Food Safety and Technology (M.S.)

The Master of Science in Food Safety and Technology program prepares students to be food safety experts in the private sector and at federal and state health agencies. Students will gain a working knowledge of food microbiology, food packaging, food chemistry, food analysis, human nutrition, and food regulations. Graduates are prepared to enter the food safety industry or continue their studies in the pursuit of a Ph.D. in a food-related discipline.

A unique collaborative research program between Illinois Tech and the United Sates Food and Drug Administration—located on Illinois Tech's Moffett Campus—provides our master of science students with the opportunity for focused research interaction with FDA scientists. Thesis research provides students with a rich hands-on experience testing and discovering innovative food safety technologies, and redefining the safety of food through the study of diet-disease interactions in our clinical nutrition research center. Research results further the understanding of the science of food safety, nutrition, and health, and may influence the regulatory decisions of the FDA and other government agencies.

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Food Safety and Technology prepares students to pursue a career or a Ph.D. The program provides students the opportunity to take part in a collaborative research program with the United States Food and Drug Administration, researching issues that may influence regulatory decisions.

Career Opportunities

Graduates either continue their studies in pursuit of a Ph.D. in a food-related discipline, or accept positions within the food safety industry such as: 

• Quality assurance
• Quality control
• Product development
• Food safety regulatory compliance
• Food safety auditing