Food Science (Doctoral) at Michigan State University

Programme overview

The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition offers a PhD in Food Science in which students carry out research in either food safety and toxicology or food processing and quality enhancement. Doctoral programmes are individualised, giving comprehensive knowledge of food science, detailed knowledge of a specialised area and supporting cognate knowledge. A dual-major option with Environmental and Integrative Toxicological Sciences is available.

Faculty: College of Agriculture and Natural Resources | Department: Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition | Duration: 20-36 course credits plus 24 dissertation research credits | Study mode: full-time | Location: East Lansing, MI, United States

What you will study

The degree typically requires 20 to 36 course credits plus 24 credits of FSC 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research. Requirements include 16 course credits (12 at the 800-level or above, with three FSC courses in the research area), two enrollments in FSC 892 Food Science Seminar, a research-proposal writing course, FSC 891 graduate teaching orientation, a dissertation proposal defense (comprehensive examination) and a final dissertation defense.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission is based on review of undergraduate and any graduate performance, letters of recommendation, previous research experience, and a letter of intent and research interests. Applicants should have a minimum GPA of 3.0, grades of 3.0 or above in science and mathematics courses, and proficiency in written and spoken English. Expected undergraduate coursework: physics, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, mathematics through integral calculus, and microbiology; upper-level coursework in food processing, food chemistry, food microbiology, food engineering and nutrition is desirable. Deficiencies may be addressed through collateral courses.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Duration: 20-36 course credits plus 24 dissertation research credits

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.msu.edu/apply/graduate-students

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