The Graduate Specialization in Food and Agricultural Standards is administered by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the College of Social Science. The primary administrative unit for this specialization is the College of Social Science.

The Graduate Specialization in Food and Agricultural Standards is available as an elective for students who are enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs at Michigan State University. This specialization is designed for graduate students who wish to explore connections among the political, ethical, strategic, and technical considerations presented by food and agricultural standards. Students enrolled in this specialization will develop their understanding of the relationships that connect science and technology to the creation, maintenance, and modification of agrifood standards; the ethical and value issues raised by standards in domestic and international agricultural production and marketing; the cultural and sociopolitical dynamics surrounding the development, maintenance, and change of agrifood standards; and the policy implications of global agrifood standards, including how the process of standards creation and implementation may be made more accountable, transparent, and democratic.

Students who are interested in the specialization must contact the advisor for the Graduate Specialization in Food and Agricultural Standards in the College of Social Science. To be admitted to the specialization, a student must have been admitted to a graduate program at Michigan State University. Each student’s program of study must be approved by the advisor for the specialization. Students are not permitted to take all elective courses within their own discipline.

With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the specialization may also be used to satisfy the requirements for a master’s or doctoral degree.

Requirements for the Graduate Specialization in Food and Agricultural Standards

The student must complete a total of 15 credits. At least three courses or 9 credits must be in 800-level courses.