Program Overview
Food Safety and Quality - MFSQ
The master of food safety and quality degree is a professional degree designed to provide students with in-depth training in food safety assurance. It also trains students in the use of management systems that address food safety through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement and handling, and manufacturing, distribution, and consumption of the finished product.
About This Degree
The degree is primarily intended for individuals who plan to have careers in food quality assurance or other food safety-related positions in the food industry, and is offered completely online. Because this program is designated as a Western Regional Graduate Program, students from participating western states qualify for in-state tuition.
At a Glance
- College: S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
- Department: Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences Department
- USU Locations:
- Logan campus
- Statewide campuses
- USU Online
Program Requirements
The MFSQ program of study requires completion of a minimum of 33 credit hours. Students will work with their chosen MFSQ faculty advisor to prepare a program of study by the end of their first semester. Students should select courses that complement their previous experience and career goals, and can include non-MFSQ courses with their faculty advisor's approval.
Plan Options
The MFSQ is a professional (Plan C) graduate degree designed to provide in-depth training in food science and food safety. This program is flexible to meet the needs of most students who desire to enhance their careers. A departmentally approved program that includes a capstone project in Food Safety and/or Quality must be filed in the School of Graduate Studies. Capstone project proposals should be discussed with your advisor the semester before you register for capstone credit.
Admission
Admission Requirements
The MFSQ program of study has been tailored for students with undergraduate training in food science or related fields of study. It is recommended that applicants have some background in chemistry, statistics, and microbiology. Prior coursework in food science or food safety is desirable.
Application Requirements:
- Complete the online application.
- Pay the required application fee.
- Provide transcripts for all college/university credits.
- 3.0 or higher GPA for the last 60 semester (90 quarter) credit hours.
- 3 professional letters of recommendation from professors, employers, or other professional references. No personal references are accepted.
Deadlines
This program has rolling admission, meaning the department will continue to consider and accept applications until the program is full. The time it takes to process an application is primarily dependent on the speed with which the School of Graduate Studies receives letters of recommendation, transcripts, and test scores. For most students, this process may take six to eight weeks. Applicants should plan accordingly.
Career And Outcomes
Career Opportunities
Students who graduate with the MFSQ degree typically pursue careers in food quality assurance or other food safety-related positions in the food industry.
USU Locations
The MFSQ is a fully online program. All courses are delivered in an asynchronous online format. This degree is available at various USU locations, including:
- Beaver
- Bicknell
- Blanding
- Brigham City
- Castle Dale
- Cedar City
- Delta
- Ephraim
- Heber City
- Junction
- Kanab
- Kaysville
- Moab
- Montezuma Creek
- Monticello
- Monument Valley
- Nephi
- Orem
- Panguitch
- Park City
- Price (USU Eastern)
- Richfield
- Roosevelt (Uintah Basin)
- Salt Lake
- St George
- Tooele
- Tremonton
- Vernal (Uintah Basin)
- Wendover