Food Science (B.S.)
Foods — a way of life.
Safe, high-quality and functional foods are vital components of nutritious diets around the world. This major focuses on the science behind the processing of high-quality, safe and wide-ranging food products and can lead to numerous exciting job opportunities all around the country.
Food product development and sensory evaluation are also emphasized. Commercial internships enhance the hands-on experience.
Graduates will become leaders in the food processing industry.
Compensation and job outlook according to the Institute of Food Technologists
Quick Facts
- Locations
- Brookings Main Campus
Is it for you?
This program will be a good fit if you:
- Have a desire to lead and collaborate with others to solve the greatest local and global food market challenges.
- Seek opportunity for innovation and creativity in your work through the development of new food products.
- Find the psychology, marketing and perception of food by consumers fascinating.
- Desire a fulfilling career in applied sciences shaping a healthier, stronger and more sustainable food industry.
I love how chemistry affects the food by the way it's cooked and how it's prepared. It's cool how chemistry relates to what I want to do in the future, and how much there is yet to be explored.
Sadie Streff ,
current student and student employee in the Davis Dairy Plant
Job Outlook
Career Opportunities
Explore possible career opportunities with this degree:
- Food production manager
- Marketing and communications specialist
- Sensory science specialist
- State or federal inspector or auditor
- Quality assurance and control supervisor or manager
- Research and development specialist
- Food regulation and policy adviser
- Food or flavor chemist or researcher
- Food safety specialist
- Food epidemiologist
Recent Employers
Graduates have gone on to work at employers such as:
- Sunny Fresh
- Glanbia
- Hormel Foods
- Wells Enterprises (Blue Bunny)
- Schreiber Foods
- State Extension services
- Public health agencies
- Associated Milk Producers Inc.
- Lactalis
- The Kraft Heinz Company
Internship Opportunities
We have provided the following internship opportunities:
- Beef Products Inc.
- Landmark Food Products
- Wells Enterprises (Blue Bunny)
- Grain Millers Inc.
- Nestle
- Schreiber Foods
- Great Lakes Cheese
