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Academic
Programs
Food
science is a multidisciplinary science that applies
biology, chemistry, nutrition, engineering, and
other sciences to improve the safety and quality
of food products, develop new food products, and
design new, safer, and more energy efficient food
processes. The multi-billion dollar food industry
is the largest manufacturing industry in the United
States. Food scientists are employed around the
worked by large and small food processing companies,
food ingredient suppliers, food quality assurance
and testing labs, federal and state governmental
agencies, and academia. There are more job openings
for food scientists in the food industry than
graduates to fill them. This trend is expected
to continue well into the 21st century.
Consequently, starting salaries for food scientists
are highly competitive.
Career
opportunities are excellent. Entry level jobs
in the food industry include food product development,
food process development, food quality assurance,
food safety compliance, and technical sales. Food
scientists work to enhance the quality of foods
through biotechnology, as well as improve the
microbial and chemical safety of foods. Food scientists
develop new food flavors, extend the shelf life
of foods, and devise new processing technologies.
All of the food products in a grocery store and
many foods offered on restaurant menus have been
developed and tested by food scientists.
The School of Food Science offers
the B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in food science. The
undergraduate program is approved by the Institute
of Food Technologists, the primary professional
organization for food scientists. Students complete
university requirements, supporting science and
mathematics classes during their first two years
of study. Most of these courses can be completed
at community colleges, prior to transferring to
UI. Courses taken in the last two years of the
program are discipline specific and include food
microbiology, food chemistry, food processing,
and food engineering.
Faculty
from both UI and Washington State University teach
courses in the food science program. Some classes
are taught on the UI campus and some on the WSU
campus, allowing students access to facilities
and faculty expertise from both institutions.
Students are encouraged to work on research problems
with faculty and participate in
internships in
the food industry.
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