Master of Science in Food Science

 

General Description

Graduate Program General Information

The Texas Tech University Department of Animal and Food Sciences offers many challenging and unique opportunities for graduate studies. The faculty is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research and public service. Animal Science and Food Science are broad fields of study involving biology, chemistry, microbiology, production, management, care and value-added processing of animal products. Animal Science and Food Science graduates are employed in all phases of production, research, sales, service, business and education around the world. As the world population continues to rise, it is ever more important to have well-trained professionals to serve the food and fiber needs of mankind.

Texas Tech University is located within an exceptionally dynamic and productive animal agriculture area. Texas leads the nation in beef cow-calf inventory, stocker cattle, feedlot cattle, feed and beef processing facilities, sheep, goats and horses. The swine and dairy cattle industries in the southern high plains are among the most rapid growing in the nation. These industries, along with their supportive infrastructure, offer exceptional support to instructional, research and interning needs of students, and offer excellent employment for our graduates.

Career Opportunities & Development

Graduates of the Texas Tech University Department of Animal and Food Sciences have boundless and diverse employment opportunities. For example, graduates are qualified to manage animal enterprises and processing facilities; serve as technical advisors and extension specialists; work for state and federal agencies, financial institutions, or private enterprises. Many graduates pursue careers in teaching and research in both the private and public sectors of the economy. Some develop their own private enterprises. Texas Tech animal and food scientists are making contributions to the food chain around the world. Many are leaders in their professional societies and industries. Professional certification through the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists is encouraged of all our graduates to formalize their professional career development. The Animal Science and Food Science faculty at Texas Tech are eager to assist students in achieving their career aspirations.

Graduate Study

The department offers programs of graduate study leading to the following degrees:

• Ph.D. in Animal Science
• M.S. in Animal Science (thesis and non-thesis)
• M.S. in Food Science (thesis and non-thesis)

Each plan of study is designed by the graduate student and his/her graduate committee to accomplish the specific career aspirations of the student. Within the Department of Animal and Food Sciences alone, graduate students may select from over 30 different graduate courses. A program of study and research project is developed with appropriate selection of courses from numerous academic departments on campus for Ph.D. and M.S. students. M.S. non-thesis students utilize an internship in lieu of a research project as a portion of their program of study. Internships with the food processing industry, ranches, feedlots, packing companies or other industries serve as a focal point for each non-thesis student. All students are expected to publish their work in appropriate professional journals. As a part of the graduate program, students are expected to abide by the AFS Graduate Student Handbook.

AFS Graduate Student Handbook

Research Emphasis

Animal Science and Food Science are applied sciences that draw heavily upon the basic sciences of biochemistry microbiology, physiology, immunology, genetics, and nutrition. Each graduate plan of study is designed to accomplish three major objectives: 1) to be of practical value to the animal and food industries; 2) contribute to the advancement of science, and 3) teach the student technical and reasoning skills conducive to accomplishing research. Research is conducted across the continuum from animal production to processed foods, utilizing appropriate advanced technologies of many types. Areas of research available for graduate students include ruminant nutrition, feed processing and preservation, growth physiology, animal breeding, animal behavior and welfare science, reproductive physiology, endocrinology, neuroscience, genetics of carcass merit and muscle hypertrophy, meats and muscle biology, and food processing, preservation and safety. Animal inventories of approximately 1000 beef cattle, 3000 swine, 350 sheep (many expressing the callipyge gene) and horses are available at our animal facilities to support graduate student instruction and research.

Facilities

The Department of Animal and Food Sciences has modern facilities to support graduate student teaching and research. Field laboratories for beef cattle, sheep, goat, and swine are located on a 980-acre irrigated farm near New Deal. Additionally, the Burnett Center for Beef Cattle Research and Instruction is a world-class research feedmill and feedlot complex to support the research needs of the cattle feeding and the feed milling industries. The department also has a 40-acre equine facility that is home to the Ranch Horse Program, Therapeutic Riding Program, Equestrian Team, Ranch Horse Team and Rodeo Program. Many faculty and graduate students work closely with local commercial firms while conducting their research. Modern technical laboratories are available to all faculty including a meat laboratory/livestock arena complex located on campus. The Pork Industry Institute, the Center for Feed Industry Research and Education, and the International Center for Food Industry Excellence provide added capabilities for graduate training. Other technical support includes the Health Sciences Center, campus libraries, computer and related capabilities.

Graduate Faculty

The graduate faculty at the Texas Tech University Department of Animal and Food Sciences are nationally and internationally recognized as scholars and leaders in their profession. Graduate students will not be considered for admission to the Department of Animal and Food Sciences without a designated faculty member who is willing and able to serve as a faculty advisor. 

Catalog Description

The Department of Animal and Food Sciences offers a non-thesis, 30-hour Master of Science degree in Food Science with concentrations in food safety, food analysis and chemistry, food regulations, and agricultural product processing (meats, food, or feeds). An internship or approved research experience is required for this degree. The non-thesis Master of Science degree is considered a terminal degree. 

The Department of Animal and Food Sciences also offers a thesis-based Master of Science in Food Science for students seeking advanced research training. This degree emphasizes the scientific and technological principles underlying pre- and post-harvest food processing and distribution. Coursework integrates the physical and biological sciences with applied principles of economics, marketing, and engineering to support product development, food processing and packaging, food microbiology and safety, food defense, food security, and quality control and assurance. 

Graduate research programs address critical issues in food safety, food security, food processing, food microbiology, food quality and composition, and processing systems. Evolving consumer demand for safe, nutritious, high-quality, and convenient foods supports a wide range of career opportunities in the food and allied industries, including management, research and development, process supervision, quality control and assurance, procurement, distribution, technical sales, and merchandising. This degree requires completion of a thesis, in addition to a minimum of 24 semester credit hours of coursework and 6 thesis hours.

Catalog Course Descriptions

How to Apply

The Department of Animal and Food Sciences offers the following degree programs:

• M.S. Thesis - Animal Science: Minimum of 30 hours required, thesis.
• M.S. Thesis - Food Science: Minimum of 30 hours required, thesis.
• M.S. Non-thesis* - Animal Science: Minimum of 36 hours required plus an internship
• Ph.D. degree - Animal Science: Minimum 60** credit hours plus 12 dissertation hours, dissertation

*Non-thesis degrees are terminal degrees. Students completing non-thesis degrees are not eligible for doctoral work.

**Up to 30 credit hours (exclusive of thesis hours and seminar hours) from the MS degree can be used toward the 60-credit hour requirement at the discretion of the student's graduate advisory committee and the departmental graduate coordinator or department chairman.

For the Master of Science, non-thesis, topic areas and research of emphasis within the department include: livestock production (beef cattle, swine, sheep and goat, dairy cattle, equine and poultry), agricultural product processing (meats, food or feeds emphasis), companion animal, feedlot management, and ranch management.

The Master of Science, thesis degree in food science emphasizes the scientific and technological aspects of pre- to post harvest food processing and distribution. Knowledge of the physical and biological sciences, economics, marketing, and engineering is applied to product development, food processing, packaging, food microbiology and safety, food defense, food security, quality control/assurance, technical sales and distribution. Research programs involve food safety, food security, food processing, food microbiology, food quality and processing. Consumer demands for a variety of highly nutritious and convenient foods of uniformly high quality create many and varied career opportunities in the food and allied industries. This degree requires a thesis in addition to at least 24 semester hours of coursework and 6 thesis hours.

Application Deadlines

• Domestic students: March 1st (Summer Semester), April 15th (Fall Semester), October 1st (Spring Semester).
• International students: January 15th (Summer and Fall semesters), June 15th (Spring Semester). The deadlines for international students are set by the Graduate School.

For Texas Tech University Graduate School requirements, please go to their website. Graduate students will not be considered for admission to the Department of Animal and Food Sciences without a designated faculty member who is willing and able to serve as a faculty advisor.

TTU Graduate SchoolAnimal & Food Science Faculty Directory

Department of Animal and Food Sciences Requirements

1. GRE Test. The department expects applicants to have a combined verbal and quantitative score of 297 (new testing method) or 1000 (old testing method) and a writing score of 3.5 or higher although TTU has a holistic admissions policy that evaluates candidates on many factors and not just GRE scores, GPA, or any other factor. Currently, due to COVID-19, GRE scores are temporarily waived.
2. Statement of short- and long-term goals. (writing sample)
3. CV/Resume.
4. Three letters of recommendation.

To Apply to Graduate School:

1. For Texas Tech University Graduate School requirements and to apply to the TTU Graduate School, go to the Graduate School website at  https://texastechgrad.liaisoncas.com.
2. Follow instructions regarding the requirements that Graduate School needs, such as, application fee, official transcripts, etc.
3. In addition to Graduate School requirements the Department of Animal and Food Sciences requires:
   1. Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
   2. Three (3) letters of recommendation
   3. Statement of short- and long-term goals
   4. Resume

All application-related materials, both for the Graduate School and the Department, must be uploaded directly into the application system.

Review of Your Application Materials

Once the Graduate School receives all required items, for both the Graduate School and the Department, it will refer your application to the Department of Animal and Food Sciences. Then our Department's Graduate Committee will review your application materials. If your application is found acceptable, the application package will be further reviewed by faculty in your indicated area of interest.

If accepted by a faculty member, the following will occur:

• You will receive an "unofficial" offer letter from the Department, if receiving an assistantship
• You will be asked to sign the letter either accepting or declining the offer
• You will return the signed letter Sandy Gellner
• The department will notify the Graduate School
• The Graduate School will issue an official acceptance letter
• The Graduate School acceptance letter can be accessed in Raiderlink using your eraider name and password.

Important Note: Domestic applicants will not receive an email from the graduate school on their acceptance. Domestic applicants will need to periodically check their status on Raiderlink. International students will receive email notification from the Graduate School.

Concentrations in the M.S. in Food Science Program

• Food Safety
• Food Security
• Ruminant Nutrition Food Safety
• Meat Science Food Security
• Meat and Muscle Biology
• Animal Breeding & Genetics
• Animal Physiology
• Animal Behavior & Welfare
• Reproductive Physiology
• Equine Science
• Growth and Development
• Beef Cattle Science
• Swine Nutrition
• Sheep & Goat Science