The graduate program in the Department of Food Science ranks among the best of its kind in the United States. Strong faculty research groups exist in food chemistry, food engineering, food microbiology, and health. The PhD track in these areas combines an array of in-depth courses with the use of advanced research methods for studying food properties: chemical, physical, physiological, and bioactive characteristics; material properties; microbial control and safety; sensory quality; procedures for the processing, storage, and preservation of foods.
Research areas in which the department has special expertise include chemical attributes of proteins, enzymes, lipids, flavors, bioactive components, and pigments; processes for crystallizing, separating, freezing, and drying; food safety (detection, control, and mechanistic action of pathogenic microorganisms, and undesirable chemicals in food); process optimization and validation of critical processing limits. Commodity foci include dairy products, confectionery products, fruits and vegetables, muscle foods, and fermented products.
The department occupies Babcock Hall, a building with excellent facilities for instruction and research. Availability of appropriate instruments, equipment, and pilot-plant facilities enables research on the above topics to be conducted in a manner that has impact worldwide.
About 40–50 students from many countries are currently pursuing both the MS and PhD degrees in the areas mentioned above. This includes some graduate students working in programs associated with the Food Research Institute and closely allied departments.
Individuals obtaining advanced degrees in food science will find employment opportunities in academic instruction and research, government research or regulatory programs, and industrial research, development, or quality assurance. Historically, the department's placement record for graduating students has been very good.
Admissions
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.
Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.
| Fall Deadline | January 15 |
| Spring Deadline | September 1 |
| Summer Deadline | This program does not admit in the summer. |
| GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not required. |
| English Proficiency Test | Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not exclusively in English, must provide an English proficiency test score earned within two years of the anticipated term of enrollment. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241. |
| Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
Admitted applicants must meet the Graduate School minimum requirements, including completion of a bachelor's degree which typically consists of a satisfactory undergraduate education in fields such as food science, dairy science, chemistry, most biological sciences (e.g., biochemistry, microbiology, nutrition), and engineering (especially chemical and agricultural).
Recommendation for admission is determined almost solely by the faculty member food science or affiliated faculty member. Final admission is determined by the Graduate School.
The recommendation for admission is made usually based on the review of the following:
- applicant's online application
- academic record (scanned PDF academic transcripts)
- English proficiency for international degree-seeking applicants. See the Graduate School Requirements for more information.
- recommendation letters (three)
- personal statement (reasons for graduate study) up to two pages double-spaced
- CV or resume
- applicant's particular research interest(s) as indicated in supplemental application
- available funding/space in their research lab
After the application is submitted, applicants should contact faculty members directly (via email) to discuss research opportunities in their labs. Some dialogue can be exchanged in advance. Applicants must submit a formal application to UW-Madison before being considered for admission. The Department of Food Science cannot take any action regarding admission until the application is complete. We do not pre-screen applications, nor do we provide an informal assessment of qualifications based on volunteered documents from individuals prior to application.
Applicants interested in applying for the food science program should look closely at the website for specific information about the admissions process.
Funding
Graduate School Resources
Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
Program Resources
We recommend that your application be complete by the application deadlines in order to be considered for funding. Financial assistance is sometimes available to qualified individuals in the form of research assistantships, teaching assistantships, or fellowships. Fellowships are granted to students meeting specific criteria and with outstanding academic records. Research assistantships are awarded by individual professors through funds available to their research programs. Funding is awarded on a competitive basis and renewed annually pending the student's satisfactory progress. (Teaching assistant positions in food science are available primarily to students who have already been enrolled for at least two semesters.)
Please be advised that you do not need to make a separate application for financial support as your admission application will also serve as an application for assistantships and fellowships.
Prospective students are encouraged to search and apply for external funding sources (scholarships and fellowships) on their own. (If faculty do not have funding or lab space available, they often do not accept new students into their labs.) Additionally, prospective students are encouraged to apply for graduate assistantship (teaching, research, or project) positions in other UW–Madison departments to potentially defray the costs of their studies. See Graduate School Funding pages for more information.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Major Requirements
Mode of Instruction
| Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | No | No | No |
Mode of Instruction Definitions
Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.
Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.
Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.
Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information.
Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.
Curricular Requirements
| Minimum Credit Requirement | 51 credits |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 32 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | 26 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244. |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203. |
| Other Grade Requirements | n/a |
| Assessments and Examinations | Students are required to have a graduate program advisory committee (GPAC). Within 6 months, the students meet with their GPAC to establish the coursework. Afterwards, students meeting every year to monitor progress toward their degree. Doctoral students are required to take a preliminary/oral examination after they have cleared their record of all Incomplete and Progress grades (other than research and thesis). Defense and deposit of the doctoral dissertation with the Graduate School is required. Additional requirements determined by the department: The preliminary exam cannot be taken until 39 credits are completed as well as all required coursework are completed. This does not include FOOD SCI 990 Research and 1 credit of graded FOOD SCI 900 Seminar Advanced (student gives a seminar presentation and class is taken for a grade). |
| Language Requirements | n/a |
| Graduate School Breadth Requirements | All doctoral students are required to complete a doctoral minor or graduate/professional certificate. Refer to the Graduate School: Breadth Requirement in Doctoral Training policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1200. Coursework must be completed before, or by end of, the semester in which the prelim is taken. |
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching Practicum | 2 | |
| Practicum in Food Science Teaching | ||
| Graduate Seminar | 8 | |
| PhD students must enroll in seminar (1 credit) each semester they are enrolled in the program. | ||
| Seminar Advanced | ||
| Food Science Coursework | 6 | |
| Students must complete two of the following courses: | ||
| Advanced Food Microbiology | ||
| Food Biochemistry | ||
| Chemistry and Technology of Dairy Products | ||
| Statistics | 4 | |
| Students must complete one of the following options: | ||
| Statistical Methods for Bioscience I | ||
| Statistical Methods for Bioscience II | ||
Or other graduate-level statistics courses numbered 300 and above with the Grad 50% attribute may be taken to fulfill this requirement with approval of the student's advisory committee. | ||
| Research Ethics and Responsibility | 2 | |
| Students must complete one of the following courses: | ||
| Responsible Conduct in Research: Research Ethics, Rigor, Reproducibility and Transparency | ||
SURG SCI 812 | ||
| Scientific Writing | 3 | |
| Students must complete one of the following courses: | ||
| Communicating Science with Narrative | ||
| Scientific Writing | ||
| Breadth | 9 | |
| Electives | 17 | |
| Students complete courses with the Grad 50% attribute, numbered 600 and above in food science and related disciplines to meet the 51-credit minimum requirement, selected in consultation with the student's graduate committee. | ||
| Total Credits | 51 | |
Graduate School Policies
The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.
Major-Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison
Prior coursework taken as an undergraduate student at other institutions or UW-Madison does not transfer in for credit, but may satisfy specific food science course requirements. In that case, students do not need to take the food science course requirement, but do need to choose, in consultation with their advisor, another course with at least the same number of credits.
Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW–Madison
Prior coursework taken as a University Special student does not transfer in for credit, but may satisfy specific food science course requirements. In that case, students do not need to take the food science course requirement, but do need to choose, in consultation with their advisor, another course with at least the same number of credits.
Probation
Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.
Advisor / Committee
Refer to the Graduate School: Advisor and Graduate School: Committees (Doctoral/Master’s/MFA) policies.
Credits Per Term Allowed
15 credits
Time Limits
It is expected that students will complete all degree requirements in five years.
Dissertators cannot schedule their dissertation defense sooner than six months after the actual date of passing the preliminary examination.
Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.
Grievances and Appeals
These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
- Bias or Hate Reporting
- Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
- Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
- Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
- Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
- Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
- Office Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
- Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
- Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences: Grievance Policy
In the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), any student who feels unfairly treated by a member of the CALS faculty or staff has the right to complain about the treatment and to receive a prompt hearing. Some complaints may arise from misunderstandings or communication breakdowns and be easily resolved; others may require formal action. Complaints may concern any matter of perceived unfairness.
To ensure a prompt and fair hearing of any complaint, and to protect the rights of both the person complaining and the person at whom the complaint is directed, the following procedures are used in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Any student, undergraduate or graduate, may use these procedures, except employees whose complaints are covered under other campus policies.
- The student should first talk with the person at whom the complaint is directed. Most issues can be settled at this level. Others may be resolved by established departmental procedures.
- If the student is unsatisfied, and the complaint involves any unit outside CALS, the student should seek the advice of the dean or director of that unit to determine how to proceed.
- If the complaint involves an academic department in CALS the student should proceed in accordance with item 3 below.
- If the grievance involves a unit in CALS that is not an academic department, the student should proceed in accordance with item 4 below.
- The student should contact the department’s grievance advisor within 120 calendar days of the alleged unfair treatment. The departmental administrator can provide this person’s name. The grievance advisor will attempt to resolve the problem informally within 10 working days of receiving the complaint, in discussions with the student and the person at whom the complaint is directed.
- If informal mediation fails, the student can submit the grievance in writing to the grievance advisor within 10 working days of the date the student is informed of the failure of the mediation attempt by the grievance advisor. The grievance advisor will provide a copy to the person at whom the grievance is directed.
- The grievance advisor will refer the complaint to a department committee that will obtain a written response from the person at whom the complaint is directed, providing a copy to the student. Either party may request a hearing before the committee. The grievance advisor will provide both parties a written decision within 20 working days from the date of receipt of the written complaint.
- If the grievance involves the department chairperson, the grievance advisor or a member of the grievance committee, these persons may not participate in the review.
- If not satisfied with departmental action, either party has 10 working days from the date of notification of the departmental committee action to file a written appeal to the CALS Equity and Diversity Committee. A subcommittee of this committee will make a preliminary judgement as to whether the case merits further investigation and review. If the subcommittee unanimously determines that the case does not merit further investigation and review, its decision is final. If one or more members of the subcommittee determine that the case does merit further investigation and review, the subcommittee will investigate and seek to resolve the dispute through mediation. If this mediation attempt fails, the subcommittee will bring the case to the full committee. The committee may seek additional information from the parties or hold a hearing. The committee will present a written recommendation to the dean who will provide a final decision within 20 working days of receipt of the committee recommendation.
- If the alleged unfair treatment occurs in a CALS unit that is not an academic department, the student should, within 120 calendar days of the alleged incident, take his/her grievance directly to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. The dean will attempt to resolve the problem informally within 10 working days of receiving the complaint. If this mediation attempt does not succeed the student may file a written complaint with the dean who will refer it to the CALS Equity and Diversity Committee. The committee will seek a written response from the person at whom the complaint is directed, subsequently following other steps delineated in item 3d above.
Other
Students are admitted by faculty in the department through direct admission.
Professional Development
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
Learning Outcomes
- Articulates potentials and limits of core paradigms in food science; formulates ideas and extrapolations beyond current boundaries of knowledge.
- Develops breadth through competencies in minor field(s) of study.
- Fosters ethical and professional conduct.
- Critically evaluates evidence to articulate research questions and develop appropriate research hypotheses.
- Formulates an effective experimental design and develops appropriate methodology to address problems in a systematic manner.
- Creates knowledge that makes a substantive contribution to the field and articulates how society may benefit.
- Communicates complex ideas in a succinct and understandable manner to diverse audiences.
- Develops mentoring and teaching skills.