Program Overview

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Food Safety and Protection (Graduate Certificate)

The online food safety graduate certificate is designed for working professionals and graduate students interested in food policy as it relates to the safety and quality of foods. The curriculum is aligned with local, state and federal health and safety initiatives and also integrates the regulatory focus of the Food and Drug Administration.

Program Description

The program focuses on the downstream evaluation of the production, processing and preparation of food and food products. Students learn to assess food safety hazards, such as waterborne and food pathogen outbreaks. They also learn about food manufacturing and processing, quality systems, foodborne illnesses, and policies and regulations.

At a Glance

• College/school: Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation
• Location: Online
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

Degree Requirements

15 credit hours

• Required Core (12 credit hours)
  • HCR 543 Food Safety and Protection (3)
  • HCR 544 Assessing Food Safety and Developing Policy Procedures and Training (3)
  • HCR 558 Technical Writing for the Regulatory Professional (3)
  • SFS 560 Tools and Tactics for Food Policy Change (3) or HCR 550 Quality Assurance and Safety in Food and Dietary Supplements (3)
• Other Requirements (3 credit hours)
  • HCR 563 Fundamentals of Regulatory Affairs (3) or
  • HCR 584 Internship (3)

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements: All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
• Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation.
• Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in a science-based or related field from a regionally accredited institution.
• Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
• Applicants are required to submit:
  • graduate admission application and application fee
  • official transcripts
  • two letters of recommendation
  • professional resume
  • written statement
  • proof of English proficiency

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Career Opportunities

Graduates with a food safety certificate bring strong analytical, writing and inspection skills to the job market. Many find work within the manufacturing and agricultural industries as food safety, quality control or plant managers; product and public health inspectors; or compliance officers in food manufacturing and processing.

• Career examples include:
  • border control public health inspector
  • facility manager
  • federal consumer safety inspector
  • food and safety sanitation product inspector
  • food inspector
  • food manufacturing, process and preparation specialist
  • health inspector
  • production control food safety inspector

Professional Licensure

ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.