Program Quick Facts
Tailor Your Degree
Explore diverse coursework and shape your academic path to align with your career goals.
100% Online
Flexible, online classes make it easier to reach your goals while balancing work and family life.
Affordable Tuition
NMSU Global Campus offers competitively priced tuition and scholarship opportunities.
Increase Your Opportunities in a High-Demand, Global Industry
The online Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences—with an emphasis in Food Science and Technology—prepares students to tackle today’s biggest challenges in food chemistry, technology, food safety, product development, and sustainability.
Designed for working professionals and recent graduates eager to continue their career and their education, this program provides a solid foundation in research methods and industry applications. With flexible options to align with your career goals—whether you’re looking to advance in food manufacturing, regulatory compliance, or research and development—this degree equips you with the expertise to advance in the evolving food industry.
Apply NowFood Science and Technology Career Pathways
The food industry is growing rapidly with an increasing demand for qualified professionals in the field. As a graduate of this program from NMSU Global Campus, you’ll gain advanced skills essential for career advancement in food manufacturing, research institutions, and regulatory agencies. A master’s in food science and technology opens doors to high-demand roles across various sectors, such as:
- Extension Specialist
- Flavorist
- Food Chemist
- Food Engineer
- Food Plant Manager
- Food Technologist
- Inspector
- Product Developer
- Production Supervisor
- QA/QC Specialist
- Research Chef
- Sensory Scientist
“The affordability, the overall coursework, and the support I received from professors and support staff all felt personalized and customized to my learning abilities.”
Patsy G., Class of 2024
The Master of Science in Food Science and Technology online program provides a foundation in statistics and research methods, equipping students with the analytical and problem-solving skills essential for success in the evolving food industry. Designed for flexibility, the program allows students to tailor their coursework to align with their career goals, whether they aspire to lead in food safety, microbiology, chemistry, or processing technologies.
Students can deepen their expertise in areas such as sensory evaluation, food preservation, and quality assurance, creating a specialized pathway to career advancement in research, industry, or regulatory roles. In place of a thesis, students also gain hands-on experience in real-world industry settings through a capstone project or internship, which can be completed in coordination with their current employer.
Delivery Format: 100% online, synchronous and asynchronous sessions
Program Credits: 33 credits
Program Length: 2 years
Cost Per Credit Hour: $444.40**
Active Military Cost Per Credit Hour: $250*
College: Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences
Fill out the form to talk to an advisor.
The Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences program with an emphasis in Food Science and Technology requires 33 credit hours to complete. With guidance from an advisor, you’ll tailor your coursework to fit your career goals. The program includes 31 credits of core courses that provide a solid foundation in relevant areas for today’s food science professionals, with options to specialize in areas like food processing, food safety, and food analysis.
Additionally, all students must complete a 2-credit capstone project, such as a scholarly publication or internship. The final step of this component is a formal oral presentation, ensuring you can apply your knowledge to real-world challenges in food science.
| Sample Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| AXED 5510: Research Methods | 3 |
| AXED 5515: Data Collection and Analysis | 3 |
| FSTE 5120: Food Chemistry | 3 |
| FSTE 5130: Food Preservation | 3 |
| FSTE 5140: Food Analysis | 3 |
| FSTE 5230: Food Processing Technologies | 4 |
| STE 5250: Sensory Evaluation of Foods | 3 |
Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in undergraduate coursework
- Letter of interest
- Resume
- 3 letters of recommendation
This program is open to applicants from various disciplines, including engineering, biology, chemistry, plant and animal science, agronomy, and agriculture. If you have relevant professional experience but hold a bachelor’s degree in a different field, or if your undergraduate GPA is below 3.0, you are still encouraged to apply. GRE scores are not required.
At NMSU Global Campus, we strive to offer competitively priced tuition to keep your tuition costs affordable. If you need financial aid, we’re ready to work with you to determine the best ways to finance your education.
Financial assistance includes loans, grants, and scholarship opportunities. To apply, use NMSU’s convenient Scholar Dollar$ one-stop scholarship application, which serves all students in the NMSU system.
NMSU and NMSU Global Campus students are also eligible for loans and grants. The first step in applying for financial aid is to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Learn more about financial aid opportunities at NMSU.
Contact Financial Aid
Phone: 1-888-729-6678
Email: globalFA@nmsu.edu
Accreditation
New Mexico State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Specialized accreditation from other accrediting agencies is also granted for some programs. NMSU’s accreditation ensures that your education meets high-quality standards and that your credits are transferable.
*Terms and conditions apply.
**For NMSU Global Campus programs and courses, the per credit hour cost is listed above. Special tuition agreements (Western Undergraduate Exchange, Descubre, etc.) are not applicable to NMSU Global Campus programs. Course fees still apply and are charged separately. Textbooks, uniforms, equipment, etc., are additional program costs. Additional per credit costs might be charged by the program, department or college.