Food science is a degree program focused on food issues from the time crops leave the field until consumers buy the food products. Food scientists apply basic science (chemistry, biology, physics) to improve processing, preservation, and safety of food and to develop new food products. The food science major is approved by the Institute of Food Technologists.
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.
- Facilitate and participate effectively in a group, team, or organization.
- Plan life-long learning activities with the aim of improving professional skills.
- Integrate creativity, innovation, or entrepreneurship in ways that produce value.
- Describe sociocultural competence relative to diversity, equity and/or inclusion.
- Explain how human activities impact the natural environment and how societies are affected.
- Meet program specific learning outcomes for the Food Science major.
The department also offers a food science minor.
Administered by the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition
Courses listed below are required.
Total Degree Requirement: 120 cr.
Students must fulfill International Perspectives and U.S. Diversity 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. Diversity: 3 cr.
Communications and Library: 10 cr.
| ENGL 150 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| LIB 160 | Introduction to College Level Research | 1 |
| SP CM 212 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| Total Credits | 10 |
Humanities and Social Sciences: 6-12 cr.
| 3 |
| ECON 101 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| 6 |
| |
| |
Ethics: 3 cr.
| FS HN 342 | World Food Issues: Past and Present | 3 |
Mathematical Sciences: 7-8 cr.
Physical Sciences: 17-19 cr.
CHEM 177
& 177L | General Chemistry I
and Laboratory in General Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHEM 178 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
CHEM 231
& 231L | Elementary Organic Chemistry
and Laboratory in Elementary Organic Chemistry | 4-6 |
or CHEM 331
& CHEM 332 | Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry II |
PHYS 115
& 115L | Physics for the Life Sciences
and Laboratory in Physics for the Life Sciences | 5 |
or PHYS 131
& 131L | General Physics I
and General Physics I Laboratory |
| Total Credits | 17-19 |
Biological Sciences: 10-11 cr.
Food Science and Human Nutrition: 49 cr.
| FS HN 101 | Food and the Consumer | 3 |
| FS HN 110 | Professional and Educational Preparation | 1 |
| FS HN 167 | Introductory Human Nutrition and Health | 3 |
| FS HN 203 | Contemporary Issues in Food Science and Human Nutrition | 1 |
| FS HN 207 | Processing of Foods: Basic Principles and Applications | 3 |
| FS HN 305 | Food Quality Management and Control | 2 |
| FS HN 311 | Food Chemistry | 3 |
| FS HN 311L | Food Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| FS HN 314 | Professional Development for Culinary Food Science and Food Science Majors | 1 |
| FS HN 315 | Professional Skills for Culinary Food Science and Food Science Majors | 1 |
| FS HN 351 | Introduction to Food Engineering Concepts | 3 |
| FS HN 403 | Food Laws and Regulations | 2 |
| FS HN 406 | Sensory Evaluation of Food | 3 |
| FS HN 407 | Microbiological Safety of Foods of Animal Origins | 3 |
| FS HN 410 | Food Analysis | 3 |
| FS HN 411 | Food Ingredient Interactions and Formulations | 2 |
| FS HN 412 | Food Product Development | 3 |
| FS HN 420 | Food Microbiology | 3 |
| FS HN 421 | Food Microbiology Laboratory | 3 |
| FS HN 471 | Food Processing | 3 |
| FS HN 472 | Food Processing Laboratory | 2 |
| Total Credits | 49 |
| 5-6 |
| Biorenewable Systems | |
| Legal Environment of Business | |
| Financial Accounting | |
| Managerial Accounting | |
| Entrepreneurship in Human Sciences | |
| Issues in Sustainable Agriculture | |
| Foods of Animal Origin | |
| Foods of Animal Origin Laboratory | |
| Fresh Meat Science and Applied Muscle Biology | |
| Science and Technology of Value Added Meat Products | |
| Quantitative and Environmental Analysis | |
| Quantitative and Environmental Analysis Laboratory | |
| Instrumental Methods of Chemical Analysis | |
| Instrumental Analysis Laboratory | |
| Introduction to Agricultural Markets | |
| Intermediate Microeconomics | |
| Labor Economics | |
| The Economics of Global Agricultural Food and Bio-energy | |
| Agricultural Marketing | |
| Applied Ethics in Agriculture | |
| Agricultural, Food, and Trade Policy | |
| Introduction to Manufacturing Processes for Plastics | |
| The US Food System | |
| Fundamentals of Nutritional Biochemistry | |
| Nutrition for Active and Healthy Lifestyles | |
| Understanding Grape and Wine Science | |
| Dairy Products Evaluation | |
| Analysis of Food Markets | |
| Issues in Food and Society | |
| Global Nutrition and Health | |
| Independent Study: Food Science | |
| Supervised Work Experience: Food Science | |
| Food Science and Human Nutrition Travel Course | |
| Undergraduate Research | |
| Sensory Evaluation of Wines | |
| Introduction to Global Resource Systems | |
| Globalization and Sustainability | |
| Agricultural, Food and Natural Global Resource Systems | |
| Principles of Horticulture Science | |
| Fruit Crop Production and Management | |
| Vegetable Production and Management | |
| Vegetable Production and Management Lab | |
| Entrepreneurship and Innovation | |
| Organizational Behavior | |
| International Management | |
| Management of Diversity | |
| Management Information Systems | |
| Principles of Marketing | |
| Consumer Behavior | |
| Global Marketing | |
| Total Credits | 5-6 |
Electives: 2-13 cr. Select from any university coursework to earn at least 120 total credits. Food science internship experience is strongly recommended during the summers, and students can earn elective credits for the internship experience by enrolling in FS HN 491B.
Go to FS HN courses.
The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition offers a Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Food Science and Technology. More information can be found here: https://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/academics/programs/apresults.php?id=50.
