Online Curriculum

The off-campus master’s degree program was created in 1973, and hundreds of students have obtained their degrees through the program. The online delivery system, initiated in 2010, maintains the high-quality, non-thesis M.S. program for which the University of Illinois is known. The online M.S. food science program offers one to three courses each semester, including summer semester.

Food Science and Human Nutrition Graduate Applicant Requirements

• Minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (A=4.0)
• Pre-requisite expectations: These courses must be completed prior to applying to the program. If you are deficient in any of these courses, you can complete these courses at a community college or other accredited institutions (residential or online). UIUC course descriptions are included in parentheses so that you can find an equivalent course at the institution that is right for you.
  • Calculus (First course in calculus and analytic geometry; basic techniques of differentiation and integration with applications including curve sketching; antidifferentation, the Riemann integral, fundamental theorem, exponential and trigonometric functions)
  • General Chemistry I (Principles governing atomic structure, bonding, states of matter, stoichiometry, and chemical equilibrium)
  • General Chemistry II (Chemistry of materials, including organic and biological substances, chemical energetics and equilibrium, chemical kinetics, and electrochemistry)
  • Elementary Organic Chemistry (Presents structural and mechanistic chemistry with emphasis on applications of this material to closely related areas)
  • Introductory Microbiology (Introduction to the principal activities and properties of microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts, molds, and viruses; consideration of the role of natural processes, such as photosynthesis; and man's use and control of microorganisms in the production of antibodies and vaccines in industrial fermentations, in sanitation and public health, and in agriculture)
  • College Physics: Mechanics and Heat (Newton's Laws, work and energy, rotational motion, fluids, thermodynamics, and waves. A noncalculus-based approach for majors in the life sciences, preprofessional health programs, agriculture, and veterinary medicine)
• Three letters of reference
• Statement of professional interest
  • Please focus on your motivation for pursuing a Master of Science in Food Science degree, and how this degree will support your current and future professional and personal goals.

Application Deadlines

The Master of Science in Food Science program that is offered online follows a tradition semester schedule. Students can apply to start their degree program in either the fall or spring semesters. Please complete the online application and the application requirements by the following deadlines to be fully considered:

• Fall Admission: April 1
• Spring Admission: November 1

Additional Information

• Tuition and fees
• Adapting to Online Learning
• Technology Requirements
  • Personal Computer
  • Illinois Canvas
  • ProctorU
  • Security Configurations
    • Check with your network administrators to ensure programs will not be blocked by a firewall
  • General
    • Noise-canceling microphone
    • Scanner/printer (accessible when at computer)
    • Webcam capability