Food & Nutrition Specialization in Food Science and Nutrition Science - M.S.

Learning Outcomes

Communicate complex technical information relevant to the discipline.
Apply complex concepts relevant to the processing of food products.
Evaluate the chemical interactions of nutrients and food additives and their effects on food products.
Formulate methods to analyze nutrients and food additives in food products.
Identify major safety hazards related to food products.

Program & Admissions Requirements

The prerequisite undergraduate courses, if taken elsewhere, must be equivalent to those offered at Framingham State University. Furthermore, these courses must have been successfully completed within the last five (5) years.

The program requires a minimum of ten (10) courses: four (4) core courses, five (5) concentration courses, and one (1) approved elective course; plus undergraduate prerequisite courses required for students without an appropriate academic background. Students may take courses in any sequence subject to the following general requirements:

Students must have completed all the undergraduate prerequisite courses before registering for core, concentration or elective courses;
NUTR 903 Advanced Nutrition and Metabolism must be repeated if passed with a grade lower than B- (2.70).
An oral comprehensive examination is required as the student’s culminating experience.

Required Core Courses (4)

Specialization Courses (5)

Elective Courses (1)

An 800- or 900-level graduate elective course must be approved, in writing, by the student’s advisor.

Complete the online graduate admission application
Have earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, which includes basic courses in biology, chemistry, and mathematics.
Have a minimum undergraduate quality point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, including acceptable grades in science and mathematics courses taken as an undergraduate.
Provide two letters of recommendation submitted on the Framingham State University Letter of Recommendation form and sent directly to the University’s Graduate Admissions office by the
recommender. One letter must be from an employer or supervisor, and the other must be from a faculty member who has taught the candidate at the collegiate level if the candidate attended classes in the last five years;
Submit a typed, 300-word personal statement discussing their motivation for seeking a master’s degree in view of prior formal education, current job responsibilities, and career plans;
GRE General Exam scores (optional with relevant professional experience or appropriate coursework)

Career Opportunities

Product or Ingredient Development Scientist

Develop tastier, healthier, less expensive, and more convenient foods and ingredients. Blend the science of food with the culinary arts to satisfy consumers and your own creativity.

Sensory Scientist

Study the factors influencing food choices, from flavor (sweet, bitter, lemony, fresh) to texture (crunchy, smooth, slimy, tough) to appearance (dull, shiny, flat, green) to consumer mood (happy, depressed, relaxed, stressed).

Food Microbiologist or Food Safety Specialist

Investigate food-borne illness outbreaks, create a new rapid test for pathogens, and develop better food processing methods. Or work as a fermentation scientist, optimizing beer-making, cheese-making, and other food fermentations.

Product Development Manager

Develops new food recipes using existing ingredients.

Food Safety Manager

Ensures safe food production and distribution.

Regulatory Manager

Ensures all ingredients and products adhere to regulations set by the USDA.

Food Science graduate students develop in-demand skills are valued across multiple career paths and sectors. Learn more at the Food Science Careers with $100k+ Annual Mean wage in MA