Brookings Main Campus
Innovate with dairy products.
Dairy products are vital components of nutritious diets around the world. The Microbiology Specialization focuses on the processing of high quality, safe and diverse dairy products, with an emphasis on food safety and quality management systems, leading to numerous exciting and diverse job opportunities all around the country.
Current starting salaries range in the region of $45,000 to $60,000 per year. The state of the art Davis Dairy plant provides hands-on experience through laboratory and employment opportunities in addition to optional commercial internship experiences. Graduates will become leaders in the Dairy Processing Industry, especially in Quality Assurance and Food Safety.
Job Placement Rate
Scholarships Awarded Annually
Student to Faculty Ratio
Hands on learning opportunities
Is it for you?
This program will be a good fit if you:
- Are interested in quality control or quality assurance
- Have an interest in applied microbiology
- Enjoy scientific inquiry and problem solving
- Have leadership capabilities
- Are interested in food safety
Career Opportunities
- Quality assurance manager
- Dairy plant manager
- State or federal inspector
- Research and development
- Quality and sanitation “troubleshooter”
Recent Employers
- Valley Queen Cheese, Milbank
- Agropur Inc.
- Saputo Cheese
- Bel Brands USA
- Ecolab
Internship Opportunities
- Valley Queen Cheese
- Agropur Inc.
- Saputo Cheese
- Bel Brands USA
- Glanbia Foods
Suggested Certificates
Suggested Minors
Undecided or still deciding on a major and future career?
If you are uncertain about your major and have questions about career planning, you are not alone. Choosing a major or career can be a very difficult decision. The Exploratory Studies program may be a good fit if you are unsure of your major and career focus. Entering the university in the Exploratory Studies program will help you gain confidence and valuable insights on majors and minors available at SDSU and future career choices.
In addition, FOCUS 2 Career, a self-guided assessment, education and career planning program, will help you reflect on your values, interests, personality traits, and skills to provide valuable insight as you explore major and career choices. SDSU students may access FOCUS 2 Career by using their student email and password. After completing FOCUS 2 Career, you may find it helpful to discuss your results with a Career Coach in the Office of Career Development.