Food Science Graduate Program

Prospective Graduate Students

Students with satisfactory undergraduate training in fields such as food science, dairy science, chemistry, biochemistry, nutrition, chemical engineering, industrial engineering, microbiology or any biological sciences will have a suitable background for graduate studies in food science.

Faculty in the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, as well as affiliated faculty from other departments, have varied research interests and offer students research and educational programs that encompass the core disciplines of chemistry, microbiology, engineering and nutrition.

In order to be admitted to the Food Science MS or PhD, a faculty member must agree to accept you into their research group and provide you with a laboratory and desk space. The faculty member also makes the decision if they will offer you a research assistantship (RA). RAs are awarded by individual professors through funds available to their research programs. These assistantships include a stipend, tuition remission and an excellent health insurance package.

Applications (MS & PhD) should be completed and all materials received by January 15 for the fall semester and September 1 for the spring semester.

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Current Graduate Students

• Form your Graduate Program Academic Committee (GPAC)
  • Every graduate student in the Food Science Graduate Program must have their first GPAC meeting within six months of matriculation into the program. The student should first meet with their advisor, complete the Course Certification form found in the GPAC Form and have it signed by their advisor. Once signed by all committee members, it must be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator.
• Prelim
  • PhD students will take their preliminary exam when all course requirements are met (or the same term that the course requirements will be met). A warrant must be required at least 4 weeks prior to the preliminary exam.
• Dissertator
  • Once all required courses are completed (except Food Science 990 & Food Science 900), and the student has passed their preliminary, they will qualify as a dissertator and be expected to take exactly 3 credits per semester (one credit of 900 and two of 990) until they defend. Three credits will be considered full-time for a dissertator. More information on dissertator status.
• Defense
  • Students in their last semester will need to submit a warrant request form at least 3 weeks prior to their defense. They will also need to give their thesis to the GPAC before their defense.