Gain Hands-On Experience
Food Science applies scientific and engineering know-how to study food, including how to preserve and process it. A degree in this field prepares you for careers in food product development, processing, quality assurance, and food safety regulation, or for graduate studies. With careful course selection, it can also lead to dietetic or health science programs.
You'll study food chemistry, microbiology, processing, safety, and analysis techniques. For those interested in Dietetics, BYU-Idaho offers a unique path: a 3+1 program with Idaho State University (ISU), allowing you to complete three years at BYU-Idaho and a final year at ISU for a Dietetics degree. Alternatively, you can finish your Food Science degree at BYU-Idaho with a strong emphasis on nutrition.
You'll study food chemistry, microbiology, processing, safety, and analysis techniques. For those interested in Dietetics, BYU-Idaho offers a unique path: a 3+1 program with Idaho State University (ISU), allowing you to complete three years at BYU-Idaho and a final year at ISU for a Dietetics degree. Alternatively, you can finish your Food Science degree at BYU-Idaho with a strong emphasis on nutrition.
Highlighted Career Paths
Graduates with a degree in Food Sciences, with an emphasis in Nutrition/Dietetics, have a wide array of rewarding careers before them. Check out some of the top careers students get with this degree or explore more career options in I-Plan.
Food Product Development
Collaborate with a team to create new or improve existing food products with respect to novelty, quality, safety, affordability, and/or nutritional content.
Quality Assurance/Food Safety
Monitor and ensure the quality and safety of food products for consumer markets utilizing scientific methods and techniques.
Sensory Science
Apply principles of sensory evaluation (taste testing) to characterize food attributes (aroma, taste, texture) and test food products for consumer appeal.
Food Processing/Engineering
Oversee/manage daily plant operations; improve and design efficient, sustainable food processes and packaging operations; scale up new processes/products for large-scale plant production.
Research
Conduct research in a university, government, or industry setting to develop new technologies, ingredients, or processes that enhance the quality, safety, and nutrition of foods.
Regulatory
Work within a government agency (e.g., FDA, USDA) to ensure safe and adequate processing of food products and to help establish public policy that improves food safety and quality.
Getting Started in this degree
If you are interested in Food Science Nutrition/Dietetics, start with one of the following major-specific courses
Related Majors
Food Science is simply the science of food, involving chemistry, biology/microbiology, nutrition, and engineering principles applied to food.
Food Science is simply the science of food, involving chemistry, biology/microbiology, nutrition, and engineering principles applied to food.
Food Science is simply the science of food, involving chemistry, biology/microbiology, nutrition, and engineering principles applied to food.
Food Science is simply the science of food, involving chemistry, biology/microbiology, nutrition, and engineering principles applied to food.