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¸£Àû±ÆÕ¾ Catalog 2025-2026

Food Science (BS): Science Concentration

The Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science is offered through two curricula emphasizing science or technology. The science curriculum is designed for students desiring a more analytically intense program leading to technical careers in the food industry or graduate school. Students with an interest in business opportunities will find the technology program permits greater flexibility to pursue coursework in business, agricultural economics, or related fields.

Plan Requirements

Orientation
´¡³¢³§Ìý103First-year Success in Agriculture and Life Sciences1
´Ç°ùÌý´¡³¢³§Ìý303 Transfer Success in Agriculture and Life Sciences
Communication
°ä°¿²ÑÌý110Public Speaking3
´Ç°ùÌý°ä°¿²ÑÌý112 Interpersonal Communication
Mathematical Sciences
²Ñ´¡Ìý131Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A3
²Ñ´¡Ìý231Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B3
³§°ÕÌý311Introduction to Statistics3
Sciences
µþ±õ°¿Ìý181Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity4
´Ç°ùÌýµþ±õ°¿Ìý183 Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology
°ä±áÌý101
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý°ä±áÌý102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory
4
°ä±áÌý201
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý°ä±áÌý202
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory
4
°ä±áÌý221
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý°ä±áÌý222
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
4
°ä±áÌý223
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý°ä±áÌý224
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry II Lab
4
µþ°ä±áÌý351General Biochemistry3
±Ê³ÛÌý211College Physics I4
²ÑµþÌý251
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý²ÑµþÌý252
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
4
±Ê³ÛÌý212College Physics II4
Major Requirements
¹ó³§Ìý201Introduction to Food Science 13
¹ó³§Ìý301Introduction to Human Nutrition3
¹ó³§Ìý331Principles of Food and Bioprocess Engineering 14
¹ó³§Ìý402Chemistry of Food and Bioprocessed Materials 14
¹ó³§Ìý403Analytical Techniques in Food & Bioprocessing Science4
¹ó³§Ìý405Food Microbiology 13
¹ó³§Ìý406Food Microbiology Lab2
¹ó³§Ìý421Food Preservation3
¹ó³§Ìý471Professionalism & Project Preparation in Food & Bioprocessing Science1
¹ó³§Ìý475Problems and Design in Food and Bioprocessing Science 14
Food Science Electives9
GEP Courses
·¡±·³ÒÌý101Academic Writing and Research 14
GEP Humanities6
GEP Social Sciences6
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives5
GEP Elective3
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement)
World Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Free Electives
Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) 26
Total Hours120
1

A grade of C- or higher is required.

2

Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fulfill this requirement.

Food Science ElectivesÌý

Select a course with a FS prefix (except those required in major) not used to satisfy another requirement. A total of 35 credits in Food Science are required.
¹ó³§Ìý221Discover: Chocolate, Coffee and Tea3
¹ó³§Ìý222Discover: Conventional, Organic and Genetically Engineered Foods3
¹ó³§Ìý250Basics of Food Safety & Quality3
¹ó³§Ìý322Muscle Foods and Eggs3
¹ó³§Ìý324Milk and Dairy Products3
¹ó³§Ìý325Introduction to Brewing Science and Technology3
¹ó³§Ìý330Science of Food Preparation3
¹ó³§Ìý352Introduction to Microbiological Food Safety Hazards3
¹ó³§Ìý354Food Sanitation3
¹ó³§Ìý401Advanced Nutrition and Metabolism3
¹ó³§Ìý416Quality Control in Food and Bioprocessing3
¹ó³§Ìý435Food Safety Management Systems3
¹ó³§Ìý453Food Laws and Regulations3
¹ó³§Ìý462Postharvest Physiology3
¹ó³§Ìý481Research Experience in Food and Bioprocessing Sciences3
¹ó³§Ìý501Advanced Nutrition and Metabolism3
¹ó³§Ìý516Quality Control in Food and Bioprocessing3
¹ó³§Ìý520Pre-Harvest Food Safety3
¹ó³§Ìý522Food Packaging3
¹ó³§Ìý530Post-Harvest Food Safety3
¹ó³§Ìý535Food Safety Management Systems3
¹ó³§Ìý540Food Safety and Public Health3
¹ó³§Ìý550Food Industry Study Tour2
¹ó³§Ìý553Food Laws and Regulations3
¹ó³§Ìý554Lactation, Milk, and Nutrition3
¹ó³§Ìý555Exercise Nutrition3
¹ó³§Ìý557Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods3
¹ó³§Ìý562Postharvest Physiology3
¹ó³§Ìý567Sensory Analysis of Foods3
¹ó³§Ìý580Professional Development and Ethics in Food Safety1
¹ó³§´¡Ìý520Pre-Harvest Food Safety3
¹ó³§´¡Ìý530Post-Harvest Food Safety3
¹ó³§´¡Ìý540Food Safety and Public Health3
¹ó³§´¡Ìý580Professional Development and Ethics in Food Safety1

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
´¡³¢³§Ìý103
First-year Success in Agriculture and Life Sciences
or Transfer Success in Agriculture and Life Sciences
1
µþ±õ°¿Ìý181
Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity
or Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology
4
·¡±·³ÒÌý101 Academic Writing and Research 4
GEP Social Sciences 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
GEP Elective 3
ÌýHours16
Spring Semester
°ä±áÌý101 Chemistry - A Molecular Science 3
°ä±áÌý102 General Chemistry Laboratory 1
¹ó³§Ìý201 Introduction to Food Science 3
²Ñ´¡Ìý131 Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A 3
GEP Humanities 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
ÌýHours14
Second Year
Fall Semester
°ä±áÌý221 Organic Chemistry I 3
°ä±áÌý222 Organic Chemistry I Lab 1
²Ñ´¡Ìý231 Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B 3
±Ê³ÛÌý211 College Physics I 4
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives 3
ÌýHours14
Spring Semester
°ä±áÌý223 Organic Chemistry II 3
°ä±áÌý224 Organic Chemistry II Lab 1
±Ê³ÛÌý212 College Physics II 4
°ä°¿²ÑÌý110
Public Speaking
or Interpersonal Communication
3
Food Science Electives 3
ÌýHours14
Third Year
Fall Semester
°ä±áÌý201 Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 3
°ä±áÌý202 Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1
¹ó³§Ìý402 Chemistry of Food and Bioprocessed Materials 4
²ÑµþÌý251 General Microbiology 3
²ÑµþÌý252 General Microbiology Laboratory 1
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives 2
Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) 1
ÌýHours15
Spring Semester
µþ°ä±áÌý351 General Biochemistry 3
¹ó³§Ìý301 Introduction to Human Nutrition 3
¹ó³§Ìý331 Principles of Food and Bioprocess Engineering 4
¹ó³§Ìý403 Analytical Techniques in Food & Bioprocessing Science 4
Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) 2
ÌýHours16
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
¹ó³§Ìý405 Food Microbiology 3
¹ó³§Ìý406 Food Microbiology Lab 2
¹ó³§Ìý421 Food Preservation 3
¹ó³§Ìý471 Professionalism & Project Preparation in Food & Bioprocessing Science 1
³§°ÕÌý311 Introduction to Statistics 3
GEP Humanities 3
ÌýHours15
Spring Semester
¹ó³§Ìý475 Problems and Design in Food and Bioprocessing Science 4
GEP Social Sciences 3
Food Science Electives 6
Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) 3
ÌýHours16
ÌýTotal Hours120

Career Opportunities

Consumer demand for safe, high quality, nutritious foods and biopharmaceutical products, as well as for educational programs designed to promote healthy eating, creates a variety of career opportunities in the food, pharmaceutical and the allied health industries. Industrial opportunities include management, research and development, process supervision, quality control and assurance, procurement, distribution, and sales. Public health opportunities include educational program development, delivery, and assessment. In addition, graduates hold positions with government agencies and many with advanced degrees have teaching and/or research positions in colleges and universities.

Food Science

Many career opportunities exist in the food and beverage industry, the world’s largest manufacturing sector, for graduates with a Food Science degree. Food science professionals are involved in the discovery of new food sources, new methods of food preservation, advances in food chemistry and sensory science and even product development. Positions are found worldwide, providing technical support to the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries and also government agencies. Food scientists work to ensure the safety and quality of foods through the application of basic scientific principles. The demand for food scientists continues to increase as the food industry expands.

The undergraduate Food Science major has two emphasis tracks. One isÌýScienceÌýand the other isÌýTechnology. The B.S. in Food Science with aÌýScienceÌýemphasis is designed for students who want more rigorous science courses to prepare them for graduate school or careers in the food, pharmaceutical, and or bioprocessing industries. The B.S. in Food Science with aÌýTechnologyÌýemphasis is designed for students more interested in business opportunities for technically trained individuals. It offers greater flexibility in complementing Food Science coursework with business, agricultural commodity, and computer science courses.

Scholarships

The department provides both merit and financial need scholarships to encourage and assist students preparing for careers in Food, Bioprocessing, or Nutrition Science.

Career Titles

  • Agricultural Engineer
  • Agricultural Inspector
  • Chemical Technicians
  • Dairy Technologist
  • Food & Drug Inspector
  • Food Science Technicians
  • Food Technologist
  • Laboratory Tester
  • Sales Representative (Agricultural Products)

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