Academic Programs Catalog

College of Veterinary Medicine

Food Safety - Master of Science

The Master of Science in Food Safety is an online program designed for students who want to enhance their study of food safety.

The Master of Science is offered by the College of Veterinary Medicine. This integrated multidisciplinary program is designed for students with various disciplinary interests and experiences. It is particularly relevant for students whose professional careers are at the interface of research, regulatory affairs, production, marketing, finance, and management.

Admission

Applicants will be accepted after review by an admissions committee of faculty. An academic specialist will serve as the student’s academic advisor and will assist the student in planning a program of study that is related to the student’s interests and professional goals and that fulfills college and university requirements.

Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited and recognized college or university with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The applicant must have completed at least 6 credits of college-level course work in biological sciences, including 3 credits in microbiology. A 300-level course or higher is recommended. The applicant must prove or demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken English and submit a personal statement and three letters of recommendation. Experience in the workplace is weighed heavily in meeting requirements for admission.

Applicants who do not meet all of the requirements listed above may be admitted provisionally and permitted to enroll for collateral course work, not to count toward the degree. This course work must be approved beforehand by the program director.

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Food Safety

The student must complete 30 credits under Plan B (without thesis). The specific program of study must be approved by the student’s academic advisor.

               
1. One of the following courses (3 credits):  
  FSC 810 International Food Laws and Regulations 3
  FSC 811 U.S. Food Laws and Regulations 3
2. All of the following courses (18 credits):  
  VM 810 Food Safety Introduction and Professional Management 3
  VM 811 Evolution and Ecology of Foodborne Pathogens 3
  VM 812 Food Safety Toxicology 3
  VM 815 Applied Project in Food Safety 3
  VM 830 Food Safety Research Methods 3
 
VM
831
Foodborne Disease Epidemiology for the Professional 3
3. Nine additional credits in electives approved by the student's academic advisor.  
4. Pass a final applied project.  

Food Safety - Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Food Safety embodies the principles of prevention of foodborne illness. The certificate is a fully online program that addresses the needs of the food industry, government, and public health for their employees to be educated in many of the aspects of safeguarding food supply. The certificate is not open to students pursuing the Master of Science degree in Food Safety.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Food Safety

Students must complete 12 credits from the following:
1. All of the following courses (9 credits):
VM 811 Evolution and Ecology of Foodborne Pathogens 3
VM 812 Food Safety Toxicology 3
VM 831 Foodborne Disease Epidemiology for the Professional 3
2. One of the following courses (3 credits):
FSC 810 International Food Laws and Regulations 3
FSC 811 U.S. Food Laws and Regulations 3
VM 814 Packaging for Food Safety 3
VM 817 Livestock Pre-Harvest Food Safety 3
VM 821 Food Protection and Defense 3
VM 824 Global Food Safety 3
VM 825 Quantifying Food Risk 3
VM 834 Current Issues in Food Safety 3
VM 835 Food Safety for Produce 3
VM 840 Anti-Counterfeit Strategy and Product Production 3
Other 800-level courses may be used to fulfill this requirement with program advisor approval.