Discover the Science Behind Food
From the ingredients we use to the processes that keep food safe, science shapes everything we eat. The Food Science minor complements your major with hands-on learning in food processing, safety and quality, giving you the technical knowledge to understand how foods are developed, produced and evaluated.
What You’ll Study
Explore the scientific principles behind food processing, preservation, safety and quality assurance. You’ll build foundational knowledge of food ingredients, production methods and the technologies used to create safe, high-quality food products.
What You’ll Take Away
Gain practical food science knowledge and technical skills that complement your major and broaden your career opportunities. You’ll develop an understanding of food safety, processing and quality practices that prepares you to contribute across the food industry.
The Principles Behind Safe, Quality Food
From processing raw ingredients to protecting food safety and maintaining product quality, discover the scientific principles and practices behind modern food production. Explore three essential areas that help the food industry deliver safe, consistent and high-quality products.
Food Processing
Explore how raw ingredients become the foods we enjoy through techniques such as heating, freezing, drying and fermentation. Build knowledge of the technologies and processes used to transform ingredients into finished food products.
Food Safety
Discover the science behind keeping our food safe. Explore how microorganisms, sanitation practices and food safety systems help prevent contamination and protect consumers throughout food production and processing.
Quality Assurance
Learn how the food industry maintains consistent quality across products and production processes. Explore the principles of quality testing, evaluation and monitoring that help ensure foods meet established standards and consumer expectations.
Coursework Highlights
Explore courses that take food science from theory to practice. Through hands-on learning in food chemistry, processing, nutrition, sensory evaluation and product development, you’ll build the knowledge and skills to create safe, nutritious and innovative foods
Classes and Labs
Discover how food science and sustainability come together to shape the foods we enjoy. You’ll explore ingredients, food chemistry, preservation and processing while learning how sustainable practices can improve food production and quality.
Build a broad foundation in how raw ingredients become the foods we enjoy through processing techniques such as heating, freezing, drying and fermentation. You’ll explore food quality, preservation, packaging and labeling while learning how these processes shape modern food production.
Explore the practices and regulations that keep our food supply safe. You’ll learn how sanitation, risk assessment, food safety systems and product traceability work together to prevent contamination, protect consumers and maintain safe food production environments.
Discover how science and technology shape meat production from harvest to finished product. You’ll explore the processing of beef, pork and poultry while learning how inspection, grading, preservation and food safety practices support quality meat products.
Explore the chemistry behind the foods we eat, from proteins and carbohydrates to fats and water. You’ll discover how these components interact and change during processing and storage, influencing food quality, texture, flavor and stability.
Put food science into practice through laboratory techniques that reveal what’s inside the foods we eat. You’ll learn to measure nutrients and other food components using scientific methods that support food analysis and quality evaluation.
Gain experience in horse care, behavior and handing. Practice daily management skills Explore how taste, smell, texture and appearance shape the way we experience food. You’ll learn to design sensory tests, conduct tasting panels and analyze results while discovering how sensory science helps evaluate food quality and guide product development.
Discover how food regulations influence every stage of the food supply chain, from production and packaging to marketing and distribution. You’ll explore FDA, USDA and California requirements while learning how food businesses navigate regulatory compliance.
Add Food Science to Your Degree
Discover how the Food Sciences Minor can add practical knowledge and a new perspective on production, processing and the food industry.