Food Science/Safety Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies Program
Gifford Building, Room 200B
(970) 491-7180

Professor Marisa Bunning, Ph.D. Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Extension Specialist, Interdisciplinary Studies Program Chair

Coordinated by a Faculty Advisory Board

Are you interested in the safety and quality of food from “farm to fork”? The Food Science/Safety Interdisciplinary Studies Program provide students with the interdisciplinary background necessary for understanding the roles and responsibilities of growers, producers, processors, retailers, consumers, and others working within the food system to ensure food is safe and healthful. These programs are a cooperative effort by faculty from several departments and colleges within CSU who share a common interest in food quality and safety and integrated production and processing. Students enrolling in a program will receive their degree from their home department. Completion of requirements for the interdisciplinary studies program will be noted on the transcript.

The programs are available at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Program details are available from the Office of the Dean in the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences, Health and Human Sciences, or Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, or from one of the collaborating departments.

The interdisciplinary minor in Food Science/Safety is designed to complement the student’s major. It consists of a core of required courses (6 credits), foundation courses in the sciences (6 credits), and a selection of advanced courses (12 credits minimum) taken from at least three of the six collaborating departments: Animal Sciences; Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences; Food Science and Human Nutrition; Horticulture and Landscape Architecture; Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology; and Soil and Crop Sciences.

The international reputation of the faculty members and their ability to attract strong extramural support for research in the areas of food science and food safety resulted in the creation of the Food Science/Safety Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies Program. Focusing on interdisciplinary research and education, this program is a cooperative effort by faculty in seven departments: Animal Sciences; Clinical Sciences; Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Food Science and Human Nutrition; Horticulture and Landscape Architecture; Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology; and Soil and Crop Sciences. Faculty research interests include food microbiology, food safety education, food processing, and integrated production/processing. Students interested in the safety and processing of foods and commodities are encouraged to apply.

Students wishing to pursue the Food Science/Safety Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies Program must declare their intent with the chair of the Faculty Advisory Board. The program is customized to fit the student’s interests and long-term objectives. Students are strongly encouraged to interact with faculty from more than one department. Basic training in food science comes from an integrated curriculum featuring core courses in food science, microbiology, nutrition, and commodity production. Opportunities exist for students to rotate through various laboratories. 

Students receive a degree from their home department and an endorsement on their transcript indicating successful completion of the program requirements.

Additional coursework may be required due to prerequisites.

Effective Summer 2020 

Prerequisite Course
MIP 334Food Microbiology3
Core Courses
FSHN 696AGroup Study: Food Science1-2
FTEC 400Food Safety3
Thesis or dissertation in home department 16
Supporting Courses
Select a minimum of 6 credits from the following courses, to include at least two subject codes: 26
Issues in Animal Agriculture
Meat Processing Systems
HACCP Meat Safety
Topics in Meat Safety
Molecular Approaches to Food Safety
Epidemiologic Methods
Food Product Development
Food Biotechnology
Current Issues in Food Safety
Cereal Science
Phytochemicals and Probiotics for Health
Medicinal and Value-Added Uses of Plants
Topics in Organic Agriculture
Food Microbiology Laboratory
Microbial Physiology
Microbial Genetics
Biosafety in Research Laboratories
Microbial and Molecular Genetics Laboratory
Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases/Zoonoses
Advanced Topics in Microbial Ecology
Advanced Soil Microbiology
Food Animal Production and Food Safety
Program Total Credits:19-20

A minimum of 19 credits are required to complete this program. 

1

Six or more credits, approved by Faculty Advisory Board for the Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies Program in Food Science/Safety.

2

Students may select from additional courses with approval by the Faculty Advisory Board.