Food Science MS/PhD Degree Requirements

To confer a degree in the MS and PhD programs, students must complete certain requirements. These are listed below by degree program.

Requirements for Degree Completion

Requirements for the MS Degree

  • Form a Special Committee with one Chair and one minor member by the start of the second semester
  • Completion of a minimum of 2 academic semesters
  • Maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.7
  • Completion of the degree within four years of admission 
  • Enrollment in at least 12 credits per semester, not including audited classes.
  • Enrollment in FDSC 6000, Seminar, every semester
  • Enrollment in FDSC 6010, Principles and Applications of Food Science and Technology, during the first fall semester 
  • Enrollment in FDSC 6950, Current Readings in Food Science, once during the MS program
  • Gain experience as a teaching assistant for at least one semester
  • Present a public seminar during FDSC 6000 or a special seminar
  • Yearly completion of Student Progress Review 
  • Understanding of core competencies in food science
  • Successful completion of two exams:
    • MS Q exam – completed before the start of the second semester
    • MS exam – taken after completing all degree requirements 
  • Satisfactory completion of a thesis under the supervision of the Special Committee (the thesis must include an abstract, not to exceed 600 words)
  • Students should consult the Graduate School website for specific information regarding the completion of degree and submission of the thesis

Requirements for the PhD Degree

  • Form a Special Committee with one Chair and two minor members by the start of the second semester, each student will be assigned a field appointed member
  • Completion of a minimum of 6 academic semesters with at least two coming after the A exam
  • Maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0
  • Completion of the degree within seven years of admission 
  • Enrollment in at least 12 credits per semester, not including audited classes.
  • Enrollment in FDSC 6000, Seminar, each semester
  • Enrollment in FDSC 6010, Principles and Applications of Food Science and Technology, during the first fall semester 
  • Enrollment in FDSC 6950, Current Readings in Food Science, two times during the PhD program
  • Gain experience as a teaching assistant for at least one semester 
  • Present a public seminar during FDSC 6000 or a special seminar
  • Yearly completion of Student Progress Review 
  • Understanding of core competencies in food science
  • Successful completion of three exams
    • Q exam – completed before the start of the second semester
    • A exam – completed after completing two registration units but before starting the seventh semester
    • B exam – taken after completing all degree requirements, but not earlier than one month before completing six registration units
  • Satisfactory completion of a dissertation under the supervision of the Special Committee.  The thesis must include an abstract, not to exceed 350 words.
  • Students should consult the Graduate School web site for specific information regarding the completion of degree and submission of the dissertation