The Department of Food Science and Technology offers degrees in Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology as well as undergraduate minors is Food Technology for Companion Animals and Fermentation. The department offers a strong curriculum and provides numerous professional opportunities for our students to contribute to provide safe, sustainable, and healthy foods.
Bachelor's Degree - Food Science & Technology
Food science and technology students find career opportunities with food processing firms, government agencies, and educational institutions. Types of positions available to food science and technology graduates include new product development, quality assurance, food plant management, food research, food marketing and sales, and education. The curriculum includes a balance of courses in food science, biological sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and social sciences and humanities. Food science courses include food engineering, food analysis, food chemistry, food microbiology, nutrition, quality assurance, and commodity processing courses. Students are encouraged to participate in an internship program that provides summer employment in the food industry.
Undergraduate ProgramM.S. and Ph.D. - Food Science and Technology
The Food Science and Technology program at UNL is one of the best in the U.S, with cutting-edge research programs, outstanding teachers, and dedicated mentors. The faculty has received national awards for excellence in research, teaching, advising, and service. Our research programs on food allergens, food safety, gut health, genomics and molecular microbiology, nutraceuticals, microbial modeling, image analysis, analytical chemistry, cereal biochemistry, and bioprocess engineering are outstanding. Our professors receive federal and industry grants, publish in high impact journals, and are invited to present seminars at major national and international conferences.
After graduation, our students have accepted industry positions at General Mills, Nestle, Kraft, ConAgra, Cargill, Unilever, and other major food companies. Other graduates have obtained research positions at the USDA, CDC, or other research institutions. Many graduates have gone the academic route, obtaining postdoctoral appointments at major research universities as well as being professors at smaller liberal arts colleges
The Department is located on the Nebraska Innovation Campus, in the Food Innovation Center, a facility that contains well-equipped research laboratories; state of the art classrooms as well as the food-processing pilot plants. We work closely with The Food Processing Center, Alliance for Advanced Sanitation, Food Allergy Research and Resource Program, Nebraska Food for Health Center, Natural Product and Food Analysis Facility, and the UNL Dairy Store as well as industry leaders and start-up entrepreneurs.
Food Safety & Defense Graduate Certificate Program
This certificate is aimed at professionals with a bachelor's degree who are working in a food industry related field and interested in furthering their knowledge of food safety and defense. Potential career paths include:
Career opportunities for our graduates include:
- Food Product Development Scientist
- Sensory Scientist
- Food Microbiologist
- Food Safety Expert
- Food Chemist
- Food Process Design Engineer
- Quality Control Supervisor
- Regulatory Affairs Specialist