Candidates are prepared for careers in research or advanced professional careers in the food, hospitality and agricultural management industries, as well as in teaching and supporting roles in academia or industry. Graduates may also play leadership roles in extension, food production and quality assurance, government agencies or tourism industries, hospitality service and agricultural technology industries.
General Requirements
The graduate student entering the Ph.D. program must demonstrate proficiency in topics presented in the core courses in the undergraduate degree program at MU. This proficiency may be met by successful completion of a qualifying examination, taken before completion of 18 credit hours toward the requirements of the Ph.D. program.
A minimum of 72 credit hours are required beyond the B.S. degree.
A proposal for the Ph.D. dissertation research must be presented to the Doctoral Program Committee prior to completion of 18 credit hours of course work toward the Ph.D. degree requirements.
The composition of the Doctoral Program Committee will include four faculty members with no more than three being members of the Food Science graduate faculty.
Proficiency in a foreign language is encouraged, but is not required.
A comprehensive examination (written and oral) should be completed by the candidate as soon as course work requirements are completed. The comprehensive examination must be completed at least seven months prior to the dissertation research defense.
The process of receiving a Doctoral degree in Food Science from MU can be divided into several distinct steps. The student must also conform to any of the requirements and regulations of the MU Graduate School and the University of Missouri system. Applications are accepted at any time during the year.