The Culinary Food Science degree is an interdisciplinary program that combines the principles of food science and culinary skills development. As a graduate, you’ll combine food product development skills and entrepreneurial talents with scientific knowledge, to create new innovative food products and recipes.
The Culinary Food Science major is an approved Culinology® program through the Research Chefs Association.
The department also offers a culinary food science minor.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation, students should be able to:
- Communicate effectively in their field of study using written, oral, visual and/or electronic forms.
- Demonstrate proficiency in ethical data collection and interpretation, literature review and citation, critical thinking and problem solving.
- Participate effectively in a group or team.
- Integrate creativity, innovation, or entrepreneurship in ways that produce value.
- Explain how human activities impact the natural environment and how societies are affected.
- Meet program specific learning outcomes for the Culinary Food Science major.
Degree Requirements
Administered by the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition
Total Degree Requirement: 120 cr.
Students must fulfill International Perspectives and U.S. Cultures and Communities requirements by selecting coursework from approved lists. These courses may also be used to fulfill other area requirements. Only 65 cr. from a two-year institution may apply to the degree which may include up to 16 technical cr.; 9 P-NP cr. of electives; 2.00 minimum GPA.
International Perspectives: 3 cr.
U.S. Cultures and Communities: 3 cr.
Communications and Library: 10 cr.
| ENGL 1500 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 2500 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | Introduction to College Level Research | 1 |
| SPCM 2120 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| Total Credits | 10 | |
Humanities and Social Sciences: 9-15 cr.
| FSHN 2200 | American Food and Culture | 3 |
| ECON 1010 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| If a Culinary Food Science student in the College of Health and Human Sciences, select: | 6 | |
Additional Humanities course | ||
Additional Humanities or Social Science course | ||
Ethics: 3 cr. (Included as part of the Humanities and Social sciences requirement)
| FSHN 3420 | World Food Issues: Past and Present | 3 |
Mathematical Sciences: 6-8 cr.
| Select at least 3 credits from: | 3-4 | |
| College Algebra | ||
| Preparation for Calculus | ||
| Survey of Calculus | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| Select at least 3 credits from: | 3-4 | |
| Principles of Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Total Credits | 6-8 | |
Physical Sciences: 9 cr.
| CHEM 1630 | College Chemistry | 4 |
| or CHEM 1770 | General Chemistry I | |
| CHEM 1630L | Laboratory in College Chemistry | 1 |
| or CHEM 1770L | Laboratory in General Chemistry I | |
| CHEM 2310 | Elementary Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 2310L | Laboratory in Elementary Organic Chemistry | 1 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Biological Sciences: 10-11 cr.
| BBMB 3010 | Survey of Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIOL 2120 | Principles of Biology II | 3 |
| BIOL 2120L | Principles of Biology Laboratory II | 1 |
| MICRO 2010 | Introduction to Microbiology | 2-3 |
| or MICRO 3020 | Biology of Microorganisms | |
| MICRO 2010L | Introductory Microbiology Laboratory | 1 |
| or MICRO 3020L | Microbiology Laboratory | |
| Total Credits | 10-11 | |
Animal Science Coursework: 6 cr.
| ANS 2700 | Foods of Animal Origin | 2 |
| ANS 2700L | Foods of Animal Origin Laboratory | 1 |
| ANS 4600 | Science and Technology of Value Added Meat Products | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Food Science and Human Nutrition: 42 cr.
| FSHN 1010 | Food and the Consumer | 3 |
| FSHN 1040 | Introduction to Professional Skills in Culinary Science | 2 |
| FSHN 1100 | Professional and Educational Preparation | 1 |
| FSHN 1670 | Introductory Human Nutrition and Health | 3 |
| FSHN 2030 | Contemporary Issues in Food Science and Human Nutrition | 1 |
| FSHN 2140 | Scientific Study of Food | 3 |
| FSHN 2150 | Advanced Food Preparation Laboratory | 2 |
| FSHN 3050 | Food Quality Management and Control | 2 |
| FSHN 2070 | Processing of Foods: Basic Principles and Applications | 3 |
| FSHN 3110 | Food Chemistry | 3 |
| FSHN 3110L | Food Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| FSHN 3140 | Professional Development for Culinary Food Science and Food Science Majors | 1 |
| FSHN 4030 | Food Laws and Regulations | 2 |
| FSHN 4060 | Sensory Evaluation of Food | 3 |
| FSHN 4070 | Microbiological Safety of Foods of Animal Origins | 3 |
| FSHN 4110 | Food Ingredient Interactions and Formulations | 2 |
| FSHN 4120 | Food Product Development | 3 |
| FSHN 4200 | Food Microbiology | 3 |
| Take one of the following courses for 2 credits: | 2 | |
| Supervised Work Experience: Food Science | ||
or FSHN 4910D | Supervised Work Experience: Culinary Science | |
| Total Credits | 43 | |
Hospitality Management: 12 cr.
| HSPM 1330 | Food Safety Certification | 1 |
| HSPM 3800 | Food Production Management | 3 |
| HSPM 3800L | Food Production Management Experience | 3 |
| HSPM 3830 | Wine and Spirits in Hospitality Management | 2 |
| or FSHN 5090 | Sensory Evaluation of Wines | |
| HSPM 4870 | Fine Dining Management | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Electives 1-13 cr. Select from any university coursework to earn at least 120 total credits.
Culinary Food Science, B.S.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| FSHN 1100 | 1 | FSHN 1040 | 2 | ||
| CHEM 1630 or 1770 | 4 | FSHN 1670 | 3 | ||
| CHEM 1630L or 1770L | 1 | FSHN 2070 | 3 | ||
| FSHN 1010 | 3 | BIOL 2120 | 3 | ||
| MATH 1400, 1430, 1600, or 1650 | 3-4 | BIOL 2120L | 1 | ||
| ENGL 1500 | 3 | ECON 1010 | 3 | ||
| LIB 1600 | 1 | ||||
| 16-17 | 15 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| CHEM 2310 | 3 | FSHN 2140 | 3 | ||
| CHEM 2310L | 1 | FSHN 2150 | 2 | ||
| ENGL 2500 | 3 | BBMB 3010 | 3 | ||
| FSHN 2030 | 1 | MICRO 2010 or 3020 | 2-3 | ||
| FSHN 2200 | 3 | MICRO 2010L or 3020L | 1 | ||
| HSPM 1330 | 1 | STAT 1040 or 1010 | 3-4 | ||
| SPCM 2120 | 3 | ||||
| 15 | 14-16 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| ANS 2700 | 2 | FSHN 3050 | 2 | FSHN 4910B or 4910D | 2 |
| ANS 2700L | 1 | FSHN 4030 | 2 | ||
| FSHN 3110 | 3 | HSPM 3800 | 3 | ||
| FSHN 3110L | 1 | HSPM 3800L | 3 | ||
| FSHN 3140 | 1 | Humanities or social science (CHHS) or elective (CALS) | 3 | ||
| FSHN 4110 | 2 | Elective* | 3 | ||
| FSHN 4200 | 3 | ||||
| Electives* | 1-3 | ||||
| 14-16 | 16 | 2 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| FSHN 4060 | 3 | ANS 4600 | 3 | ||
| FSHN 4070 | 3 | FSHN 3420 | 3 | ||
| FSHN 4910B or 4910D (if not yet completed) | 2 | FSHN 4120 | 3 | ||
| HSPM 3830 (if not taking FSHN 5090 Spring) | 2 | Humanities (CHHS) or Elective (CALS) | 3 | ||
| HSPM 4870 | 3 | Elective* | 3 | ||
| U.S. Cultures and Communities | 3 | ||||
| 16 | 15 | ||||
- *
Choose elective courses to total equal to or greater than 120 credits.
- Notes:
Planned course offerings may change and students need to check the online Schedule of Classes each term to confirm course offerings: https://classes.iastate.edu.
This sequence is only an example. The number of credits taken each semester should be based on the individual student's situation. Factors that may affect credit hours per semester include student ability, employment, health, activities, and grade point consideration.
More information on the Culinary Food Science minor can be found here: www.catalog.iastate.edu/collegeofagricultureandlifesciences/foodscienceandhumannutrition/#undergraduateminortext.