Undergraduate Studies

What is Food Science, Anyway?

Food Science is the study of the physical, biological, (including microbiological), and chemical makeup of food. Food scientists and technologists apply many scientific disciplines, including chemistry, engineering, microbiology, epidemiology, nutrition, and molecular biology to the study of food to improve the safety, nutrition, wholesomeness, and availability of food. Depending on their area of specialization, food scientists may develop ways to process, preserve, package, and /or store food, according to industry and government specifications and regulations. Consumers seldom think of the vast array of foods and the research and development that has resulted in the means to deliver tasty, nutritious, safe, and convenient foods.

What Food Science is Not

Food Science is Not Nutrition: While some food scientists may focus on making foods more nutritious or determining what components of food provide health benefits, nutrition and food science are actually very different.

Food Science is Not Cooking: Although food scientists play a large part in making sure food tastes good, they are not chefs. They do, however, share a common objective: to prepare and present food that will deliver satisfaction to the consumer, and to do it in a safe, healthy, and cost-effective way.

Food Science is Not Food Service: Most of the employees we see on the front-lines of a restaurant are in the food service industry. The directors of food safety and those developing new food products for chain restaurants, however, are most likely food scientists.



Which Major Will You Choose?

The Department of Food Science at the University of Arkansas offers two concentrations in our undergraduate program:

Food Science: this concentration focuses on the chemistry, processing and analysis techniques vital to food processing companies.

Food Technology: this concentration requires less science and adds business courses to prepare students for management careers in the Food Industry.

Are you interested in Pre-Med, Pre-Dental or Pre-Pharmacy? You can major in Food Science too!



Courses

A typical undergraduate student will probably take most, if not all, of the following courses:

Click here to view courses required for Food Science
Click here to view courses required for Food Technology