Online courses are coordinated through the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL). Please visit the site to learn more about online courses and to register for current courses. You do not need to be admitted to the Graduate College before enrolling in courses; however, for course credit to count towards your MS in Food Science degree, you must have been admitted to the graduate program, or petition to have the course credits transferred after you have been admitted. If you are later admitted to the program and if you complete non-degree courses, they may be petitioned to count towards your degree program if you earned a grade of B or better. No more than 12 hours of non-degree coursework may be petitioned for use.
The online MS Food Science program offers several courses each semester, including summer semester. All online courses are LIVE and the student must be available to attend during the class time listed. See the Current Students page for the list of required courses for this program. Other online courses below that are not required courses are only suggestions. Students are free to take any online course of graduate level for elective credits with their advisor's approval. The current course listings to date are:
Spring 2025
FSHN 573 Advanced Food Microbiology
Registration CRN: 75005
Instructor: Banerjee, P; Jin, Y
3 credit hours
Synchronous discussion (Wed 6-9 PM Central Time), asynchronous lecture
Course Description: Detailed examination of food microbiology topics including food-borne pathogens, food fermentation and microbial spoilage.
Note: This course is required for the online MS program in Food Science and is only offered every other year. Registration is recommended to avoid delaying your graduation timeline!
FSHN 595 Sports Nutrition for Dietitians
Registration CRN: 46854
Instructor: Burton, J; Wolfgram, B
2 credit hours
Asynchronous
Course Description: Sports Nutrition for Dietitians: This asynchronous online course will focus on applied performance nutrition. It will provide an in-depth look at the essential role of nutrition for athletic performance, recovery and overall health. Students will learn practical applications and current performance nutrition strategies.
***Prereq: FSHN 420 or consent of instructor. Students should have a fundamental understanding of performance nutrition.***
FSHN 595 Nutrition Counseling and Treatment for Eating Disorder
Registration CRN: 41451
Instructor: Burton, J; Wolfgram, B
2 credit hours
Asynchronous
Course Description: This asynchronous online course will examine the prevention and treatment of eating disorders, with a focus on nutrition counseling and therapy as provided by a Registered Dietitian. It incorporates guest lectures from multiple disciplines and provides opportunities to learn about and practice counseling techniques in simulated scenarios. Each week will include recorded lectures, readings, an activity, and a quiz.
*** Prereq: FSHN 420 or consent of instructor. Students should have a fundamental understanding of anatomy and physiology as it relates to nutrition and be able to apply the Nutrition Care Process to disease treatment. ***
FSHN 597 Graduate Seminar
Registration CRN: 75939
Instructor: Engeseth, N
1 credit hours
Asynchronous
Course Description: This course should be taken during the last semester of the online program (ready for graduation).
CPSC 418 Crop Growth and Management
Registration CRN: 31547
Instructor: Villamil, M
3 credit hours
Synchronous lecture-discussion (Tue 11-12:20 PM Central Time)
Course Description: Crop physiology and management as influenced by the environment, plant species, and cropping system; relates plant growth processes to crop production practices based on current research.
*** Prereq: IB 103 or CPSC 112 or equivalent, or consent of instructor. ***
CPSC 505 Research Methods in Crop Sciences
Registration CRN: 65758
Instructor: Behnke, G
4 credit hours
Synchronous (Thr 6:30-9:00 PM Central Time)
Course Description: Lectures, discussions, and seminars dealing with research in crop sciences.
CPSC 518 Crop Growth and Development
Registration CRN: 44523
Instructor: Brown, H
4 credit hours
Synchronous (Wed 6:30-9:00 PM Central Time)
Course Description: Study of the physiological processes involved in the growth and development of crop plants and the interaction of these processes with the environment that influences productivity.
*** Prereq: CPSC 418 or CPSC 484. ***
CPSC 527 Weed Science and Management
Registration CRN: 71664
Instructor: Tranel, P
3 credit hours
Synchronous (Tue 6:30-9:00 PM Central Time)
Course Description: Advanced course on the biological and practical aspects of weeds and their management within Midwest agricultural systems. Includes discussions of current scientific literature to understand the latest advancements in weed science and management.
*** Prereq: CPSC 212. ***
INFO 591 Grad Bioinformatics Seminar
Registration CRN: varies (depending on credit hours)
Instructor: Rodriguez Zas, S
0-2 credit hours
Synchronous (Thr 12-12:50 PM Central Time)
Course Description: This seminar series focuses on research in the field of bioinformatics and computational biology.
*** Prereq: Consent of instructor.***
ANSC 590 Animal Sciences Seminar
Registration CRN: varies (depending on credit hours)
Instructor: Rodriguez Zas, S
1-2 credit hours
Synchronous (Thr 12-12:50 PM Central Time)
Course Description: This seminar series focuses on current research and literature with topics related to Animal Breeding and Genetics.
*** Prereq: Please contact instructor at rodrgzzs@illinois.edu before enrolling.***
LEAD 425 Leading Teams
Registration CRN: 75856
Instructor: Brockett, J
3 credit hours
Asynchronous
Course Description: This course provides a strong foundation to build the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors necessary to provide leadership to professional and community work teams. Concepts include the theory and practice of team leadership including group dynamics, group process and development, problem-identification and goal-setting, conflict management and resolution, supervision, and leading diverse teams and in times of change and disruption.
LEAD 470 Leading Professional Organizations and Communities
Registration CRN: 70630
Instructor: Brockett, J
2 credit hours
Asynchronous
Course Description: Students will develop their capacity for leadership in their current and future professional positions in business and academic research teams, as well as within their broader community. This course's activities are designed to help students understand organizational structures, effective organizations, leading other people, and application of systems thinking beyond formal organizations to communities and society.
Students may review the course information at https://online.illinois.edu/online-courses and https://courses.illinois.edu/schedule/2024/fall.
Future courses