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One-Year Professional Master’s Degree in Food Science (Non-thesis) - Graduate Handbook
The 1-Year Professional Master’s Degree in Food Science is designed for applicants who have earned a B.S. degree in food science or other science majors.
The non-thesis M.S. degree in Food Science requires the completion of the following categories with a minimum of 30 credits.
- Category 1: At least 12 credits of Food Science courses at the 600- or 700- level are required.
- Category 2: One credit of seminar (FS791A) is required, either letter grade or SAT (satisfactory grade, no presentation).
- Category 3: Independent Study (Capstone Project 1), which includes a literature review (3 credits) and 6 credits of lab work.
- Category 4: pick one from the following:
- 4a: Independent Study (Capstone Project 2), which includes a literature review (3 credits) and 5 credits of lab work;
- 4b: 8 credits of 500- or upper-level courses;
- 4c: 5 credits of 500- or upper-level courses and 3 credits from Independent Study (Capstone Project 2) literature review
- 4d: 3 credits of 500- or upper-level courses and 5 credits of lab work from Independent Study (Capstone Project 2).
SUGGESTED COURSES FOR 1-YEAR (minimum 30 credits)
Fall
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| Food Chem 542 (A) | 3 |
| Food Microbiology -or- | 3 |
| Food Quality and Safety Control (B) | 3 |
| Graduate course ** | 3 |
Spring
| Course |
Credits |
|---|---|
| Food Chem 541 (A) or Elective* | 3 |
| Food Processing (C) | 3 |
| Graduate course** | 3 |
| Elective* | 3 |
| Seminar FS791A | 1 |
Summer
Independent study***
(Food Science 696) up to 6 credits.
** Two 700-level Food Science courses are offered each semester. Each is offered every two years. Incoming students are strongly suggested to take Research Method (FS797R) during Fall semester as a part of Category 1.
* Suggested Electives: Plant & Soil Science 661 (Biometry/Statistics) or other outside-Departmental courses (400-level or above). One 400-level course from the outside department (3 or 4 credits) will be accepted.
* Students can use 1 credit Teaching Experience (FS796T), journal club credits (up to 2 credits), toward their degree requirements, either letter grade or SAT.
* *** Independent study can be registered for Spring semester. Student should discuss topics and timing of independent research projects with his/her advisor
Please note that students in this program do not qualify for graduate research assistantships and admission is competitive. Applicants interested in a career in laboratory research or who plan to continue their graduate education should consider the standard thesis option.