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University of Florida

Fall 2026 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/or 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 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.

CAMPUS HONORS UF ONLINE

CAMPUS

  • Instructor: Jared Gars, Food and Resource Economics 
  • Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
  • The Pressing Question: How can agricultural and environmental policy be used to address emerging food security and environmental threats around the world? 
  • Instructor: Xumin Zhang, Food and Resource Economics
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: What is poverty, and how can we eradicate it by synergizing economics, human capital, the environment, and human well-being? 
  • Instructor: Jennifer Clark, Food & Resource Economics
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: How can we create more circular (recycle, reuse & repurpose) food systems and evaluate the benefits and costs to society from our decisions to use scarce resources sustainably?”
  • Instructor: Lijun "Angelia" Chen, Food & Resource Economics
  • Format: 100% Classroom 
  • The Pressing Questions: 
    • 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?
  • Instructor: Misti Sharp, Food and Resource Economics
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: How might we reconnect the world with agriculture and food systems through Agritourism?
  • Instructor: Sarah Bush, Agricultural Education & Communication
  • Format: Hybrid
  • The Pressing Question: Can big data save the world?
  • Instructor: Renata Serra, Center for African Studies
  • Format:  100% Classroom
  • Pressing Question: 
  • Instructor: Naibi Marinas, Astronomy
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: What is life, what are the conditions necessary for life, and where can we find those conditions in the universe?
  • Instructor Astronomy
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: How do the disciplines of art and science converge in astrophotography to help us explore and express our relationship with the cosmos?
  • Instructor: Avrajit Bandyopadhyay, Astronomy
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: How can different people view the same evidence yet form or retain different conclusions?
  • Instructor: Maria Watson, Construction Management
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • 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?
  • Instructor: Brian Harfe, Biology
  • Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
  • The Pressing Question: Humans can be created with specific “designer” characteristics, but should we? We will examine the technologies behind how the human genome can be modified and discuss the controversies surrounding these technologies.
  • Instructor: Melissa Meadows, Biology
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: How do we impact our oceans, and how do they in turn impact us?
  • Instructor: Won-Ki Moon, Advertising
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: How can experts/scientists apply AI-powered services/programs in communicating (social) scientific problems for the public?
  • Instructor: Laura Acosta, Zhiyong Cheng, Diana Taft; Food Science & Human Nutrition
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: How can diet make identical twins so different, and what about unalike people?
  • Instructor:  Nigel Newbutt, Teaching and Learning
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: How and why can technology be used, designed and applied to benefit people with disabilities? What are the ethical and moral implications for designing technology for disabled groups without their input and guidance? What are the dilemmas facing disabled groups and why should technologies be used? 
  • Instructor:  Agata Kowalewska, European Studies
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: Can Europeans sustain traditional food culture, competitive levels of food production, and improve population health while achieving the goals of Agenda 2023 and the European Green Deal?
  • Instructor: Tenisha Riley, Family, Youth and Community Sciences
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: How can prevention science be used not only to reduce risk, but to promote a healthy well-being across development and within communities?
  • Instructor: Katherine Serafin, Geography 
  • Format: 100% Classroom 
  • The Pressing Question: How can humanity adapt to sea level rise?
  • Instructor: Gabriela Hamerlinck, Geography
  • Format:  100% Online, Asynchronous
  • The Pressing Question: What social, political, biological, and environmental factors led to historic disease outbreaks? What would happen if our planet experienced a pandemic today? How can we prepare for the next disease pandemic?
  • Instructor: Anita Marshall, Geological Sciences
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: How do science, culture and society impact the way we understand, prepare for and respond to natural disasters?
  • Instructor: Angela Bacsik, University Writing Program
  • Format: 100% Classroom 
  • The Pressing Question: Whose interests are served by privacy protection and whose interests are served by surveillance? How does ubiquitous data collection and use create challenges for individuals and for social structures? What kinds of limitations might be needed and why?
  • Instructor: Sharon Austin, Political Science
  • Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
  • The Pressing Question: What can we do to address societal issues? Namely, how have filmmakers and educators used the horror genre of filmmaking to protest racism and promote social justice ideals?
  • Instructor: Amy Martinelli, Dial Center
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: How can everyday people use effective communication to better understand and engage with civic life?
  • Instructor: Michael Harmon, Dial Center for Written and Oral Communication
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: How can we generate more empathy through social media interactions?
  • Instructor:  Marit Ostebo, Anthropology
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • Pressing Question:
  • Instructor: Kevin Jones, Anthropology
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: How do materials influence society and how does society in turn shape how we use materials?
  • Instructor: Zea Miller, University Writing Program
  • Format: 100% Classroom 
  • The Pressing Question: How can we use AI to symbolically interface across time and space? 
  • Instructor: Esther Mullens, Geography
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: How is climate change affecting the people and places within the diverse geographies of the United States?
  • Instructor: Richard Tovar, Environmental Health
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: How are dietary trends such as low carbohydrate plans, detox programs, and intermittent fasting influenced by cultural norms, media messaging, economic factors, and psychological motivations?
  • Instructor: Gail Fanucci, Chemistry
  • Format:  100% Classroom 
  • The Pressing Question: How can novel approaches/innovations in chemistry help alleviate or answer current and arising challenges in our world today, such as our food supply and pollution, novel medicines to combat resistance and addiction, and our water supply and the built environment? How has chemical innovation been motivated by and impacted various groups of people?”
  • Instructor: Kelsi & Keri Matwick, Journalism
  • Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
  • The Pressing Question: What do we eat, and how can we eat for a more sustainable future?
  • Instructor:  Kim Walsh-Childers, Journalism
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: How can citizens identify and use high quality news coverage of local and state governments to foster their own and others’ effective participation in democracy in their communities and their states?
  • Instructor: Alayo Tripp, Linguistics
  • Format: 100% Classroom 
  • The Pressing Question: What is Linguistic Prejudice and what can we do to mitigate it?
  • Instructor: Jennifer Drew, Microbiology and Cell Science
  • Format:  100% Online, Asynchronous
  • 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?
  • Instructor: Physics
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • 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?
  • Instructor:  Rosalie Koenig, Agronomy
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • 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?
  • Instructor: Human Development and Organizational Studies
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • 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? 
  • Instructor:  Antonio Sajid Lopez Mendez, Spanish and Portuguese Studies
  • Format: Hybrid
  • The Pressing Questions: 
    • 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?
  • Instructor: Emilio Bruna, Wildlife Ecology
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: What is the future of tropical rain forests?

HONORS

  • Instructor: Anna Gardner, Applied Physiology & Kinesiology
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • 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?
  • Instructor: Elizabeth Lada and Noah Rashkind, Astronomy
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: How do the disciplines of art and science converge in astrophotography to help us explore and express our relationship with the cosmos?
  • Instructor: Anisah Ari, Dial Center
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • Instructor: Jessica-Jean Stonecipher, University Writing Program
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: What is romantic love, and how do the experiences, expectations, discourses, and desires related to romantic love help us to understand ourselves and others?
  • Instructor:  Rosalie Koenig, Agronomy
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • 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?
  • Instructor: Lawrence Winner, Statistics
  • Format: 100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: How can we measure and describe climate change based on available empirical data?

UF ONLINE

  • Instructor: Jared Gars, Food and Resource Economics 
  • Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
  • The Pressing Question: How can agricultural and environmental policy be used to address emerging food security and environmental threats around the world? 
  • Instructor: Brian Harfe, Biology
  • Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
  • The Pressing Question: Humans can be created with specific “designer” characteristics, but should we? We will examine the technologies behind how the human genome can be modified and discuss the controversies surrounding these technologies.
  • Instructor: Gabriela Hamerlinck, Geography
  • Format:  100% Online, Asynchronous
  • The Pressing Question: What social, political, biological, and environmental factors led to historic disease outbreaks? What would happen if our planet experienced a pandemic today? How can we prepare for the next disease pandemic?
  • Instructor: Sharon Austin, Political Science
  • Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
  • The Pressing Question: What can we do to address societal issues? Namely, how have filmmakers and educators used the horror genre of filmmaking to protest racism and promote social justice ideals?
  • Instructor: Kelsi & Keri Matwick, Journalism
  • Format: 100% Online, Asynchronous
  • The Pressing Question: What do we eat, and how can we eat for a more sustainable future?
  • Instructor: Jennifer Drew, Microbiology and Cell Science
  • Format:  100% Online, Asynchronous
  • 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?

 

 

  • Instructor: Kevin Folta, Horticultural Sciences
  • Format:  100% Classroom
  • The Pressing Question: New technologies in food and medicine are amazing;  why do people oppose them, what information is real and what isn't?