A sustainable agriculture course was developed during 1990-1991 at Iowa State University to examine the development of modern agricultural practices and how they affect the social and ecological environment. According to the project investigators, the purpose of the course was to introduce students to the concept of systemic thinking and to humanist methods of inquiry. They also wished to help students recognize the limitations of scientific reductionism as an exclusive method of inquiry. Because of this general philosophical approach, they regarded this course as one that addressed contemporary agricultural issues rather than a course in agricultural scienceperse.