Majors & Minors
Majors
The Department of Food Science offers a food science major and a fermentation sciences major. Both majors lead to a bachelor of science (B.S.) undergraduate degree and consist of 120 credit hours of course work. For a complete list of all of the undergraduate degree majors offered at Purdue University, please refer to the University Catalog or the Undergraduate Admissions website.
minors
The Department of Food Science offers three minors, food science (18 credit hours), fermentation sciences (18 credit hours), and pet food processing (21 credit hours). A minor is not required for our food science or fermentation sciences majors; however, many students can easily incorporate a minor into their plan of study. For a complete list of minors offered at Purdue University, please refer to the University Catalog.
Areas of Study
Minors within the Food Science Department
This minor program enables students to develop specific science-based knowledge, skills and expertise in the food science area to broaden their employment and/or entrepreneurial opportunities.
While pursuing a food science minor, students will explore the areas of food microbiology, food chemistry, food processing, and more. This program provides students with skills and knowledge that can be applied within the food industry and beyond.
Food science minor requirements
This minor program enables students to develop specific science-based knowledge, skills and expertise in the fermentation sciences area to broaden their employment and/or entrepreneurial opportunities.
Currently, there is enormous interest in the use of microorganisms at an industrial level in fields such as the pharmaceutical, chemical, and food industries. Even though fermentations have been used since ancient times as methods for food preservation, the industrial potential for sustainable production of many types of bio-based materials (ranging from foods and beverages, to biofuels, bioplastics, biopharmaceuticals, and fine chemicals) is only beginning to be explored.
The pet food processing minor combines food processing concepts with animal nutrition and biology. Students with a pet food processing minor will be equipped a unique skillset to allow them to pursue a career in pet food processing.
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