS 2935: Microbes without Borders
- Instructor: Monika Oli, Microbiology and Cell Science
- Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question: Why is it important to embrace global microbial literacy for your own health and the health of our planet?
IDS 2935: Chocolate Science and Engineering for a More Just Society
IDS 2935: Is Animal Migration Disappearing?
IDS 2935: The Future of Energy
- Instructor: Johanna Engstrom, Geography
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physcial Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question:
IDS 2935: Why Chemistry Matters
- Instructor: Gail Fanucci, Chemistry
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences, Diversity
- The Pressing Question:
IDS 2935: Knowledge and the Universe
IDS 2935: Humans, Science, the Universe
- Instructor: Kathryn McGill, Physics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences
- The Pressing Question: How does Humanity perceive its place in the universe?
IDS 2935: Impact of Materials on Society
- Instructor: Kevin Jones, Anthropology
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences
- The Pressing Question: How do materials influence society and how does society in turn shape how we use materials?
IDS 2935: Hazards and Humans
- Instructor: Anita Marshall, Geological Sciences
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physcial Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question: How do science, culture and society impact the way we understand, prepare for and respond to natural disasters?
IDS 2935: Probability & Implications ET
IDS 2935: People and Places in a Changing Climate
IDS 2935: Astrophotography: Art & Science
IDS 2935: Statistics and the Physical World
IDS 2935: Privacy in the Digital Age
IDS 2935: People & Big Data
IDS 2935: Making Sense: Understanding the World with Data and AI
IDS 2935: Robots: Threat or Opportunity?
- Instructor: Nasim Binesh, Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences
- The Pressing Question: In what ways are robots changing our society, and how can we prepare for a future of robots?
IDS 2935: The Economics of Eating
- Instructor: Lijun Chen, Food & Resource Economics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question:
How are shifting global economies reshaping the food systems and consumption patterns of today?
What internal and external factors are driving consumers’ food choices in response to global challenges?
In a world where some societies struggle with obesity while others face starvation, how can economic policies address the imbalance of food and nutrition insecurity?
How are emerging technologies poised to revolutionize the food system and promote equitable and sustainable consumption, and how do consumers respond
IDS 2935: Valuing Circular Food Economies
IDS 2935: Data is Everywhere
IDS 2935: Exercise as Medicine
- Instructor: Anna Gardner, Applied Physiology & Kinesiology
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences
- The Pressing Questions: If exercise is medicine, why is our society plagued by inactivity and its associated negative health consequences? What entities do or should play a role in promoting an active lifestyle among Americans? What should this role be?
IDS 2935: Empathy & Instagram
IDS 2935: Europe’s Food Environment
IDS 2935: Ficcion vs Realidad?
- Instructor: Antonio Sajid Lopez Mendez, Spanish and Portuguese Studies
- Format: Hybrid
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question:
- How do shared fictions shape the political and socioeconomic associations of ethnic groups in regions dominated by Hispanic elites?
- In what ways do stereotypes and prejudices become embedded in popular culture, and how do they justify the exclusion of certain individuals or groups?
- How do fictions portray, embed, or question stereotypes, and what impact does this have on societal norms and behaviors?
- What are the implications of these shared fictions for democracy, citizenship rights, human rights, corruption, and violence in Latin America?How can a critical examination of fictions and social behaviors lead to personal reflection, cultural and political analysis, and the development of ideas to combat stereotypes and foster inclusive societies?
IDS 2935: What If There Was No Stigma in Mental Health?
- Instructor: Ritzy Ettinger, Human Development and Organizational Studies
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, Diversity, 2000 Words
- The Pressing Question: What if there was no stigma related to mental health problems in the U.S.? How would our lived experiences be changed and what outcomes would improve?
IDS 2935: Communication and Civic Engagement
IDS 2935: Creating Enabling Technologies for Differently Abled People
- Instructor: Nigel Newbutt, Teaching and Learning
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2000 Words
- The Pressing Question:
IDS 2935: Culture & Health
IDS 2935: Agritourism and Food Systems
IDS 2935: Linguistic Prejudice
IDS 2935: Foundations, Principles and Applications of Sustainable Development
- Instructor: Maria Watson, Construction Management
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, International, 2000 Words
- The Pressing Question: What is the relationship between society, the built environment, and the natural environment, and what does it mean to develop in a sustainable way?
IDS 2935: How Do We End Poverty?
- Instructor: Xumin Zhang, Food and Resource Economics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question:
What is poverty, and how can we eradicate it by synergizing economics, human capital, the environment, and human well-being?
IDS 2935: Bite Me?
- Instructor: Tolulope Agunbiade, Entomology and Nematology
- Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question: What are the emerging issues in vector biology and disease epidemiology? What can be done to manage or prevent the occurrence of arthropod-borne diseases?
IDS 2935: Exploring Our Genome
- Instructor: Jennifer Drew, Microbiology and Cell Science
- Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- The Pressing Question:
What insights can genetics provide us about ourselves? How do we navigate the study and analysis of our personal genome data? How can common genetic variations inform decisions related to disease risk, lifestyles, and behaviors?
IDS 2935: Can we design “better” humans?
IDS 2935: Communities and Climate Change
- Instructor: Stephen Mulkey, Biology
- Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- The Pressing Question: How can you and your community respond to climate change over the coming decades?
PLP 2311: What are Plants Talking About?
PHY 2032: Energy and Society
- Instructor: Gregory Stewart, Physics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences
- The Pressing Question: How will we meet our energy needs based on available resources in a way that is environmentally friendly, economically viable, fair, and politically attainable?
IDS 2935: Love's Labor's Lost?
- Instructor: Emily Hind & Meg Weeks, Spanish & Portuguese
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, International, 4000 Words
- The Essential Question:
IDS 2935: World Agricultural Policy
IDS 2935: World Agricultural Policy
- Instructor: Jared Gars, Food and Resource Economics
- Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question: How can agricultural and environmental policy be used to address emerging food security and environmental threats around the world?
IDS 2935: Black Horror and Social Justice
IDS 2935: Black Horror and Social Justice
IDS 2935: Collaboration with AI for Better Communication
- Instructor: Won-Li Moon, Advertising
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social and Behavioral Sciences, International
- The Pressing Question: How can experts/scientists apply AI-powered services/programs in communicating (social) scientific problems for the public?
IDS 2935: Authentic Leadership: How to Lead without Selling your Soul
- Instructor: Anita Anantharam, Religion
- Format: 100% Online
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2000 Words
- The Pressing Question:
IDS 2935: Authentic Leadership: How to Lead without Selling your Soul
- Instructor: Anita Anantharam, Religion
- Format: 100% Online
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2000 Words
- The Pressing Question: