The Food Science and Human Nutrition PSM degree program is designed to meet the needs of rapidly changing and important segments of industry and student populations. Thus, requirements are flexible to allow each student to build a graduate curriculum that best fits his/her chosen career path. We offer two different tracts: PSM Food Science & Human Nutrition and PSM in Synthetic Biology for Food Applications.
REQUIRED COURSES
Courses will be taken in consultation with the student’s Advisor to meet the 32 hour science requirement. At least 12 hours must be in 500-level courses.
Each student will be asked to complete at least one course in each area of emphasis. Course options within each emphasis area are listed below.
- Nutrition
- Food Processing and Engineering
- Food Chemistry
- Food Microbiology
- Synthetic Biology for Food Applications
COURSE OPTIONS BY SPECIALTY AREA†
Specific courses depend on the student's professional objectives.
Courses marked with an asterisk (*) are required. However, if a student has already taken the course or its equivalent, then she/he should select an alternate course within the emphasis in consultation with her/his Advisor.
| Food Microbiology | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course # | Course Title | Hours |
| FSHN 471 & 573 | Food Microbiology/Advanced Food Microbiology | 3 |
| FSHN 576 | Food Safety for Global Food Security | 3 |
| Synthetic Biology for Food Applications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course # | Course Title | Hours |
| FSHN 574 | Value Added Biotransformation | 3 |
| FSHN 475 | Fermentation Lab | 3 |
| FSHN 499 | Synthetic Biology Lab | 3 |
Courses that may be of interest as electives are:
| Electives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course # | Course Title | Hours |
| FSHN 425 | Food Marketing | 4 |
| FSHN 466 | Food Product Development | 3 |
| FSHN 510 | Topics in Nutrition Research | 1 |
| FSHN 520 | Advanced Clinical Nutrition | 2 |
| FSHN 595 | Advanced Topics in Sensory Science | 3 |
†Course numbers and titles are subject to change. Please note that some courses are only offered in select terms. For more information, please reference the Illinois Course Catalog.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Statistics Competency: This requirement may be met by prior undergraduate training (i.e., having successfully completed ACE 261, CPSC 241, ECON 202, MATH 161, PSYC 235, SOC 280, or STAT 100, or the equivalent) or by completing FSHN 440.
- Biochemistry Competency: This requirement may be met by prior undergraduate training (i.e., having successfully completed MCB 450 or MCB 452 or the equivalent) or by completing a course approved by the student’s Advisor.