Food Science and Human Nutrition
Faculty coordinator: Nicki Engeseth, engeseth@illinois.edu, (217) 244-6788
Introduction | Description | Careers | Degree Requirements | Admission Requirements
The Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSHN) faculty at Illinois is committed to delivering programs designed to provide a safe, nutritious, and affordable food supply that enhances human health. With world-class research and an internationally recognized faculty, FSHN degree programs have produced some of the world’s leading food scientists and nutritionists.
The Professional Science Master’s (PSM) program prepares graduates for positions of significant responsibility in food, pharmaceutical, and ingredient organizations. The program is designed for those who want a rigorous education in food science and nutrition but do not want to pursue a research-focused career.
The PSM is best suited for those who want to combine food science and nutrition expertise with the knowledge and skills necessary to work on the business side of food organizations.
Flexibility is a hallmark of the PSM program. Each student, in consultation with an advisor, will create a customized set of courses that uniquely match his or her personal interests and individual career goals. A wide range of options is available in biochemistry, sensory evaluation, physiology, nutrition, toxicology, and others.
All students take a common core of courses in food chemistry, food microbiology, nutrition, and food processing.
The business curriculum complements the science core. Courses include technology management, marketing, entrepreneurship, people and technology at work, and more. The cross-disciplinary industry seminar series offers opportunities to interact with industry and government leaders.
PSM students work closely with faculty and other students, including those in the research-based MS and PhD programs. Program-sponsored events provide opportunities to meet people from business, industry, government, and other institutions to learn more about opportunities and challenges in the food science and human nutrition field.
The pervasiveness of food and allied industries means an ever-changing mix of careers options – some of tomorrow’s biggest opportunities may be in careers that don’t even exist today. Options vary widely from food safety experts, quality control analysts, and food engineers, to product and process developers, technical salespersons, and marketing and advertising specialists.
PSM graduates should be especially attractive candidates for positions with managerial and leadership responsibilities in food, pharmaceutical, and ingredient organizations. With the PSM’s combined preparation in science and business, graduates should have maximum opportunity to craft unique jobs and careers.
The unique internship experience embedded into the Illinois PSM program should provide a competitive advantage to the program’s graduates. Career opportunities span business, industry, not-for-profit, and government organizations.
The ACES Career Services Office specifically serves students and alumni from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES).
Degree Requirements
The MS degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition requires the completion of 42 semester hours as prescribed in the following four curricular components:
The program is designed to be completed in 16-months of full-time study on the Urbana-Champaign campus. Summer enrollment is required while completing the internship. A thesis is not required.
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from a recognized institution abroad
- Grade point average of 3.0 or higher (4.0 scale) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work and for any graduate work
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 590 or higher (paper-based test) or 243 or higher (computer-based test) for applicants whose native language is not English
